"Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption" by Stephen King

BRILLIANT!! LONG, BUT STRONG!

POINT OF VIEW: As narrator, Red is an inmate at Shawshank recalling the story of Andy Dufresne. Red gives the details of Andy's prison experience, relating episodes of rape, solitary punishment, and boredom to that of many prisoners. Because Red is the "go-to-get-it" person, he hears almost all stories through the grapevine; this is useful when figuring out information on Andy. The story is made more powerful coming from Red's point of view for several reasons. First, he was accurately imprisoned for his crimes but still has a good heart when dealing with others in "The Shank." Second, Red tells the story of the pure joy he felt from Andy's freedom. Red clearly states that the story is "all about [him]... Andy was the part of [Red] they could never lock up, the part... that will rejoice when the gates finally open...." Through Andy's story, Red depicts his views and fears of freedom.


PLOT: First and foremost, I found myself at times immersed in the years Red, the narrator, would throw out. Like any story being told, details are forgotten and one must backtrack to get an important story in; Red did just this. Each section ends with a cliff hanger which engages the reader and propels them forward. The hints at the end of each story or section adds up to the overall surprise of Andy's escape. The phrase "happy family" was repeated throughout the whole story to add irony to the criminals imprisoned.

Throughout the story, I kept searching for that pivotal moment when the story shifted. Overall, I think there were two big shifts in the story: the first is the scene where the prisoners are tarring the roof and Andy offers his financial service to the warden. From here, Andy acquires some leniency in the prison. The next shift comes when we are startled by the realization that Andy has escaped due to the leniency from the first shift! Both hold climactic qualities.

CHARACTERIZATION: As foil characters, Red and Andy expose each others' fears, discomforts, and hopes. Andy finds a hobby within the prison, and Red's the guy who can get the material for Andy's rock hobby. Red fears life outside structured prison, while Andy evidently yearns for it. Andy is innocent; Red is guilty. Andy is uncomfortable asking for the Rita Hayworth poster for seemingly obvious reasons. More subtly, Andy is introverted as seen in his library position; he searches and acts quietly and independently. "He searched almost desperately for something to divert his restless mind." Through Andy's character, we see more of Red's character: the outgoing, talkative, go-to guy.

The story involves both direct characterization through Red's accounts of the prisoners and indirect characterization as Red's interactions with others portray his personality.

SETTING: Maine and crime seem to juxtapose each other; therefore, I was immediately struck that a quiet, forgotten state like Maine held the prison in which the story is set. Crucial that the story is told from the prison setting, Red is able to relate the confinement of prison to the broad freedom of the outside world. Since the majority of the story takes place within Shawshank, the freedom of the outside world gains power: "The window is open and the sound of the traffic floating in seems huge, esciting, and intimidating."

The mid 1900's served as the perfect time frame. During the time the men were in jail, many advancements were being made on the outside, which Red had to face once free (the music, cars, jobs, etc.). Also, this time period was not equipped with the latest technology for solving cases, contributing to Andy's imprisonment. Without Andy, Red would not have been driven to remain out of jail and free!

THEME: "Some birds are not meant to be caged, that's all. Their feathers are too bright, their songs too sweet and wild... And the part of you that knows it was wrong to imprison them in the first place rejoices, but still, the place wehre you live is that much more drab and empty for their departure." The revalation I took from "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" is the necessity for willpower and human influnces in our lives. Because of Andy, Red remained out of trouble while on parole. No matter how we try to stop or change it, people impact our lives. Human will-power is a strong force; some people possess the right amount not to let anyone or anything hinder them.

I also understood the affect of preparing for the worst. Because Andy was prepared with an awaiting identity and savings, he was able to move on with his life. Perhaps King indicates the need for self-reliance and preparation for whatever is to come. For as long as my education continues (which will hopefully never end!), I don't know that I'll ever be comfortable with the word "theme." There are so many avenues to take when regarding theme!

Stay? Go? She Didn't Know!

James Joyce writes a disturbing story, "Eveline," where a problematic girl stays in her problematic world instead of venturing off with her love Frank. Eveline's childhood sounds rocky, as her father lost his temper often and came home drunk. Remarkably, her mother's last words sum up the theme of the story: "Derevaun Seraun" or "The end of pleasure is pain." What a dreadful statement yet seemingly true in Eveline's case. She finds love and happiness and acceptance in Frank; she finds excitement in the prospect of eloping with him. Yet despite her battered past, Eveline stays. She clings to the side of the boat, as if she were clinging to a world she will never know. She remains at home to fulfill her mother's dying wish for Eveline to keep the house together as long as she could. Eveline stays out of fear, like an abused woman convincing herself it is okay to leave her abusive spouse or family, only to find in the end she is kept home by some unyielding force.

