Brave New World

Overall, I had a positive reaction to Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. I thought it was different from other futuristic society novels I had read, such as The Giver or even the popular Hungar Games. The most interesting aspect of Brave New World was the complete lack of an enemy to really hate. There was no supreme power to hate, as it truly seemed that those in the higher government were trying to bring true happiness. I truly respected the Controller, as he gave up what could have been true happiness on the island to take his place among society to try and ensure its happiness for all. He admits, "That's how I paid. By choosing to serve happiness." (229). Sure this may not be complete happiness, but who is to say it does not work for them? If they are ignorant of the joys that human feelings and attachment can bring, then is it really hurting them to not subject them to the misery that sometimes accompanies this feeling? Overall, I really enjoyed this novel, and found its message though-provoking.

Brave New Word

Aldous Huxley's novel, Brave New World, is full of symbolism and representation of a possible future society. However, the novel has a bit of irony in it too. This stems mainly from John's ultimate reaction to society, his escape and ultimate suicide. When John is found by Bernard on the Reservation, he sees society as a huge gift. There, he believes he will be accepted and find other like-minded people. It is here that the irony lies. For in the society, everyone is like-minded, but not in the way John is. John's "brave new world" is not like the one from his Shakespeare stories, and therefore he cannot tolerate it. When he can no longer live with the guilt from his actions, he goes back to his roots, punishing and cleansing himself as the Indians taught him to do. The biggest irony is, during his misery in his exile to atone, the Savage is often visited by the people of the city, who are fascinated by his unpredictability. The would yell "we want whip", (256) ironically crying out for the instrument of his torture. This irony ultimately leads to his decision to end his life.

Brave New World

Aldous Huxley's savage character John in Brave New World is unhappy almost from his first moment in civilization. It is clear he cannot belong in this world, despite always yearning for it. It may not come as a big shock to readers that his final action is suicide. is suicide is often foreshadowed by the writer in small ways through the novel. John's misery and obsession with atonement are clear from his first day after leaving London He admits he left to "...escape further contamination by the filth of civilized life; it was to be purified and made good; it was actively to make amends" (247). John saw his act of leaving society as a punishment for his sinful actions. It cannot be surprising then, that he felt the only way to make up for his sexual depravity at the orgy was to hang himself. His obsession with the works of Shakespeare, particularly with tragedies like Othello and Romeo and Juliet also foreshadow his death. Both these works end with the suicide of the main characters.

Brave New World

In Section 4 of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, Bernard continues to be characterized as a more selfish man than the rebellious outcast portrayed in Section 1. As his popularity grows due to his friendship with John, Bernard becomes addicted to the society that previously rejected him. Even the soma, which he had previously rejected in preference of real thought, is taken often by him. This seems to bring out the worst in the character. When John creates a scene at the soma distribution, Bernard is so reluctant to help, even when he thinks his friends lives may be in danger. His ultimate betrayal, however, occurs when the three friends are taken in to custody. When talk of exile comes up, Bernard immediately throws his friends under the bus. He yells, "I haven't done anything. It was the others, I swear it was the others" (226). Later he feels ashamed at his selfish actions of betrayal and apologizes. However, this does not change that it occurred and drives the final name in his characterization. He is a pathetic, desperate character who is unable to grasp the reality of true happiness, despite his potential for rebellion at the beginning.

Brave New World

Although section two of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World introduces and characterizes John, it also highlights the struggles he will face later on in the book. This struggle is mainly between the two worlds he is a part of, but of which he really fits into neither. He grew up in the world of the savages, yet they refused to include him in their society at all. On the other hand, his childhood was also filled with his mother's stories of civilization. Because of these conflicting views, John himself is a happy median between the two. However, this civilization is not one to accept compromises. John first shows  his differences in thinking when it comes to Linda. When it comes to the conflict between self desire and control, in the modern civilization, desire always wins. In fact, there really is no conflict, as they see nothing wrong with desire. However, John shows his ability to use control when confronted with a sleeping Linda. His carnal desires make him want her, but his self-control overrides any action he may have taken. He even detests his desires saying "he was ashamed of himself" (145). This is contradictory to the practices of the civilized society, where one takes whatever they want.

