A&P

“A&P” written by John Updike takes place in 1961, in a supermarket called A&P located in a small New England town. The story is about a boys coming of age into manhood, Sammy decision to stand up for something he believes in shows his maturity. Sammy is eighteen-years old and an employee at A&E supermarket. Day after day, it is the same monotonous routine at A&P, the moment three girls walk in their bathing suits the dull routine is broken.

everyday use

"Everyday Use," by Alice Walker is about taking value in valuing where to came from. In the story quilts become the center of conflict between two sisters. “In both of them were scraps of dresses Grandma Dee had worn fifty and more years ago, bits and pieces of Grandpa Jattell's Paisley shirts, and one teeny faded blue piece, about the size of a penny matchbox, that was from Great Grandpa Ezra's uniform that he wore in the Civil War.” The quilts symbolize a family treasure, something that should be threshed opposed to being slapped on a wall to satisfy some fad. Each piece holds a tiny piece of the past, and they are all carefully stitched together to tell a story. The mother up bringing also comes into question when I read this story; maybe how she raised them had an affect on the individuals they turned out to be.The mother also doesn’t speak very highly of Maggie she refers to her as a “lame animal, perhaps a dog run over by some careless rich person.” Dee was always given the finer things in life despite the fact that she was completely ungrateful. I believe Maggie’s timid behavior traits root form her mother treating her like a wounded animal and not giving her the same treatment as Dee. I believe that “Mama” feels guilty for neglecting Maggie and that is why she stands up for her at the climax of the story.

A worn path

"A Worn Path" is clearly about African Americans struggle for equality after the civil war. I believe the author Eudora chose the name “Phoenix “because of the mythical creature which is said to live 500 to 1,000 years. Phoenix Jackson is old but she still makes this journey alone several times, she defines strength and determination. Throughout the story she faces hardship but she doesn’t allow them to stand in her way. Phoenix is doing this long dangerous journey for her grandson, she never complains because she knows that in the end it will be worth it. African American fought for equal rights not only for themselves but for the children so that would have better future with equal opportunities

a goodman is hard to find

“A good man is hard to find” is a story about manipulation. The protagonist of the story who is only referred to as “the grandmother” manipulates her family members and tries to manipulate a criminal. In the end it’s because of her manipulations that she dies and causes the unfortunate demise of her own family.

a hunger artist

“A hunger artist” is a story is about a discontented man who just can’t be happy, so he expresses how he feels by fasting. Food represents the happiness he seeks. By fasting the hunger artist is showing that there is just nothing in life that can satisfy him, “because I couldn’t find a food which tasted good to me. If had found that, believe me, I would not have made a spectacle of myself and would have eaten to my heart’s content, like you and everyone else”, he feels discounted from the rest of the world.
The hunger artist feels passionate about his art something his audience does not believe. “While for grown-ups the hunger artist was often merely a joke, something they participated in because it was fashionable, the children looked on amazed, their mouths open, holding each other’s hands for safety”, his audience wrongfully interprets his performance as a sham or as some dimwitted form of entrainment.

the prolonged letter

I didn’t really enjoy this story it was very different from Poe’s usual works, there was no gore no gloom. A quick summary of the story, a very important letter goes missing. The culprit is Minister D he has hidden the letter in his apartment but none of the police officer can find it. Dupin uses a different technique from the officers; he actually puts himself in the culprit’s shoes and connects with him on a mental level. By doing this he finds where Minister D hid the letter. The story kinds of dragged on... I found it ironic how similar Poe made Minister D and Dupin way of thinking. The message I got from the story was to think outside because logical thinking may gets us no where at times.

The hills like white elephants

I thought the fact that it was a conversation rather then a regular story made it more interesting to read, it was if i was ease dropping on someone’s conversation. The couple who are contemplating having a abortion seem somewhat conflicted on whether to go through with it or not. I think the title “white elephant” represents the fact that having a baby is a huge decision t and the fact that this is an issue that cannot be ignored. I think the author choose the color white because the color white is usually associated with light, goodness, innocence, purity. The fact that they are by railroad tracks may symbolize making a choice; there are only two choices, two directions, just like the two rail lines. The man obviously doesn’t want to have the baby the girl seems torn “He did not say anything but looked at the bags against the wall of the station. There were labels on them from all the hotels where they had spent nights” this lines shows that he doesn’t want a change in lifestyle. He likes to travel to different place; a baby would hold him back.