YUMURTA
Babamın sevecen ve neşeli olması eminim doğanın takdiriydi. Babam Ohio şehrinin yakınında Bidwell’de yaşayan Thomas Butterworth adındaki kişi için işçi olarak otuz dört yaşına kadar çalıştı. Babamın kendi atı vardı ve cumartesi akşamları diğer işçilerle birkaç saat geçirmek için şehre giderdi. Orada bardaklar dolusu bira içer ve cumartesi akşamları dolu olan Ben Head’in meyhanesinde zaman geçirirdi. Şarkılar söylenirdi ve bardakların gürültüsü duyulurdu. Saat 10’da babam boş sokaklardan geçerek evin yolunu tutar, atını uyuması için hazırlar ve hayatından oldukça memnun bir şekilde yatmaya giderdi ve o an dünyevi hiçbir şey düşünmezdi.
Şehirde öğretmen olan annemle evlendiğinde otuz beş yaşının baharıydı ve bir sonraki baharda kıvranarak ve ağlayarak ben dünyaya geldim. Her ikisine de bir şeyler oldu. Hırsa büründüler ve Amerikalılara özgü hayatta güçlü olabilme tutkusu onları da ele geçirdi.
Bir öğretmen olarak anneme göre kitap ve dergi kesinlikle okunmalıydı ve bu onun için sorumluluktu. Tahminime göre annem, Garfield’in, Lincoln’un ve diğer Amerikalıların fakirlikten üne ve büyüklüğe nasıl kavuştuğunu okudu ve lohusa günlerinde ben onun yanında yatarken belki birgün benim de insanlara ve şehre hükmedeceğimi hayal etmiş olabilir. Her neyse, annem babamı işçi olarak çalışmaktan vazgeçirip, atını satmaya ve kendi ayakları üzerinde durmaya ikna etti. Kaygıyla bakan gri gözleri ve uzun burnu olan annem sessiz bir kadındı. Kendisi için hiçbir şey istemezken babam ve benim için onulmaz isteklerle doluydu.
Her ikisinin de yeni iş girişimi kötü sonlandı. Bidwell’den sekiz mil uzaktaki Grigg Road’daki on hektarlık taşlık araziyi kiraladılar ve tavuk beslemeye başladılar. Çocukluğum o çiftlikte geçti ve yaşamımın ilk izlenimlerini orada edindim. Baştan itibaren felaketle karşılaştılar ve bana gelince yaşamın kötü yanlarını görmeye meyilli karamsar bir insan oldum. Bu gerçeği çocukluğumda mutlu geçmesi gereken anların bir tavuk çiftliğinde geçmesine bağlıyorum.
Bu durum içerisindeki tek şey bir tavuğun başına gelebilecek feci şeyler hakkında hiçbir fikrinin olmamasıdır. Tavuk yumurtadan çıkar, Paskalya kartının üzerinde görebileceğin gibi küçük bir kuş tüyü gibi birkaç hafta yaşar, sonra tüylerinin döker, ki çok çirkin olur, babamın alın teriyle kazanıp aldığı mısır tanelerini ve buğdayı yer, daha sonra dil altı, kolera ve buna benzer adını sayamayacağım hastalıklara yakalanır, güneşin altında anlamsızca bakan gözlerle durur ve en son hasta olur ve ölür. Birkaç tavuk ve zaman zaman bir horoz Tanrı’nın gizemli sonlarının farkına varır ve olgunluğa erişmek için çabalar. Tavuklar yumurtlar ve bu yumurtalardan yeni tavuklar dünyaya gelir ve bu korkunç döngü böyle tamamlanır. Bunların hepsi gerçekten inanılmaz derecede karmaşık. Birçok filozof tavuk çiftliğinde büyümüş olmalı. İnsanoğlu tavuktan çok şey bekler ve bu gerçekten hayal kırıklığıdır. Yaşam yolculuğuna henüz çıkmakta olan küçük tavuklar öyle akıllı ve uyanık görünmelerine rağmen gerçekte aptallardır. İnsanlara o kadar çok benziyorlar ki tıpkı insanlar gibi onlar da birinin yaşam hakkındaki yargılarını diğerinkiyle karıştırıyorlar. Eğer hastalıktan ölmezlerse, umutların tekrar yeşerene kadar seni beklerler ve sonra yük arabasının tekerlekleri altında ezilmek ve yaradana kavuşmak için yürürler. Böcekler onların gençliğini istila ederler ve iyileşmeleri için servet harcamak zorunda kalınır. Yaşam ilerledikçe tavuk çiftliğinden elde edilen gelir üzerine nasıl edebî bir şey yazılacağını anladım. Bu, yasak ağacın meyvelerinden yemiş olan Tanrılar tarafından okunulacağı düşünülerek yazıldı. Bu umut verici bir hikâyedir ve birkaç tavuğu olan sıradan hırslara sahip insanların neler yapabileceğini anlatır. Bunun seni kandırmasına izin verme. Bu senin için yazılmadı. Alaska’nın donmuş tepelerinde altın aramaya git, inançlarını bir politikacının dürüstlüğüne teslim et, bu dünyanın gün geçtikçe iyiye gittiğini ve iyiliğin kötülüğü yeneceğini düşünüyorsan buna inan; ama tavuklarla ilgili yazılmış hikayeyi okuma ve ona inanma. Senin için yazılmadı bu.
