I must say I have enjoyed many of the readings throughout this course so it’s difficult to choose one that resonated with me because many of them did in a way. One story I related to on a personal level was “The Lesson” which I chose to do my essay on. This story reminded me of myself growing up in the impoverished neighborhoods of New York City and wondering how I could make it out. The story touched me deeply and I felt compelled to write about it. I too learned many lessons as a child and adolescent, some not so easy to swallow. However I do believe that adversity builds character, and in this story the lesson strengthened the character and hopefully the reader.
Another story that resonated with me was “Where are you going, where have you been”. This antagonist in this book Arthur Friend stood out to me for the simple reason that during this time I was reading a book called “Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson. The antagonist in this book based in the late 1800s was one of the first recorded serial killers Dr. H.H. Holmes. The characters have many similarities, what really made some connections for me was the reference to Arthur Friend as “Arch Fiend” and as the devil. In the overview of the story this was pointed out in great detail. The descriptions of Arthur Friend and Holmes were so glaring that it was a bit of serendipity for me as I was reading these stories at the same time. Holmes was also referred to as “the devil’ and “arch fiend” among many other monickers. He also stalked women who were his primary victim, women like Connie. The timing was just too good.
The story that resonated with me the least I’d have to say “The Most Handsome Drown Man”. While I did have my interpretation of the story, it just seemed like a surreal setting with fanciful elements. There was an element of magic in the story, which I enjoyed, but just not realistic. still….. a good read.
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James, thanks for the great comments. The connections you make between “Where Are You Going . . . ” and the Larsen novel are striking. I think Oates paints a very genuine picture of a serial killer in her story, which is so chilling. I think it’s so powerful because the sense of true evil is evident in the story, especially in contrast to the clueless Connie, who is so uninformed and innocent. As for the Marquez story, some people just aren’t into fantasy, as you clearly are not. I love that story for its strangeness and the beauty of the writing. Thanks for your comments throughout the semester.