Brave New World

Section two of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World reveals a surprising plot twist. Before embarking on his journey to see the savages, Bernard is told by the Director of the man's own trip there, where his companion went missing. At first, I believed this story's purpose was to reveal a more human side of the Director, a form of characterization. However, after Bernard meets Linda on the trip, it is clear the Director's story was a different literary technique, foreshadowing. Huxley has the Director tell Bernard this story, predicting that it would in the future mean more to Bernard than a possible connection to the man. When Bernard stumbles upon a woman who used to live in civilization and her son, it is immediately clear he believes her to be the Director's former companion, and her son his son. He admits to having a plan "he had been secretly elaborating ever since, in the little house, he had realized who the 'father' of this young savage must be" (138). It is not until the end of this section that the author explicitly states the Director as the father publicly.

Brave New World

In the second section of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, the reader is introduced to a new primary character, John. Huxley utilizes a literary technique of a flashback to introduce the reader to John. This allows the reader to view the experiences and events from the past that have shaped John into the character when meet in the middle of the book. This gives the reader some idea of his feelings and motivations throughout the novel. The flashbacks consist mainly of events from his childhood, centering around his mother's downward spirals and neglect, as well as his harassment from the natives. The biggest event for John we see in his flashback is him learning to read, which open the door for him to learn of other cultures and saved him from the biggest pains of isolation. The reading enticed him "it talked to him; talked wonderfully and only half-understandably, a terrible beautiful magic..." (132). This wonderful feeling we see him have about reading explains his current love of poetry and words. Without the flashback, John would not be such a sympathetic character.

A Brave New World

In Aldous Huxley's A Brave New World, the main protagonist for the first section seems to be Bernard Marx, an unpopular Alpha who had the unfortune to be different in a society that values conformity more than anything else. However, in this section, a new potential protagonist emerges, John, the Savage. While, Bernard and John initially seem incredibly similar, they have major differences that soon work to tear them apart. The biggest commonality between their to in their forced solitude from societies that did not accept them. John is an outcast among the Indians, who do not accept his mother's modern, promiscuous ways. Bernard is also unaccepted in civilization, mostly due to his physical deficiency and defiant attitude. However, the way they deal with this isolation is what makes them different. The solitude makes Bernard bitter, he protests against society not because he disagrees with its principles, but because he hates the society that does not accept him. He works hard to show he is different from his society, as he admits "he went out of his way to show himself strong and unorthodox" (111).  John on the other hand, is isolated through no fault of his own, and instead of brewing in anger about it, chooses to better himself. He seeks experiences and knowledge in order to better his life, unlike Bernard who merely stews in his anger. I believe this difference will be huge when they return to civilization.

The Convergence of the Twain

Thomas Hardy's "The Convergence of the Twain" tells the story of the great ship Titanic, which sunk on its first voyage. Although many viewed this as one of the greatest tragedies, (helped of course by a box-office hit), Hardy seemed to think they got what was coming to them. For the poem about the tragic event is less tragic or lamenting in nature, and more condemning. The speaker uses this poem to warn of the dangers of human vanity. He points out the irony in the grandiose nature of the ship, that did it little good at the bottom of the ocean. He states "Jewels in joy designed, To ravish the sensuous mind Lie lightless, all their sparkles bleared and black and blind" (Hardy). He often points out how the ships beauty has now turned to ruin, further rubbing in the tragic fate of what he must deem a waste of pompous wealth. He further goes on to, rather insensitively, describe the beauty of the ship and its mating with an iceberg. His use of sexual language again demonstrates his view of the ship, and all the wealth it stood for.