Her nedense konuyu saptırdım. Hikayem esasen tavukla ilgili değil. Doğruyu söylemek gerekirse hikâyemin odak noktası yumurta. On yıldır babam ve annem tavuk çiftliğimizin parasını ödemek için uğraştılar ve sonra bu çabalarından vazgeçtiler ve başka bir amaç edindiler. Ohio’daki Bidwell şehrine taşındılar ve restoran işletmeciliği için kolları sıvadılar. Kuluçka makinesinin bir işe yaramaması gerçeğinin ve cılız ama yine de sevimli tüy yumağı halindeki piliçlerin yarı çıplak hale gelmesi ve bir tavuk olarak ölmesinin üzüntüsüyle geçen on yıldan sonra her şeyi bir kenara bırakarak, eşyalarımızı vagona yükleyip yeniden hayata başlayabileceğimiz bir yer bulma umuduyla küçük bir karavanla Grigg Road’dan Bidwell’e doğru yola çıktık.
Savaştan kaçan mülteciler gibi hayata umutsuzca bakmış olduğumuzu düşünüyorum. Annemle birlikte yol boyunca yürüdük. Eşyalarımızı taşıyan vagon komşumuz Bay Albert Griggs’ten bir günlüğüne ödünç alınmıştı. Vagonun yanlarından görünen birbirine geçmiş sandalye bacaklarının ve yatak, masa ve mutfak eşyaları ile dolu kutu yığınlarının arkasında, bebekken taşındığım bebek arabasının üstünde bir kasa canlı tavuk vardı. Neden bir bebek arabasıyla yanyana olduğumuzu bilmiyorum. Bu bebek arabası doğacak olan diğer çocukların işine yaramazdı; çünkü tekerlekleri kırılmıştı. Çok az şeye sahip olan insanlar onlara sıkca sarılırlar ve bu, yaşamı böyle hayal kırıklığıyla dolu hale getiren gerçeklerden biridir.
Babam vagonun ön kısmında yolculuk yaptı. O kırk beş yaşında, kel, biraz kilolu biriydi ve annemle ve tavuklarla olan uzun münasebetinden dolayı sessiz ve korkak biri haline gelmişti. Tavuk çiftliğinde geçen on yıl boyunca komşumuzun çiftliğinde işçi olarak çalışmıştı ve kazandığı paranın çoğu hasta tavukları iyileştirmede, Wilmer’in White Wonder kolera tedavisinde ya da Profesör Bidlow’un kuluçka makinesinde ya da annemin tavuk haberlerinden okuduğu diğer tedavi yöntemlerinde harcandı. Babamın kulaklarının üst kısmında iki tutam saçı vardı. Çocukluğumda kışın pazar günleri öğleden sonra babamın sobanın önünde sandalye tepesinde uyuklamasını izlediğimi hatırlıyorum. Henüz kitap okumaya yeni başladığım, kendi fikirlerimin oluşmaya başladığı ve babamın başı üzerinde saçsızlığın hakim olduğu zamanlarda geniş bir yola benzeyen bir şey hayal ettim. Sezar’ın Roma dışında askerlerine önderlik etmek ve dünyanın bilinmeyen güzelliklerine ulaşabilmek için yapmış olabileceği bir yol gibi... Babamın kulakları hizasındaki bir tutam saçın ormana benzediğini düşünüyorum. Yarı uyanık yarı uykulu bir halde kendimi yumurtasız, mutlu bir yaşamın var olduğu ve tavuk çiftliklerinin olmadığı güzel bir yerin derinliklerine giden yol boyunca küçük bir nesne gibi hayal ettim.
Belki biri tavuk çiftliğinden şehre uzanan maceramızla ilgili bir kitap yazar. Annemle tam sekiz mil yürüdük. O yük arabasından bir şeyin düşmediğinden emin, bense dünyanın güzelliklerini gördüğümden eminim ve babama gelince yük arabasının koltuğu onun en büyük hazinesiydi. Size anlatacaklarım bu kadar.
