The Curfew Tolls

Stephen Vincent Benet

This is a short story which uses the biographical account. This account was revealed using the detailed nine letters of General Sir Charles William Geoffrey Escourt, C.B. to his sister, Harriet. The sequence of events was express using the first point of view narrated by Gen. Sir Charles himself. This story seems to act as a history tale.

The atmosphere was filled with topics mostly enjoyed by men. It has foretold how the two major characters, Gen. Sir Charles and Bonaparte take pleasure in discussing the “art of war” and playing a “war game”. It has also showed the dreams, transformation, hauntings and the sojourn of these two major characters. The story shows a military bonding relationship talking about the French Revolution. This in general tells readers a glimpse of the life of Bonaparte retold in a personal manner. It’s different because it is not focused on the historical account of Bonaparte as a commanding general. The story reflects the character’s strengths and weaknesses foretold in a personal manner. It has narrated how he was identified as a bandit. He was even described by Gen. Sir Charles as a “broken soldier”.

At first, the story was presented simply. The punch only came at the later end of the story when the acquaintance was named using these words, “Here lies NAPOLEONE BUONAPARTE”. His strong personality seems to say something.

The character of Napoleon Bonaparte in this story was pictured as a man with strong personality, intelligence, authoritative and in some parts rude and arrogant. Conversations between the Gen. Sir Charles and Bonaparte sometimes seem offensive. Some parts of this story show his vulnerability. This story gives readers a window of a strong personality like Bonaparte living a normal life. His character shows longings to do a lot of things before parting as reflected in these lines, “If I had Alexander’s chance would have bettered Alexander”, “If I had been born under the Sun-King, I would be a Marshall of France; If I had been born twenty years ago, I would mold a new Europe with my fist in the next dozen of years”. History tells us how Bonaparte conquered places, but in this account, it seems that he was not contented even in the summit of his greatness.

This story did not only talk about his mighty contribution to French revolution. Here, Bonaparte was a picture of a sick man. It has also shown his affection for his family and for friendship. As a family man he was described using these lines “For though not the eldest, he is strongest among them and they know it. They rebel, but he rules their family”.

The story accounted how Napoleon faced death calmly yet the narrator expressed his fear that “it was without the sincere repentance of a Christian”. It has also showed a picture of how some people hoped for his death. These are illuminated in the lines, “his end was relatively serene as might be hoped for” and “France had had enough of him”.

This however brings to mind a paradox of Bonaparte’s life. His life here is different from what we have known as what history told us. This story can be a very good example to differentiate an account foretold in a personal manner and an account foretold solely for historical purposes. Both are in narratives but the angle of how to tell the story is different.

This story has brought the classic question men are still in search for answers. This is communicated in these lines, “But have you never known the curse… the curse of not being employed when you should be employed? The course of being a hammer with no nail to drive? –the curse of sitting in a dusty garrison town with dreams that would split the brain of a garrison town with dreams that would split the brain of a Caesar and no room on earth for those dreams?”

This account also brought out topics about corruption in their French system. This is contained in the following lines, “He steals an empire for you, and your virtuous English parliament holds up its hands in horror because he steals a few lakhs of rupees for himself as well”.

Figurative language was noted in these lines “He is pleased as a child”, “half of a mind to break off the acquaintance early”, “courteous captors”, “It was like being in a nest of Italian smugglers, or a den of quarrelsome foxes”

This story shows traces that Harriet was also sending letters to her brother but none of her replies was published.

The setting was filled with conflicts –the two major characters’ spicy discussions and the family’s aggressiveness. The story is always talking about war that it seems peace don’t exist. This is highly contrasted to the peace felt only when Bonaparte died.

In this story, it is hard to identify the conflict, the rising action and all the elements of Freytag’s triangle. Maybe because this story deviates from what a number call as the standard of narrating a short story. The author has his own way through omitting other words of building characters, creating a story and leaving an impact.

 

 

More than three fourths of the story is more on character building.

Death has become a topic. It shows that death chooses no one. No matter how powerful Bonaparte has become, he died a lonely man that he can not even carry with him his treasures.

