You're Ugly, Too

You're Ugly, Too
Lorrie Moore

When on the balcony with Earl, Zoe tells an anecdote about a friend when responding to Earl's request to talk about love. However, this anecdote tells of her lonely but successful friend whose relationship with a man from Illinois ended with the woman committing suicide. This anecdote helps to characterize Zoe. Like the woman in the anecdote, Zoe does not need a man in order to support herself. She is educated, has a job, and can provide for herself; however, she does seem to want companionship. "This was what she'd become: a woman alone at the movies with everything in a Baggie" (Moore). Zoe realizes her loneliness while she is at the movies, but later with Earl, her sarcasm seems to push him away. For both the woman in the anecdote and for Zoe, their success in their careers causes problems in their relationships. Zoe's education causes her to be practical, which seems to repulse Earl. "You know, I just shouldn't try to go out with career women. You're all stricken, A guy can really tell what life has done to you. I do better with women who have part-time jobs" (Moore). Because Zoe can support herself, she does not desperately need a relationship. Because she lacks this desperation, she can be her sarcastic self around men even though it may offend them. If Zoe continues her similarities with the woman from her anecdote, she will never have success in her relationships.

Bartleby the Scrivener

Bartleby the Scrivener
Herman Melville

In this story, characterization played a key role. By acquainting the reader with the characters in the story, Melville allows the reader to look further into the actions of the story. Melville begins the story by having the speaker briefly describe himself as a someone who doesn't let his work "invade his peace" (Melville). The reader keeps this piece of information in mind while reading the characterizations of the other characters. In describing Turkey, Nippers, and Ginger Nut, the speaker briefly describes each character and provides anecdotes for each to explain further their characteristics. For example, the speaker described Turkey as an overly energetic man. The speaker explains his statement by providing an anecdote about Turkey's ink blots and an instance that he attempted to send Turkey home after lunch. The speaker goes on in the story to describe Bartleby.  Bartleby refused to do anything, which upset Turkey, Nippers, and even the "peaceful" speaker. Melville revealed that Bartleby was actually more stubborn than he was passive. Although Bartleby refused to argue, he was stubborn because he refused to comply with others requests. Instead of doing as he was told, he replied "I would prefer not to" (Melville). In a sense, the entire story could be considered a characterization of Bartleby. The speaker described the other characters through anecdotes, and the speaker described Bartleby's character through a prolonged anecdote.

A Worn Path

A Worn Path
Eudora Welty

In this short story, Welty used indirect characterization to describe Phoenix. Near the beginning of the story, Welty reveals part of Phoenix's character by describing her appearance."She was very old and small and she walked slowly in the dark pine shadows, moving a little from side to side in her steps with the balanced heaviness and lightness of a pendulum in a grandfather clock" (Welty). Welty further revealed Phoenix's character through her interaction with other minor characters. During the story, Phoenix meets a hunter. During their conversation, the hunter points his gun at Phoenix, but she did not move. She was unafraid which shows that she was a courageous woman. Another character who helped reveal Phoenix's character was the nurse. In their conversation, Phoenix momentarily forgot why she traveled to their office. She may be old and slightly senile, but this event revealed something deeper. This showed the care she took for her grandson. Whether or not the boy is alive, the fact that Phoenix traveled so far to get him help shows her unconditional love for him.

Identity Unit 1 (Everyday Use)

"Everyday Use"
Alice Walker

Through first person narration from the mother's point of view, Walker characterized the two daughters in the short story. Dee, the older daughter, is the type of person who always gets what she wants. "...that 'no' is a word the world never learned to say to her" (Walker).  This statement shows that people agreed to Dee's demands. Never learning the meaning of no led Dee to become a selfish person. She looked down upon her mother's house because it did not satisfy her wants. Dee's selfish behavior was also displayed when she argued with her mom about the quilts. Dee rejected the quilts in the past and eventually learned during the argument that the quilts were meant for Maggie; however, Dee continued to argue her point that she wanted the quilts. Another way that Dee displayed her disgust for her family was when she explained her name change. Dee chose to change her name to Wangero to escape from being named after those who "oppress me" (Walker). This African name was meant to take her back to her heritage, but what she did not realize is that she was just as much of an American as she was African. Changing her name only served as another way display her disapproval of her family and to reinforce her self-centered character traits.