SRJ: Straight #1:
Personal Reaction :
The short story " Mines" by Susan Straight, made me feel sympathetic for adults who are divorced and have to play the role of both the woman and man of the household. Of the short story, one part that protruded out of the context, is the characters in the story, although the main character suppressed her unhappiness among her peers about playing two roles in her life, the characters around her symbolize and bring out her true feelings that revels the main character’s true feelings about her predicament.
Reading this short story it made me think of my father who played both as the mother and father of the household, although he was gone most of the time at work, he still tried to make time for us now after I read this story, I honestly cant figure out how he managed to work and come home and cook as well as put us to bed.
Literary element:
To illustrate the struggles of divorced parents being both the provider and the house wife, Straight uses Clarette the main character’s possessions as well as friends in the short story to unsurpress her feelings about being the provider and the house wife of her household. For instance, when it comes to money, it is clear she is struggling to make enough to support her family. Through out the story, she keeps track of money an object is worth such as when she brakes when the purple plastic phone, she exclaimed that it costs five dollars and ninety nine cents. Moreover, the character while washing her daughter’s old Navy capris she stated: “ one trip to Old Navy in spring, one in fall all I can afford.” By keeping a list on how much items cost, and that she can only afford to provide her children clothes two times a year reflects how very little income she makes to support her family.
As for the characters in the story they reveal some of Clarette’s feelings about herself and her children. For example, when Clarette sees her friend Tika’s lipstick upon seeing the lipstick Clarette quickly convinces herself that she does not have time to make herself look decent because she is running around doing chores and trying to make a sustainable income for her family. As well as Alfonso in the story represents her children, even though he is essentially not her child she puts the burden on herself to watch out for Alfonso to make sure he is safe. In the end of the story she, sacrifices her safety for him by fighting off his prison mates that are crowding and fighting him, this shows that he like her children she has made sacrifices for them.
Questions and comments:
Whats the relationship of the Ray Junior and his father? Why is Ray Junior hiding things from his father?
As the guy in class said, "well done." :) I especially liked your point that the secondary characters were used to contrast and bring out the main character's feelings. The image of Tika wearing her lipstick served as a contrast to the less feminine Clarette, and it revealed how Clarette felt about being a single mother. I agree with your assessment that Straight used the cost of Clarette's possessions to reveal her struggle as the provider for her family. I think that Ray Junior's relationship with his father has been influenced by Clarette's opinion of Ray. Ray Junior is trying to please his mother when he says that he won't tell his father; however, I think that Ray will take Ray junior to do the things that his mother won't, like get his head shaved.
ReplyDeleteI feel like Ray Jr is a sensitive boy having grown up with his mother Clarette. She has raised him not to be like the other boys in the neighborhood because she knows very well where they end up. She has tried to steer him clear of that path by nurturing his creativity and being emotionally supportive, which Ray Jr thrives on. But his father wants him to be tough and act more like the other boys, who are actually probably getting into trouble. So I think Ray Jr is sort of caught between what his parents want out for him.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with Sonia. I think Ray Jr. is caught in between the expectations of his parents. His mother wants him to focus on school, arts, while his father would rather have his son be tough and "hardcore" I suppose. Clarette's reaction to Ray Jr's haircut was a little strange but it definitely contributes to this idea because I felt as though his haircut reminded Clarette of the inmates she had to deal with at work. I could feel the tension and her heart stopping when she saw her son, resembling so much of the men in prison, and then her relief to see his hair growing out.
ReplyDeleteYou three basically have said what I've been thinking. It's true Ray Jr. keeps things from his dad because he doesn't want to be put down by him just because he might have different tastes in hobbies or he has a different personality than his father.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed your analysis of the fact that money was mentioned throughout the story. If it were not for this blog I may have overlooked those unassuming details. It emphasizes to the reader just how important money is for Clarette as being the provider and mother. Ray Junior and his father have a mutual respect for one another. From the text Ray Junior does not admire his father but is still subject to his influences. He is willing to hide things from his father because of his more personal and loving influences of his mother.
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