Chelyn Torejas, Literary Criticism

Araby

            The short story, Araby, was written by an Irish James Joyce. Readers can sense that the piece was a reflection of the author’s life. It was a story that serves as a mirror of the Ireland society. It has consistently presented the harsh realities during that period. The author further emphasized the dark muddy lanes where night falls early, the blind street, the dead end, dark halls, dark garden, charitable life and where playing hasn’t exactly brought pleasure and freedom.

            Dissecting History, readers can apparently see the culture of United Kingdom partly assimilated and depicted in the story. This was especially shown when the narrator became awe struck by the English-speaking attendant at the bazaar. Scenarios like this, implicitly shows the superiority complex of England over Dublin, the capital of Ireland.

 

            The area where the narrator leaves draws a picture of a lonely, stagnant and joyless home. The boy’s home and his sum enough money implies poverty. In general, the story through the author’s creative description is chiefly rich in imagery

            However, this gloomy environment was concealed over the narrator’s infatuation towards a girl. The narrator detached himself from the harsh and gloomy realities of his environment by the unfolding light and hope stemming from that girl.

            I can sense a slight similarity of this piece to that of Kafka. These literatures tend to preserve confidentiality and promote the style of a writing that leaves characters nameless. A style which often leaves readers pay more attention to the piece or else be get confused.

            The nameless narrator gave us a picture of a boy beginning to abandon boyhood in exchange for adolescence. At the end of the story, it seems like that boy was awakened to the harsh realities.  It suggested that society is ruled by money and materialism.

            The narrator who happened to be mystified and obsessed towards a girl faded as quickly as the lights have been shut. His lack of guidance about topics ranging from love up to the mere realities made him fall disappointed.

            The last line, “Gazing up into the darkness I saw myself as a creature driven
and derided by vanity; and my eyes burned with anguish and anger” perhaps gave us a general insight of how the narrator felt. It can also be a reflective association of the narrator’s feelings towards United Kingdom.

Chelyn Torejas, Literary Criticism

BATTER MY HEART

            Like other poetry, John Donne’s “Batter my heart, three-personned God; for you,” make used of the figures of speech. Three-personned God is metaphorically used to mean the Traditional Christian faith about Trinity. Using the first person point of view, viceroy (in line 7) might mean conscience or that small voice coming from the Heavenly. 

            The atmosphere of the piece is somehow gloomy and even sounds depressing through its consistent use of violent imagery. Its first word, “batter” only represents the first of the following myriad of violent terms like break, blow, burn, imprison and ravish. This is a piece of contradictory. It’s ironic to think that the author has created an impact using some sexual terms to further express his spiritual longingness.

            The sonnet, in its old English version looks like a prayer. The predominant use of “You” which represents God depicts that the piece is directed towards the Heavenly and can be viewed as a prayer. It could be a reflection of the author’s longingness. It is an account of a religious troubled narrator who wanted to be redeemed from sin but is too weak to overcome it. Consequently, this led him to express his desire to renew his spirit by voluntarily submitting himself to be ravished spirituality.

            Feminist and moralist may interpret this work differently. In this poetry, Modernism and wild imagination is implicated towards faith. Many may react on how the author incorporates “Disturbing rape” towards his religious topic considering that in Christianity (during Donne’s time), Religious topics are seriously viewed as sacred and holy. Religious sectors may posed questions like, “Is it ethical or possible for the narrator to attract Divine grace by the way he writes?”  But the author’s way of applying the art of subtleties makes the gist of the topic harder to grasp.

Chelyn Torejas, Literary Criticism

La Mere Sauvage

Guy de Maupassant

 

La Mere Sauvage has a unique structure. It has two stories rolled into one. The first was narrated using the first-person point of view in which the nameless narrator expressed his emotions about the Virelogne. A shift occurred when the second story was foretold using the omniscient point of view. The author uses the house to usher the first story to the second one.

The characters were well-described by the author. They have a clear character sketch. An example are the four Prussian boys, they are described as four great boys with blond skin, with blond beards, with blue eyes, stout, kind, gentle and full of consideration.