Where Is the Love?

So much violence perpetually strikes Africa, even in the wealthiest areas. The story "Once Upon A Time" is no exception. The family builds walls and gates, installs alarms and iron bars on windows, and adds barb wire to their wall. All of this is done in order to keep peace in their home and violence out. Here, theme is indirect. Perhaps it touches on the violence and cruelty that envelopes people striving for peace. So prevalent in our world today is the reality of hate crimes or crimes done out of poverty. This story serves as a reminder of the danger we face everyday, and the way this fear consumes. Living in constant fear, some are determined and run by that fear, afraid to find out what it's like to live. Like the family in the story, lives can be defined by the security a person feels and the safety that is jeopardized.

Dangerous Safety

In "Once Upon A Time," I got the impression at the beginning that the narrator was going to give in to writing a child's story. In fact, she did just the opposite: composed a child's nightmare to help her fall asleep. Slightly erring on the creepy side? I think so! Irony at its best appears in the narrator's story. A perfect family is surrounded by not-so-perfect people. Burglaries and crimes crop up all around the "happily ever after" family. They take all precautions to secure their household and lives. While barriers keep people out, they also keep the family in. I found it ironic that the "wise old witch," or husband's mother, gave the boy the book of fairy tales and the parents money for a higher wall. Her gesture to the boy was innocent, designed to bring peace and fantasy to his world. However, because of lack of peace in their community and the boy's imagination, innocence was lost in the perfect family's life as the boy was torn to pieces by their barb wired fence.

The Stage

Miss Brill, a lonely woman, listens to the conversations of people around her as she sits on the bench every Sunday. This particular Sunday she experiences an epiphany: she is an actress, part of a show. The loneliness she feels hides behind her part "on stage;" she feels a part of something as she listens to the happy band and watches the crowd. By listening to others conversations, her loneliness is taken away. She is happy while listening to the tunes of the band. This happiness abruptly ends when Miss Brill catches a conversation between two young, ignorant people in love. Miss Brill takes a drastic turn from taking part on stage and enjoying her role to being thrown off stage in a heap of shame. The young couple criticized the way Miss Brill sat and watched, not knowing or caring that this was her interaction, her happiness.

What A Name!

Clever names in this one made my eyes alert when I came across the goofy names, though I felt at times to be drifting off!
In "Bartleby the Scrivener," one primary aspect stuck out to me. While it pertains to both his character and the title of the work, the narrator-boss's name is never mentioned. In connection to character, the development of the narrator is perceived through the title because he always put others' best interests and needs before his own: even though he was tired of Bartleby's "I prefer not to" excuse, the boss kept him, for he knew Bartleby needed a place to work and stay. His name wasn't mentioned because of his persistence to put others before himself. A rather laid back man with good intentions, the narrator explores other characters through his viewpoint; therefore, we are immersed into his character. By explaining the foil characters of Nippers and Turkey who balance each other out, the narrator offers a glimpse of his personality and ability to look past the workload and into the depths of his employees.

Foil Toil

Expanding the polar differences between the two, Maggie and Dee are foil characters in "Everday Use." Dee is one with no limits, making her family feel inferior to her by her wits and desire to forcefully read to them. Maggie, however, "stands hopelessly in corners, homely and ashamed of the burn scars..." while her sister consumes the light. Dee pays Maggie little if no attention growing up and Maggie watches "with a mixture of envy and awe." Dee selfishly returns, claiming items of the house as her own. A critical moment occurs as Dee (Waterango) snatches the quilts made by her grandmother with bits and pieces of the family's history. Meant to be Maggie's wedding present, Dee assumes she can take the quilts and use them as she wishes. Maggie selflessly gives her assent, accentuating a key difference in their characters. Selfless Maggie obtains the heritage, while selfish Dee leaves empty-handed.

For some reason, this story reminded me of the Prodigal Son in reverse. The more humble child ends up with the riches and the snotty child leaves with nothing.

Heritage?

We see the story through the narrator's eyes: Dee and Maggie's mother. She worships Dee and fantasizes about a good relationship with her daughter. The one with the brains and willpower, Dee takes off only to leave her mother and sister still poor. Dee comes back and immediately her character has shifted. Where she once watched satisfactorily the house burn down, she comes back and takes pictures of her family with the new house included. This is the first indication of Dee's view of "heritage." She tells her mother her new name is "Waterango Leewanika Kemanjo, adapted from African roots even though the name "Dee" extends her family line and true heritage. "Waterango" irritated me: her fake actions and willingness to see the new house only benefited herself. She scurried through the house claiming items of everyday use for mother and Maggie to herself, claiming her displaying them will better support their heritage. We learn that heritage needn't be shown off and displayed, but rather kept reserved and intimately important within the family and home.