I taste a liquor never brewed

"I taste a liquor never brewed" adds another seemingly meaningless, unpunctuated poem to Emily Dickinson's collection. Despite being just as grammatically incorrect as always, this poem is slightly easier to analyze. It is clear by the first sentence that the speaker is using a metaphor. As the poem continues, one can see it is an extended metaphor, as the "liquor" the speaker is drunk on is nature. It is through her diction that one can truly see the love or intoxication this speaker has for nature. Statements such as "Reeling, through endless summer days, from inns of molten blue" not only serve the metaphor of being drunk, but also express her deep appreciation of the surroundings. She deepens the metaphor when she states that she will drink until the bees are kicked out of the flowers as well. This constant comparison of nature to liquor suggests she not only loves nature, but feels overwhelmed and intoxicated by being in its very presence. Dickinson also uses another literary technique besides metaphors, alliteration. She often refers to biblical beings, such as saints and seraphs, which further express her love of nature, as this suggests she finds nature great enough to be around biblical beings.

Acquainted with the Night

Robert Frost's "Acquainted with the Night" seems to tell the tale of a speaker who is isolated from society. Many would argue that the speaker is almost a sympathetic character, as their loneliness and isolation invoke feelings of pity in the reader. However, I do not find in myself and sympathy for this character, but rather frustration. It does not seem to me that he is pushed away or shunned by society, as would be the case for many to feel pity for him. Instead, it feels as if the separation is more a choice of his own, rather than an exile. For example, when passing by another person, the speaker admits  "I have passed by the watchman on his boat, And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain." (Frost). In this situation, it is not the other person that alienate the speaker, but rather the speaker who refuses to make communication. Later in the poem, the speaker hears a voice call out, almost as if for help because it was interrupted. However, instead of running towards the sound of human companions, as a person seeking society would do, the speaker merely ignores the sound. He chooses instead to lament on how no one ever calls out to him. This complaining does not make for a sympathetic character, merely an annoying one.

Sorting Laundry

Elisavietta Ritche's "Sorting Laundry" describes the private details of a couple's relationship. It is through the speaker's use of symbolism that the reader absorbs information about the couple. Each article of cloth the speaker folds in some way symbolizes the relationship, in both small and meaningful ways. For example, she uses the pillowcases to symbolize the length and durability of the relationship. Like the pillowcases, which have stayed strong at the seams despite many washings, this relationship must have lasted through many tribulations throughout time. Another example is the pockets, which the speaker describes as containing "surprises: forgotten matches, lost skrews clinking in the drain..." (Ritche). This describes the variety in the relationship. Although their surprises towards each other may have declined as they became more familiar, they still astound one another is small but significant ways. It is not until the speaker reaches the shirt from a former lover that the reader detects any sign of strife in the relationship. This shirt symbolizes a possible end to the relationship, due to an outside party, and strikes fear into the speaker.

A Jury of Her Peers

Susan Glaspell's A Jury of Her Peers is full of irony, dramatic, situational, and verbal. One of the biggest ironies lies in the title of the short story. In this setting, women are seen as slight inferior beings. In fact, there are unable to vote, or serve in a jury. However, when Mrs. Wright is accused of murdering her husband, she is indeed judged by her peers, the the form of Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters. Mrs. Hale and Peters are Mrs. Wright's peers, both are housewives, and both understand the inner workings of Mrs. Wright's mind. It is by sharing Mrs. Wright's mindset and worries that the two women stumble upon evidence to the motive of the case. This is when the judgement begins, and Mrs. Wright is found not guilty. While going through Mrs. Wright house and things, the women begin to piece together her life, and in doing so reach some empathy for the woman. When the opportunity arises for them to present their findings, Mrs. Peters "threw back the quilt pieces, got the box, tried to put it in her handbag." This act of hiding the evidence shows that the two women understood Mrs. Wright's motive, and in fact agreed with it, perhaps because they too understood oppression. 