            Aside from the characters, the events and situations were also described clearly. This further includes the details and description of the dead bodies of Victor and his Father. The story also showed an extreme description of how the rabbit was killed, the details of how the four Prussians died up to how the mother Sauvage was brutally murdered.

            Maupassant’s clear description of each event created an extreme picture leaving imprints of sorrow. This further created a gloomy atmosphere. Throughout the story, we can feel characters longing for happiness. Death, war, brutal killings can also be read in this story which further intensified the story’s dark atmosphere.

            It is an irony how the muzzle of the gun piece extending beyond the black head dress of the old woman pressed closed up to her head and imprisoned her white hair.

            The story shows violence. It has portrayed the tragic death and brutal killings and pictures of events. The story might appeal traumatic to the younger readers.

            Mother Sauvage showed a dynamic character. Her character makes a dramatic turn at the later end of the story.  However the author gives reader a hint at the beginning of the story of her character. She was pictured as someone who is mysterious.

            Revenge is one of major themes of the story. Mother Sauvage killed the Prussian boys which she described as good sons as a form of vengeance.

            The setting has widely affected the whole story. The cottage where the les Sauvages where living was situated away from the city. It shows loneliness. It further shows no security that mother Sauvage as old as she is has to bring with her his son’s riffle every time she goes out. The presence of war was further maximized by the presence of the Prussian boys, the strangers.

            It was the Prussians who have killed Victor, the son. The story pictured the Prussians as someone who are cruel. This contention however is a paradox of what the four Prussians were showing to mother Sauvage. The four where described as good, kind, gentle and considerate. They even were seen cleaning the Kitchen, rubbing the tiles, splitting wood, peeling potatoes, doing up all the housework. One of them even showed his compassion for the old woman when she was not eating.

            The emotions of the old woman dominated her which lead to her planned and intent killing for the four Prussian boys. This somehow illuminated racism. She avenged the death of her son by killing those people of the same race who have killed him. It is an irony of how the old woman intently killed the four boys which she assumed for a while as his four good sons.

            It can be seen that mother Sauvage has no intention of keeping what she had done as a secret and it can be seen that she is satisfied about it. The Prussians, however take it seriously regardless if she is an old woman. Her vengeance caused her her life.

            Readers can also spot figurative language. Examples are these lines, “…flashed in the sun and looked like veins carrying blood to the earth.”,  “…walking lightly as a goat…” and “He came with his long strides like a crane.”

 

Chelyn Torejas, Literary Criticism

The Man of the House

Frank O’Connor

 

            This is a short story written by Frank O’Connor, an Irish. The story has partly depicted beliefs of Catholic faith which is commonly practiced in Ireland.

Applying the omniscient point of view, this story uses the presence of cathedral and the act of asking for a miracle as a last resort to symbolize devotion and faith. Candles may symbolize for hope.

This story was focused on a ten-year old unnamed boy. His character is torn between being a child and being a grown up. He is a picture torn between either to act responsibly or irresponsibly. His lack for a father figure, influence how his character acts and thinks. In this story, he is the one who stands as “the man of the house”. This is reflected in the line, “It’s a funny thing about women, the way they’ll take orders from anything in trousers, even if it’s only ten”. His character is taking the burden due to a father.

Yet in some parts of the story, his childhood characteristics were also portrayed. Children depend on their mothers and this characteristic was shown in young Sullivan’s character. “… I lay awake, thinking of what would happen to me..” – this is just one of the lines that depicts how the young boy worries losing his mother.

At first, Mrs. Sullivan was sickly portrayed while the young Sullivan was healthily represented. Prior to their health, these two characters took an exchange of role.

Social status was presented in this story. The portrayal of their house, Mrs. Sullivan’s “economical” used of sticks for the coalhole, their long-winded call for a doctor and some scenes of the story illuminates the character’s low social status. In general, it shows the burden of single parenting in which consequences are both experience by the parent and her child. The story seems to picture school for young Sullivan as if it was a thing of the past.

This story was narrated in a dark atmosphere. The condition of his mother made it gloomy. The sunlight that the young Sullivan felt turn out dark. This is best describe in a line, “…all the light had gone out of the day, and the murmuring hillside had become a vast, alien, cruel world”.

