"Getting Out" by Cleopatra Mathis

After reading Cleopatra Mathis’ poem, “Getting out,” the title relates to the poem and its topic quite well. While the end of the poem results in a breakup between to people, the three stanzas describe the various aspects that led to that end. Getting out if something implies a process, and that’s exactly what Mathis’ stanzas do - describe the process of this breakup. Mathis writes, “Every night, another refusal, the silent work of tightening the heart,” (Mathis, 896). From this phrase, the reader can gather that, regardless of what they did to prevent it, the couple slowly fell farther and farther apart as their hearts tightened a bit more every day. The second stanza discusses how things were or used to be. However, when the happiness was replaced with blame and disagreement, things fell apart. Even at the end, when there was so little of their relationship left, the couple in the poem was still upset to leave each other. In today’s world, we hear so many stories about violent and detrimental divorces which are upsetting, but the slow decline in the relationship of this poem actually saddened me even more. It truly seems as though the people in the poem really tried to make their relationship last, but it just was not meant to be. The idea that regardless of whether people want their relationship to last, it just might not, is truly the most saddening part of life represented in this poem.

"Popular Mechanics" by Raymond Carver

After reading Raymond Carver’s short story, “Popular Mechanics,” it became apparent how important the characters actions were to communicate the tone to the reader. There is minimal description of any setting within the story and the dialogue is limited, so the details Carver includes regarding the actions of the characters contribute greatly towards the plot. The story is focused on a couple who is splitting up, but these actions tell the true severity and anger within their situation. Carver writes, “He did not answer. He fastened the suitcase, put on his coat, looked around the bedroom before turning off the light,” (Carver). Because of the man’s lack of response and controlled behavior, it becomes obvious that the relationship between the characters is not good. Furthermore, the fact that Carver mentions the woman wiping her eyes shows that whatever had happened between the two, it had brought her to tears. Lastly, the final interaction between the two people and their baby shows the true hatred behind their relationship. Because they are so upset with each other, both parents become detached enough to disregard their child safety and pull him apart quite literally. While such actions are very unlikely, they truly helped Carver portray the deep hatred within the relationship, to the point where they would destroy their child.

"The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin

After reading Kate Chopin’s short story “The Story of an Hour,” I recognized the last line of the story to be a major theme. Chopin writes that a character in the story, Louise Mallard, died “of joy that kills,” (Chopin, 327). The strange idea that joy could kill stood out to me after reading of the circumstances surrounding Mrs. Mallard’s death. Because her husband had supposedly died, Mrs. Mallard was incredibly heart broken and upset. She began to think about her husband in Heaven and that she would get to see him again, and the pure joy and happiness she felt over that subject caused her death. In the real world, I believe that this does actually happen. Weeks after a family friend died, her husband died as well. If a person loves another enough that the thought of seeing them again brings them such joy, it, in the end, can kill them just as it killed Mrs. Mallard. Thinking of something unachievable or even dreaming allows a person to let go, and Mrs. Mallard let go in Chopin’s story in order to be with her husband. However, the twist at the end of the story - that Mallard’s husband was still alive - created a sour ending to the story. The original idea that the two Mallards would be together after death was comforting, but the fact that her husband was not even dead was shocking, as Mrs. Mallard would once again be alone, this time having no way back.

"You're Ugly, Too" by Lorrie Moore

While reading “You’re Ugly, Too,” a short story by Lorrie Moore, one is introduced to the main character of the story, Zoë Hendricks. Throughout the story, Moore brings out Zoë’s personality through her eccentric behaviors and perception of certain situations. She is truly an odd character, and in the end, I believe her eccentricities end up making her a sympathetic character. Her interactions with others oftentimes go downhill because of a comment she makes or something she does that is unintentionally rude or inappropriate. In the story, she pushes Earl, a man she met at her sister’s party, as he is leaning on the edge of a balcony. While he does not fall and is alright, the whole action quite frankly freaks him out and he does not understand what is wrong with Zoë. However, even though she did apologize, Zoë does not really understand what is wrong with her actions; rather, “she smiled at him, and wondered how she looked,” (Moore, 370). Because she misunderstands everyday situations and how to act, she becomes a sympathetic character. Readers feel sorry for her that she has not found love and that her students dislike her, both of which are caused by her odd behavior. Furthermore, after Zoë’s sister announces to her that she is getting married, Zoë begins to tell a story to her sister about two people who fell in love, but in the end, one committed suicide. While she chooses not to finish the story, the idea that Zoë would first think to talk to her sister about a suicide after her engagement announcement shows a little more of Zoë’s eccentricities. The audience feels pity towards her that she does not understand love, furthering her role as a sympathetic character.