My Mistress' Eyes

William Shakespeare's My Mistress' Eyes makes fun of more romantic sonnets. The entire poem seems to be a satire, pointing out the ridiculousness of other far-fetched declarations of love through poetry. The speaker is brutally honest in the poem. He compares his love to many typical beauties, but never favors his love over them. He points out the absurd nature of other love poems when he states "I grant I never saw a goddess go, My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground." This means the speaker admits he does not put his lover on a pedestal or picture her as the paragon of perfection. This is what makes the poem not only funny, but truly romantic. The speaker's love is not mere infatuation over a woman that is "perfect" in his eyes. Instead he sees her faults, her pale lips, lackluster skin, and unpleasant voice. Despite this, he finds love for her anyway.

Barbie Doll

In Marge Piercy's Barbie Doll, there is a contrast of the girl and a Barbie doll. The satire of the poem is how society treats her. She is described as "healthy, tested intelligant, possessed strong arms and backs...", all qualifications of a great woman. However, she cannot be content with this, because she does not look as society wants her to. Piercy emphasizes the absordness of society's views on beauty, by telling of the advice the girl is given. The author even uses verbal irony, using the phrase "magic of puberty". This is ironic because it was with puberty that the girl became scrutinized. Eventually, she feels so judged by society that it leads to her death. The ultimate irony in the poem is the ending. For even after her death, the people judge her by her appearence in her coffin. In death, she finally gets acceptance from society.

Hunters in the Snow

The three principle characters in Wolff's Hunters in the Snow are each characterized very differently. Tub lives up to his namesake, playing perfectly the role of an obese, bullied man. Frank's dialogue seems to characterize him, his chill attitude and diction portraying a carefree, hippie-like man. Kenny, on the other hand, appears to be slightly more of a dynamic character than his two friends. His abrasive attitude and hostility towards Tub at first displays him as a bit of a buly. This continues on their hunt, with his antagonizing of the friends. He constantly teased Tub about his weight, and even turns on Frank, saying "You're so busy thinking about that little jailbait of yours you wouldn't know a deer if you saw one." However, Kenny is not completely one dimensional. His act of shooting the dog, which seemed so horrific, was shown to be an act of mercy. The dog's owner asked him to do it, for the man feared he could not do it and he did not have a gun. This act of compassion shows Kenny is a dynamic character, if however small or temporary a transformation.

Othello Act V

William Shakespeare's Othello meets a tragic end in Act V. Rodrigo, Emilia, Desdemona, and Othello do not make it out alive. One character that does live through the bloodbath? Iago. I was shocked neither Cassio nor Othello wanted to kill him in punishment for his deeds. However, Othello explains he wants Iago to live "For, in my sense, tis happiness to die" (Act V, ii, 289). Othello means that he believes death is too little a punishment for Iago, and that life would be worse. This is similar to the film The Princess Bride. When the hero Wesley beats the evil prince, he condemns him to life, because he believes that to be worse than the sweet sleep of death. Similarly, Othello wishes Iago to live with what he has done, rather than escape it in death.

Othello Act V

In the midst of many dynamic characters in William Shakespeare's Othello, Desdemona appears to be a static character. In the first Act, she is bold and loving, standing up to her father for her true love Othello. This courage and undying love does not waver, even in the face of her untimely demose. When Othello harshly rebukes her, calling her names and even slapping her, Desdemona does not react with anger. Instead, she begs to know what she has done. Never does she seem to doubt or even blame Othello, showing the same devotion she did when speaking to the Duke about their marriage in Act I. Even after Othello' murder attempt, she continues to show her faithfulness. When Emilia asks how her injuries occurred, with her dying breath Desdemona denies that it was Othello. Instead, she blamed herself, saying the cause was "Nobody, I myself" (Act V, ii, 122). This devotion to Othello is probably undeserved, as he does not show the same unwavering loyalty and trust in her. However, this attribute is what makes Desdemona one of the few static characters.