“…stealing a glance at the world outside. I could have stood there all day. Of all the profound and simple pleasures of those days, that was the richest.”, Once down there, I tended to forget the real world”, these lines give readers a hint that young boy was under difficulties. His character shows longing for peace.

O’Connor used a female character subtly similar to Eve to cunningly trick the young boy. She even advice him to lie to his mother. But uprightness is depicted in this story. Aside from being portrayed as a good child, as young as he was, he was able to counteract the young girl’s advice to lie though at first he said that he lost the medicine.

The story presented the theme of regret. This is reflected in this line, “We don’t mind them when we have them,’ he added, to my mother ‘and then we spend the rest of our lives regretting it.” Other than regret, it has also presented the themes of forgiveness, faith and humanity’ natural reaction towards death.

Figurative language was reflected in this lines, “like savages than Christians”, “the silence of the kitchen” and the “murmuring hillside.”

Chelyn Torejas, Literary Criticism

Mateo Falcone

            The title itself suggests what the story is all about. As narrated by a nameless narrator two years after the event, this story is focused on its two main characters, the Father Mateo and his ten years old son Fortunato.

            The first paragraph serves as an establishing period filled with descriptive words portraying the story’s setting. Partly, the story shows the typical way of life in the mountains in the story’s particular setting.

            Paragraph 3 shows a vivid view about the physical appearance and the special shooting ability of Mateo Falcone. His last name, Falcone, is a metaphor to a falcon bird which somehow shows the readers an abstract picture of his hunting-for-prey ability.

            Aside from Mateo, the author was also able to descriptively portray a picture of each character including Fortunato. Considered as the “hope of the family” as cited in paragraph 4, the name Fortunato may stand for the word “Fortunate”. His name Fortunato, however, is an irony of his fate of the story.

            This short story can be regarded as a cruel story yet it leaves emotional imprint. This is maybe because of the act of brutal killing done by the Father to his only son. “Mateo Falcone” is a story that deviates from the traditional stories with happy endings.

            The French author Prosper Merimee’s way of writing this tragic story might be credited to the influence brought by Napoleon’s war that devastated Europe. Some words of this story have roots coming from France. As an examples are the words, maquis, embroil, savage, sang-froid, dungeon, guillotine, epaulet and fagot. Porto-Vecchio, Corsica and Bastia are even places located in France. Further, characters in this story have been named with French names. The French culture of recognizing relatives even up to further degrees of relationship is also presented in this story. The bandit Gianetto used franc, the currency of France, to bribed the young Fortunato.

            The watch, which Gamba used as a bait to bribe Fortunato stands as an abstract symbol for time. If Fortunato could only turn back time, he might still be alive. The two weapons of Mateo, the presence of a bandit and the law enforcers gives viewers a picture of an unsecured place.

            Looking on the story’s atmosphere, readers may notice how the atmosphere evolved. At first, the story was presented lightly but readers are thrilled as the author bring them to an equally opposite situation.

            Corruption is also showed in the story. It tells us that corruption is an act practiced not only by government officials but also by ordinary people whether young or old.

            The story has showed the concept of betrayal. Originally, treachery came from old French word trecherie meaning cheat or trick. Man’s weakness to resist temptation is also shown in the story. With this, the nature of money as the root cause of evil is shown in the story.

            The creative way of Merimee to portray the story’s various actions, especially at the ending portion of the story, is commendable. His way of writing is somehow similar to Aristotle’s concept that leaves emotional imprint through injecting pain and fear towards its readers.

            The story also presents violent actions and words. To take as an examples are statements like, “He acted, further, with the ingenious cunning of a savage.” and “Come, hide me, or I will kill you”, “Do you know, you young scamp that I can take you away to Corte or to Bastia? I shall put you in dungeon, on a bed of straw, with your feet in irons, and I shall guillotine you…” which is addressed to a young boy.

