David's Short Fiction Blog

 Everyday Use shows the cost and the value in embracing an old heritage and a new identity.  Both viewpoints can have benefits and both can be expensive to hold on to.  Mrs. Johnson and Maggie seemed to be content with the status quo and the simplicity of their lives.  Perhaps there is a comfortable, but distorted familiarity with the traditions they have grown accustomed to.  This mindset may keep them living in the bubble they are in and not further expand their horizons.  However, even though they are not educated, there is a homespun type of wisdom that is gained only through their generational ties.  Nevertheless, who is to dictate what makes one person feel whole and complete.  The inheritance of the family quilts and of the heritage finally brings a real smile to Maggie.      Wangero/Dee and Asalamalakim seem to represent the opposite end of this spectrum.  They do not want to be associated with their birth names becau...

     Everyday Use shows the cost and the value in embracing an old heritage and a new identity.  Both viewpoints can have benefits and both can be expensive to hold on to.  Mrs. Johnson and Maggie seemed to be content with the status quo and the simplicity of their lives.  Perhaps there is a comfortable, but distorted familiarity with the traditions they have grown accustomed to.  This mindset may keep them living in the bubble they are in and not further expand their horizons.  However, even though they are not educated, there is a homespun type of wisdom that is gained only through their generational ties.  Nevertheless, who is to dictate what makes one person feel whole and complete.  The inheritance of the family quilts and of the heritage finally brings a real smile to Maggie.      Wangero/Dee and Asalamalakim seem to represent the opposite end of this spectrum.  They do not want to be associated with their bir...

A Good Man is Hard to Find is a story of a Grandmother who has a vision of herself that is opposite of who she really is.   Her character views herself as a “lady.”   In her mind, a lady had a certain quality of dressing properly, of religiosity and of being respected by her family.   However, her actions and belief system contradicted the vision she had of herself.   All of her family were into their own activities, including her disrespectful grandchildren.    The family trip turned out to be a regretful experience when they encountered The Misfit, a ruthless killer devoid of any humanity.   In an effort to save herself from being murdered, the Grandmother tried to convince the Misfit he was a good man. The Misfit lived up to who he was and even said “I’m not a good man.”   The Grandmother’s superficial core values were totally nullified by the Misfits values.   She offered to give him money and even doubted the resurrection of Jesus. ...

Toni Cade Bambara's The Lesson shows how change often does not occur without crisis.  A death of an old mindset comes with a grieving process before the resurrection of a new point of view occurs.  The story begins with Sylvia, a poor kid, laughing at and hating Miss Moore.  Sylvia and Sugar notice Miss Moore is different and that alone would be enough to have a combative attitude. Miss Moore makes it her business to try and elevate the awareness of the social construct that Sylvia, her cousin Sugar and the other kids are a part of.  Sylvia is upset because she'd rather be at the pool.  She is "really hating this nappy-head bitch and her goddamn college degree."  Miss Moore takes the kids on an outing to the expensive FAO Schwartz toy store.  Outside the window, Sylvia sees the price tag of an item and states "Unbelievable."  Her awareness continues and is evident in the way she is reluctant to go in the store and for some reason unbeknownst to ...

This week's story has a push and pull tug-of-war aspect between Jig and the man.  The story plays out on a train station where a couple is waiting for the train to their next destination.  The station is between two rails traveling in different directions.  This symbolism signals that the characters seem to be wanting to travel in two different life directions.  The girl seems to want to move towards a more stable family life and the man wants to continue in his adolescent like adventures.  It's evident they are of a significant age difference.  The man seems to be more worldly knowing the local language.  The girl seems to be at a disadvantage and somewhat and at his mercy.  It then becomes evident that these bigger themes play out around a pregnancy.  The man wants her to end it, and she feels if she does, their future will never be the same.  Either way, their future will be impacted.  The story's combatting ideologies are freedo...

Welcome to my blog.  This weeks' short story by Kate Chopin has many weighty themes, such as freedom, love, marriage and death.  I found the correlations fascinating.  Freedom can be expressed as loving someone, which can lead to marriage.  Traditionally, marriage is till death parts the couple.  What I found interesting in this story is that Mrs. Mallard loved her husband...sometimes.  She thinks to herself "  There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence in which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature."  These lines made me wonder if Mrs. Mallard was in an arranged marriage.  The story was written in 1899.  At that time women could not even vote.  Perhaps she had to bend her will to maintain a subservient role.  Meanwhile, a death is occurring insider her.  Perhaps she had to stay in the marriage for financial reasons. I believe relationships req...