"Delight in Disorder" by Robert Herrick

After reading “Delight in Disorder,” a poem by Robert Herrick, the idea of “wild civility” becomes apparent. Throughout the poem, the author praises disorder within people’s clothing – a sense of confusion or distraction. Through this theme, the author successfully transmits the idea that being perfect or striving for perfection is not as desirable as it may seem. The poem shows that no one really wants a perfect person, because it is, in fact, people’s imperfections that create the interest and intrigue behind their personalities. The poem states, “A sweet disorder in the dress, kindles in clothes a wantonness,” (Herrick, 979). This restates the idea that a little disorder creates a sense of intrigue in people. Furthermore, perfection sets a person on a pedestal above others, while a sense of disorder creates more of a sense of accessibility to a person. It places them on the same level as everyone else. By avoiding being buttoned-down, a person can make themselves be more appealing to others, as a person who is not intimidating. Perfection is not always the best thing, and Herrick’s poem proves this point.

"Lonely Hearts" by Wendy Cope

After reading Wendy Cope’s poem, “Lonely Hearts,” I could not help but notice the prominence of all different personalities and characteristics of people. This poem was probably one of the most realistic and relatable poems I have read, because the characteristics of the people mentioned within the poem are all characteristics of people I meet on a daily basis. However, the poem also relates all of these seemingly different people to each other. Whether a biker, a vegetarian, Jewish, bisexual, or successful, most people all yearn for the love and care of another. By connecting all of these various and random traits and personalities together, Cope successfully points out one of the most universal and central desires of all people. The poem repeats, “Can someone make my simple wish come true?” (Cope, 974). This phrase clearly portrays the wants of people and the measures they will take to find the love that everyone needs. While everyone is unique in their own ways, there is also someone equally unique out there for each person. Through her poem, Cope was able to not only connect seemingly different people; rather, she was also able to portray the deep desires of people.

"Eveline" by James Joyce

Within James Joyce’s short story “Eveline,” the theme of “spiritual paralysis” becomes apparent. While many places and countries today spark hope and excitement for the future, Joyce described Dublin within this story as a town full of people frozen into “spiritual paralysis.” They have no hope or no expectations for things to get better, and just like the word describes, they are paralyzed, or unable to move or change. This theme comes to life especially for Eveline. Even though she does not have an easy life and has been abused by her father in the past, she cannot, in the end, bring herself to leave Dublin. The story states, “Her father was becoming old lately, she noticed; he would miss her,” (Joyce, 220). She cannot get past the idea of disappointing her father and straying from the norm, and it prevents her from leaving. The city and the troubles she faces are all Eveline knows, and she becomes too stuck in that state of security with what she knows that she cannot escape it. She is truly spiritually paralyzed. The final expression of spiritual paralysis within “Eveline” is at the close of the story, when she chooses not to leave for Buenos Aires with Frank, a sailor. The uncertainty of the future is too much, and Eveline remains in Dublin.

"How I Met My Husband" by Alice Munro

After reading Alice Munro’s short story, “How I Met My Husband,’ I realized the effectiveness of the surprise ending in the story. Throughout the majority of the work, the reader is under the impression that Chris Watters, a pilot, is the husband of main character Edie. However, the reader later discovers that the mailman Edie meets while waiting for a letter from Chris becomes her husband. This ending was especially effective because it allowed for a revelation. While reading the story, I was confused why Edie was so enamored by Chris, especially because their personalities were not compatible and he was rather forward. Edie, on the other hand, was very shy and much younger than Chris. While waiting for Chris’ promised letter and an explanation for Edie’s care for him, the presence of the mailman made me realize the twist within the story. All of the dramatic events surrounding Chris just led up to Edie meeting the mailman, who in the end turned out to be her husband. The surprise ending was also rather inevitable. Seeing as Chris escaped his fiancée Alice by abandoning his plane ride business, it made sense that he would never really communicate with Edie, a girl he knew for a few weeks, again. However, Edie’s naïveté of Chris’ true intentions allowed her to meet her husband, as the story states, “It never crossed my mind for a long time a letter might not come,” (Munro, 145). When she finally realizes this fact, she is able to begin a relationship with the mailman.