            Fortunato’s death at the later end of the story is considerably horrible. The author is so harsh to used Mateo, the Father to kill Fortunato, his only son through Mateo’s “conspicuous talent”, shooting. Figuratively, the brutal killing is a paradox to Mateo’s good reputation as cited on the story’s opening paragraphs. Beyond that is the character’s concept of justice. How can he justify justice through imploring unjust action? Killing the innocent is beyond justice. Mateo can still give his son a chance. However, the story revolved according to how the author thinks. It’s beyond the control of the readers. Fortunato’s death is disturbing. And I can see that this is what the author wanted to happen. Disturbing and provoking the readers might be the author’s way of making the readers remember him and his story.

            The story’s concept of justice, however, might raise protests and questions from various readers. Morality of each character’s actions are subject for questions.

 

Chelyn Torejas, Literary Criticism

The Standard of Living

Written by Dorothy Parker, this story is about the two working girls. By just roughly reading it, readers may say that the story is primarily meant to entertain. This contention, however, will be proven false if the readers will analyze the story and see it in a larger perspective.

In this story, Parker can be noted on her impressive way of describing. The first paragraph shows a vivid image of foods painted through words. Beyond that, this can be noted on how the author use words to portray clear character sketches of Annabel and Midge –the focus of the story. The game was also clearly described. Aside from that, the character’s friendship was also finely described by the story. A line in paragraph 4 says, “Constant use had not worn ragged the fabric of their friendship”.

The story talks about the two working fashionable girls who take pleasure in playing a game by asking the question what-would-you-do-if-you-had-a-million-dollars? This question comes with a condition that they would spend the money only for themselves.

It is clear that the idea of materialism and self-indulgence was presented in this story. This may only prove that these concepts were already existing even before we have felt it today. Though the story was written in early 90’s, the story’s themes remain to be true in our time today.

It is interesting to note, how the character consistently stayed hopeful and positive even up to the end of the story.

As narrated by a nameless narrator primarily because the author employed the third person point of view, this story can be a good example for aspiring writers as to how a setting would affect a certain story. As you look at it, the story’s setting was purposefully employed. In this story, the girls were noted enjoying “Fifth Avenue”. The setting which also suggests class has created an atmosphere filled with glitz and glamour. It seems that the characters’ appearance and behavior has been influenced by its setting.

This situation illuminates the concept of social class. Real pearls can symbolize confidence and a superior social class. The make-ups and the coats may symbolize things to put or wear on for the purpose of covering something.

In a limited extent this story has employed figurative language. To quote a simile from the story, a line in paragraph 5 says, “…they held their heads higher and set their feet with exquisite precision, as if they stepped over the necks of peasants.”

The plot of this story is presented in an entertaining and light way. I consider this story brief and simple with a not-so-strong conflict.

 

Chelyn Torejas, Literary Criticism

The Death of a Bachelor

 

            Written by Arthur Schnitzler, the Death of a Bachelor depicts the concept about erotic relationship. It has shown how typical men with so many mistresses die alone in a cold a night. This story has also shown the side of the bachelor who was nearly dead throughout the story his yearning to tell the truth before he leaves.

            After reading this story and after reading a short summary about the life of the author, I am now considering the notion that the story was based on using, modifying and playing the different sides of the author. To make it clear, the author in reality is a writer and a doctor and with that he is also a merchant. Schnitzler, to add, is often described as man who was often in relationships with several women at once. Looking at it, I can see that all the men characters presented by the author shows the reader a reflection of the author.

            From the beginning up to end, the author has been consistent in putting up clues reminding the readers about the story’s setting. Examples are “the soft heavy air of that spring night…”,  “swaying in the night air…” and  “dark air of the spring night…” among others. The whole story happened throughout the entire dark night with lampshades and moon as the only source of light. With this, it has created a picture of a gloomy atmosphere. The story started with the gloomy death and ends up with the revelation of the bachelor’s wickedness. In general, this is a story presented in a gloomy atmosphere with only little tint of humor in some parts.

            Not one major character has been specifically named in the story. They have been all called by their professions instead. Almost all characters dynamically evolved as the story develops.