Fickle Friends

In "Hunters in the Snow," Tub points out that "when you've got a friend it means you have someone by your side no matter what." However, he says this after the experience hunting. I found it rather difficult to pinpoint the strength of the relationship between Frank, Kenny, and Tub. Frank and Kenny are bullies from the start: they watch Tub (that name gets me every time!) struggle through the fence and watch him eat his celery and egg. They laugh at his weight and do not wait for him. This troubled me especially when Tub made his previously stated comment about friends, but he seemingly lacked true friends.
Kenny's recklessness and daring attitude ultimately lead to his wound and inferred demise. The friends are fickle because they bounce around, deciding to whom to be loyal. When Frank confesses his secret about the romance with a fifteen-year-old babysitter, Tub decides his embarrassing secret should be confessed as well. Tub's eating habits distract him from the world around him; furthermore, his obsession with food distances himand Frank grow from their injured friend Kenny.

Waiting by the Mailbox

The first thing that struck me about "How I Met My Husband" was the impending idea that Chris, the traveling pilot, would end up being young Edie's husband. Because of age and creepy encounters with Edie, I labeled Chris a bad omen for Edie in this story. Typical stereotyped man, he ends up using her and taking off! Despite all this, the story did not focus entirely around the feelings for the loss, but coping after Chris was gone. Rather positive, the end of the story conveys the theme. The theme seems blatant- sometimes we wait for nothing. "There were women just waiting and waiting by mailboxes..." describes the women waiting for a lost cause. It struck me that if we keep waiting for something better to come along or to come back then we inevitably miss out on the reality of the present. This story struck a chord: I cannot wait around for an opportunity that may never come. In order to experience, I have to reach goals by making opportunities for myself. Similarly, Edie quit her childish waiting by the mailbox and ended up obtaining something positive from it: her husband!

Culture vs. संस्कृति

The customs and cultures prevalent in America and India seemingly differ as told in "Interpreter of Maladies." For me, this story was especially captivating because it encompassed two things I thoroughly enjoy learning about- love and culture. As far as culture goes, I think there is an overwhelming amount to learn about love from places around the world in the way they treat their spouses, children, families, relationships, etc. I got a taste of differing worlds in this story. First- falling in and out of love is universal, as are "the bickering, the indifference, [and] the protracted silences" of some marriages. However, in India, marriages are commonly arranged. Clothing differs: "Foreigners," or Americans, wear "stiff, brightly covered clothing and caps with translucent visors." Mr. Kapasi was accustomed to his tailored trousers and jacket-styled shirt "made of thin but durable synthetic material." Where Mr. Kapasi simply pressed his palms together in greeting, Mr. Das vigorously shook hands in the American way. Mr Kapasi can't grasp the fact that Mr. Das addresses his wife as Mina when speaking to the children. The Das family acts more in a sisterly-brotherly manner rather than the traditional husband, wife, children arrangement. Of course, the driving situations and seating is different; I hope I never have to drive in a foreign country!
In more of a symbolic setting, the scene where Mr. Das peers out one window and Mrs. Das out the other represents the differences in their interests and even the status of India versus America. Mr. Das marvels about India, captivating its people and animals in pictures. He seems unchanged by the emaciated man and bullocks on the side of the road, a poverty not uncommon in India. Mrs. Das represents the American side of things, aware of the poverty or other culture but remaining unaffected, focusing on an easier setting of "transparent clouds passing quickly in front of one another."

Young Love Gone Bad

"Interpreter of Maladies" is structured and titled around the central conflict: Mrs. Das no longer loves Mr. Das. Their young love seems timeless, as young love often does. Come to find out, Mrs. Das no longer loves her husband in such a way as before; she considers this a malady, or an ailment. At first, Mrs. Das seems simply curious about Mr. Kapasi's "romantic" job as an interpreter, asking him questions about the different ailments like sore throats. Mr. Kapasi finds her interest pleasing and intriguing which in turn makes him want to get to know Mrs. Das better. Mrs. Das however has another motive in mind. As soon as the two are alone, she spills her secrets about lost love and adultery to Mr. Kapasi, expecting him to naturally be able to interpret her "malady" and give her a way to feel better about her life. The title of the short story hints at Mr. Kapasi's occupation outside of being a tour guide, not his mystical powers to cure psychological "ailments."
The story is set up in such a way that when one reads, they see the day trip through Mr. Kapasi's fantasies about Mrs. Das, suggesting the romantic connection is reciprocated. Disappointment sets in once the realization surfaces that Mrs. Das views Mr. Kapasi as a parent, and later irony plays a role as Mrs. Das seeks advice about her life absent of love from a man who has been lusting over her the whole day.