Othello Act IV

In Act IV of William Shakespeare's Othello, a new character Lodovico is introduced. The addition of Lodovico has practical reasons, he brings news of an order of departure for Othello that speeds up Iago's plans. However, Lodovico has another purpose for the audience, he is a fresh pair of eyes in this hot mess of a drama. By the final acts of this play, we as readers are beginning to become desensitized to Iago's crafty manipulations, Othello's mood swings, and the random fighting. Lodovico reminds us how crazy these characters are by giving us someone normal to compare them to. Lodovico reacts harshly when he sees Othello strike Desdemona, yelling "what, strike his wife!" when asking of Othello's typical behavior (Act IV, i, 258). The audience did not find this action as upsetting, perhaps because we are aware of what Othello believes she has done. Or perhaps we are used to this treatment of women, especially after Iago's harsh treatment of Emilia. Either way, Lodovico reminds the audience of the shocking actions of this play.

Othello Act IV

William Shakespeare's Othello has several dynamic charaters, including Othello himself. The calm, mild-mannered Othello in Acts I and II is not the jealous murderer we see at the end of the play. However, there is one aspect of Othello that does nt change theoughout the play, his unconditional love for Desdemona. Now, this may seem untrue, because he ends up murdering her for her alledged unfaithfulness. However, despite his anger towards her, he still shows he cares about her. He even is angry on her behalf when he suspects Cassio is not fully devoted to Othello's wife! Iago makes it worse as always, stating "And see how he prizes the foolish woman your wife?" (Act IV,i, 164). The idea of someone disrespecting Desdemona, even the man she is alledgedly cheating on him with, angers Othello. This is a glimpse that the old Othello, the one that loves Desdemona, is not completely gone.

Othello

A major theme is William Shakespeare's play, Othello, is marriage and the roles normally cast in it. Desdemona and Iago's discussion on the fairer sex reveals the inner feelings of Iago on the matter, and how the society of the time thought. In Iago, and it seems the women's minds, the two most important qualities of a woman is her brains and beauty. If a woman posses either trait, she is able to manipulate and gain a husbend. Even if she is not, she still "does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do" (Act II, i, 142). This accusation of Iago's that women do nothing but manipulate men is followed by a comment that their jobs are merely to care for the house and have children. Although normal sterotypes for the time period, Iago'd hostility toward women is unusual. His diadain toward women must have a more personal tie. Perhaps he was cheated by a woman he loved in the past. That would explain his anger, and even his quick accusations about the rumored affair between Othello and Iago's wife.

Othello

William Shakespeare's fight for the most evil villian of all time continues in Act III of Othello. Iago's manipulation has reached a critical point, as he has convinced Othello of his wife's affair. Iago's true gift for manipulation is his ability to remain liked, while constantly delivering bad news. He does this mainly by pretending to be reluctant Over text? Classy talk. He does this after Cassio's drunken fight. Iago told on Cassio right in front of him and got him fired! However, he does it in a way that makes him appear loyal and honest. Iago does this again in Act III when speaking to Othello about Cassio. He bounces around the subject of Cassio, appearing unwilling to share the information and hurt Cassio, while in reality making the situation worse. Othello even laments it is "as if there were some monster in his thought too hideous to be shown" (Act III, iii, 108). This ability makes Iago a dangerous and excellent villian.

Othello

William Shakespeares play Othello has many themes, including jealousy, marriage, and hatred. However, a more subtle theme in the work is racism. Although he is a well-respected, valiant, and just all-around good guy, Othello is often insulted or sterotyped due to his race. One of the biggest racists in the works appears to be Iago, who often refers to Othello as an animal or merely "the Moor". These names show Iago views Othello as less than human because of his ethnicity. However, the villian is not the only perpetrater. Even Othello's friends often give backhanded compliments to him regarding his race. The Duke, and admirer of Othello, claims he is "far more fair than black" (Act I,iii, 287). The major irony in this situation is Othello is a seemingly perfect hero, he is a good fighter, husbend, and does not even get angry at the slurs aganist him. However, most in the play are unable to see him as anything but "the Moor".