The author has been gradually revealing the plot which slightly intensifies the conflict. I consider the falling action and the conclusion, however, as weak. These parts keep the resolution blurry and have leave questions unanswered. The theme is more on promiscuity which is an issue generally opposed. So with this notion, I have expected that the author could have injected his particular stand on the issue using his characters.   

            The Doctor said that whenever he left a sick-room at night, the first thing he did was to light a cigarette. With a mission of lengthening others lives, his character was ironically self-shortening his own life.

            Schnitzler was able to give an imagery of vivid pictures of the dead man, the way how the bachelor died and the clothings of the characters using descriptive words.

            This story is analytical. It leaves a room for the readers to solve questions. It somehow gives clues for the readers to solve questions like when did their dishonest relationships happened?  Was the Doctor already aware of his wife’s action before? Does the word “bitterness” in the fifth paragraph signify that he already knew it?

            The repeated presence of cigarette including the smoke could mean that people can not keep or take hold of smoke the same as people can not hold secrets. Believing that people came from dust and certainly will go back to dust in due time, ashes presented by the story can also symbolize death. “Swine” is a metaphor for something that is akin to erotic relationship. The words “another world” in the story would also mean that the three of them are about to face the world of reality.

            The bachelor could have chose to die without divulging his secret but he choose to divulge his secret awkwardly. After doing those wicked things, he has still the guts to call the three men his “friends”. At first I taught, the author wants to show the value of honesty yet this has not been reinforced by the showing the value of regret. The bachelor even give brief details how was his relationship with their wives as if he wanted to annoy the three.

            This story which utilized the omniscient point of view has also utilized the style of flashbacking and of self-monologues. The death of the bachelor, however, does not show the heavy use of figurative language.

 

Chelyn Torejas, Literary Criticism

The Passionate Shepherd to his Love (Christopher Marlowe), Her Reply (sir Walter Raleigh)

 

The passionate shepherd to his love is a work of expressionism and romanticism. It sets Love as the main topic of his letter. This is reflected in lines 1 and 20: “Come live with me and be my love”, line 9: “And I will make these beds of roses and line 24: “Then live with me and be my love.

This has been narrated using the first-person point of view. Marlowe shows an extreme positive thinking believing that everything will work good between him and her love.

This letter further shows what Marlowe will do if the his love will succumb to his pleas as cited in the third stanzas which goes this way

“And I will make thee beds of roses

And a thousand fragrant posies;

A cap of flowers, and kirtle

Embroider’d all with leaves of myrtle.

 

He further promises his unidentified love the hills, valleys and fields among others. The words show passion and extreme longings to possess the object of his love compounded in the atmosphere of a fantasy-romantic atmosphere. The picture of the world which the shepherd drew is so calm and peaceful with flocks, shallow rivers and singing birds.

Marlowe’s letter does not promise any marriage. Lines 1 and 20 say, “Come live with me and be my love” and the last line, “Then live with me and be my love”.

Both the passionate shepherd to his love and the reply observe the iambic meter. Each is composed of six stanzas. Each has 24 lines. The compositions were bounded with strict observance with meter and rhythm.

The woman was conscious enough of the shepherd’s promises. She uses the exact words to reject such offering.

Using figurative language, the woman compared Marlowe’s love to something that is a passing feeling as reflected in the second stanza which runs as follows:

But time drives flocks from field to fold;

When rivers rage and rocks grow cold,

And Philomel becometh dumb;

The rest complain of cares to come.

Once more, the Nymph affirms that the shepherd is lying: “A honey tongue, a heart of gall.” Whatever he says is very sweet but inside, he isn’t that kind, even quite bitter. The nice life he depicted is just imagination; however, the reality is full of sorrows and worries.

The fourth stanza uses the same words that Marlowe offers. She further stressed in the same paragraphs that these may soon break, wither, forgotten and rotten.

Her letter begins to reject Marlowe’s proposal. But as her reply draws to an end, the woman shows an impossible possibility of giving any positive reply considering that staying young is not impossible as reflected on the last stanza:

But could youth last, and love still breed.

Had joys no date, nor age no need,

Then these delights my mind might move

To live with thee and be thy Love.

 

Chelyn Torejas, Literary Criticism