Othello

William Shakespeare's tragedy, Othello, gives a refreshing approach to the sterotypical, good guy verses bad. The play is told not from the point of view of the hero, Othello, but rather the audience is told the story through the eyes of the villian, Iago. I find this to be a welcomed change in literature. Firstly, it adds an element of humor, mainly because villians are not too concerned with social niceties. Iago is often blunt and uses dry wit and sarcasm that livens the story. For example, Iago chooses not to inform Brabantio of his daughters marriage in a soft, gentle manner like a good protagonist would do. Rather, Iago shouts to him that he "comes to tell you your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs" (Act I, i, 114-115). This comment, while not exactly polite, is hilarious and unexpected. The unpredictability of the villian keeps the audience interested.

The Story of an Hour

Kate Chopin's The Story of an Hour tells of the events that occurred during the hour after Mrs. Mallard is informed of her husband supposed death. Chopin includes several ironies in the story. The first is Mrs. Mallard's reaction to the death of her husband. The audience, and the other characters, expect her to be distraught. Her sister even tells her in the most delicate way possible, worried that a strong reaction to the news would cause heart problems on her. At first, Mrs. Mallard reacts as one might expect, "she wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment". However, the more time passes, the more she seems happy at the death. She considers life without him as freedom, and imagines what she will do with this independence. Her positive reaction to the news is ironic, her sister clearly did not need to worry of the news causing her to die of grief. However, the ultimate irony occurs when Mr. Mallard enters the house, very clearly alive. Mrs. Mallard then has a heart attack and dies, rightly so for being so overjoyed at the death of someone she was suppose to love.

Popular Mechanics

In Carver's short story, Popular Mechanics, he tells of a couple in the midst of a tumultuous break-up. In the midst of the chaos, they begin fighting over the baby. The baby is a symbol, the prize for the winner of the argument. Neither really cares about the child, or at least in this frame of mind cannot put its needs above their fight. This is clear by the pain they are causing the child by fighting over it. At one point, the woman even points out "you're hurting the baby". However, neither parent is willing to let go of the child, because it is a representation of a prize, and something to hurt the other with. Carver uses this short story to satire how many broken families work today. Divorce has become more common, often with children caught in the middle, and used by their parents against one another. Carver points out the dangers of parents getting so caught up in their hatred of one another, that they cannot focus on their true priority, the child. 

February

From the beginning words of Margaret Atwood's poem February, it is clear the speaker is not in a celebratory mood. The speaker's apathetic and at times disgusted tone shocks the reader. She, the speaker, obviously has little love in her life, her only companion a cat that she admits could care less if she lived or died. She compares humans to cats, saying that if cats go around getting neutered, why shouldn't humans? The speaker even bashes her own species, saying humans should eat their young. The only reason we do not, you ask? Love. No that the speaker finds any meaning in love, for she bashes over its unappeal. The irony of this self-pitying poem about the uselessness of love is the title, February. February's the month of love, or as this speaker describes it, "month of despair, with a skewered heart in the center " However, the speaker thinks little of love judging by her tone, when not even the warmth of a nice, cozy fire can soothe her, she only complains of the pollution. The final ironic lines occur at the end, when the speaker admonishes the cat for being to pessimistic. The speaker should take some of her own advice, get out of bed, stop talking to cats, and find a guy before she dies and the cat eats her.

You're Ugly, Too

The central focus of Lorrie Moore's You're Ugly, Too is her controversial character, Zoe. Zoe fills her life with criticism, irony, and sarcastic comments. Although this makes her interesting and unpredictable, it does little in the way of making her a sympathetic character. It should be easy to feel sorry for Zoe, she is a single woman with few friends to speak of and a job she is less than thrilled with. She is not satisfied with life, which should invoke some emotion within the reader. However, I found it difficult to feel anything for Zoe except exasperation. She hides behind a mask of wit and sarcasm, pretending that everyone she meets is just too unobservant and ordinary to garner her interest. In reality, her immaturity leads her to ruin most relationships in her life. Her relationship with her younger sister has reversed, her sister now taking care of her because, while Evan is moving on with life, maturing in her relationship and personality, Zoe remains forever her sarcastic and free-spirited self. Her social awkwardness and inappropriateness is brought to a climax when she pretend to push Earl off the roof. She did not even seem to realize how inappropriate that was as "she smiled at him, and wondered how she looked" (370). It makes the reader wonder if all the men in her life really were lacking in the ways she described, or if she is simply too immature to make a real relationship work.

Bright Star

In John Keats' Bright Star, the speaker compares himself to a bright star. He weighs the pros and cons of this wish, all while personifying the star in question. He wants to be like a star because they are eternal and can see everything. He wants to be forever moving and gazing at the earth, never changing. However, in the final stanzas, he changes his mind. No longer would being a star suit him, for living forever would not be worth it without his beloved. This final thought reminded me greatly of the book Tuck Everlasting. In the book, a boy name Tuck and his family are "blessed" with immortality. However they soon come to find that living forever alone is a worse fate then death. Much like Keats, who admits "Still,still to hear her tender-taken breath, and so live ever - or else swoon to death" (pg 792).

Lonely Hearts

Wendy Cope's Lonely Hearts is a collection of personal advertisements by people looking for love. The variation of each advertisement is immense. Straight, gay, bikers, and musicians are just some of the requirements needed to answer these ads. However, each stanza has some repetition. Some ask "Can someone make my simple wish come true?", while others simply ask "Is it you?" (pg 973). These repetitive questions show that while these ads are all incredibly different, each person is looking for the same thing. They are looking for a relationship they feel their lives lack. The theme of the poem is that everyone, no matter who, is looking for love. That one question binds the gay man and the Jewish single mom, and the Libran. Each person is seeking someone they have a connection with, and feel so helpless that they take their search to the personal ads.

Eveline

In James Joyce's Eveline, Eveline's present circumstances leave much to be desired. She is often lonely, having few friends, an abusive father, one absent brother, and one dead brother. She must "keep the house together and see that the two young children who had been left to her charge went to school regularly and got their meals regularly" (pg 220). Her supervisor, Miss Gavan, is characterized as judgemental and critical, making working even harder for Eveline. Despite disliking this work, her father is the main source of her unhappiness. He is characterized as tempermental, prone to fits of violence and rage. He even fights with Eveline about money, forcing her to give all her hard-earned money to keep the family going. However, none of this is what eventually pushes her to attempt to leave. Instead, the memory of her mother's final days gives her the courage to decide to leave. She fears ending up like her mother, stuck in the house with an abusive man for a life of sacrafice and despair.

How I Met My Husband

In Alice Munro's How I Met My Husband, the main character is the hired girl, Edie. She is a very sympathetic character, meaning her hardships bring out emotions from the reader. Often, the reader feels for Edie because her innocense and niavety make her vulnerable. Her status as "the hired girl" contributes greatly to the feelings of sympathy the reader has for her. She has little to look forward to in life, a lack of education and money limited her future to working for the Peeble family. She is forced to work for this wealthy family, in awe of their wonderous lifestyle, but also in constant fear she will be fired or shamed. It is this fear that really makes the reader sympathize with her. She lives in fear of disappointing Mrs. Peebles, not wanting the woman to think ill of her. She is so afraid of Mrs. Peeble's bad opinion that she overcomes her shyness to beg Chris not to tell of her dress-up activities. She implores him, "I wisht you wouldn't say anything about the dress" (pg 136). This innocence and fear makes her a sympathetic character.