Yumurtadan çıkan yüzlerce hatta binlerce tavuğun olduğu bir çiftlikte arasıra şaşırtıcı şeyler oluyor. Tıpkı insanlar gibi garip şeyler de yumurtadan çıkar. Sık sık kaza olmaz, belki bin doğumda bir olur. Tahmin edebileceğin gibi ya dört bacaklı, çift kanatlı, iki başlı bir tavuk doğar ya da bunların hiç biri olmaz. Bazıları yaşamaz. Bir kaç dakika titredikten sonra çabucak yaradanın eline dönerler. Bu zavallı küçük şeylerin yaşayamama gerçeği babam için yaşamın facialarından biriydi. Babam onu servete kavuşturacak olan tavuk ya da horoz alemine beş bacaklı tavuk ya da iki kafalı horoz katabilme düşüncesine sahipti. Kasaba fuarındaki meraklı gözleri ve diğer işçilere onları gösterek artan zenginliğini hayal etti.
Her nedense çiftlikte doğan bütün acayip şeyleri sakladı. Hepsi alkolle korundu ve her biri ayrı şişelere kondu. Bunların hepsini dikkatli bir şekilde kutuya koydu ve yolculuk boyunca kutuyu koltukta taşıdı. Bir eliyle atı sürerken diğer eliyle kutuyu sıkıca tutuyordu. Gideceğimiz yere vardığımızda ilk önce kutu indirildi ve içinden şişeler çıkarıldı. Ohio’nun Bidwell şehrinde restoran bekçileri gibi geçirdiğimiz tüm zaman boyunca şişelerdeki acayip şeyler tezgâhın arka kısmında durdu. Annem ara sıra itiraz etse de babam onların hazine olduğu konusunda kaya kadar sertti; çünkü ona göre bu acayip şeyler değerliydi. Onun değişiyle insanlar garip ve mükemmel şeylere bakmaktan zevk alıyordu.
Ohio şehrindeki Bidwell’in restoran işletmeciliğine girdiğimizden bahsetmiş miydim? Birazcık abarttım. Ohio şehri bir tepenin eteğinde ve küçük bir ırmağın kıyısı boyunca uzanır. Demir yolu şehirle kesişmiyor ve istasyon kuzeydeki Pickleville şehrinden bir mil uzakta. İstasyonda elma şarabı ve turşu fabrikası varmış; ama biz gelmeden önce hepsi kapanmış. Sabah ve akşamları otobüsler Bidwell’in merkezindeki otelden Turner’s Pike’deki istasyona geliyordu. Sapa bir yerde restoran açma fikri annemindi. Bir yıl boyunca bunun hakkında konuştu ve sonunda bir gün yola koyuldu ve tren istasyonun karşısındaki boş dükkânı kiraladı. Restoran işinin kazançlı olduğunu düşünüyordu. Onun deyişiyle yolcular şehir dışına gitmek için daima istasyona geliyordu ve halkta gelecek olan trenleri izlemek için geliyordu. Onlar birkaç dilim kek satın almaya ve kahve içmeye geliyorlardı. Şu anda yaşlı olduğum için anlıyorum ki annemin çalışmasının başka bir nedeni daha vardı. Benim için planları vardı. Beni yaşama hazırlamak, şehirdeki okula göndermek ve benim büyük adam olmamı istiyordu.
Her zaman olduğu gibi Pickleville’de de ailem çok sıkı çalıştı. Öncelikle dükkanımızı bir restoran haline getirmek gerekiyordu ve bu bir ayımızı almıştı. Babam konserverleri koymak için raf yaptı. Büyük harflerle ismini yazdığı levhayı kırmızıya boyadı. İsminin altında sert bir emir vardı. “BURADA YE” ki bu emre çok az itaat edilirdi. Sigara ve tütün koymak için camlı bir dolap satın alındı. Annem yerleri ve odanın duvarlarını fırçaladı. Ben okula gidiyordum ve karamsar, cesaret kırıcı tavuklardan ve çiftlikten uzak olmaktan memnundum. Ama hâlâ çok mutlu değildim. Akşamları okuldan eve Turner’s Pike yolundan yürüyerek gidiyordum ve okul bahçesinde oyun oynayan çocukları hatırlıyordum. Bir grup küçük kız sıçrayarak ve şarkı söyleyerek yürüyorlardı. Ben de onlar gibi yapmayı denedim ve buzlu yoldan aşağı doğru sadece bir bacağım üzerinde sekerek yürüdüm. Kulakları tırmalayıcı bir sesle “abidik gubidik tivist tivist” diyordum. Daha sonra durdum ve kuşkuyla etrafa baktım. Neşeli görünmekten korktum; çünkü ölümün sıradan bir olay olduğu çiftlikte büyüyen bir kişinin, tıpkı benim gibi, böyle bir şey yapmaması gerektiğini düşünüyordum.
Annem restoranın geceleri de açık kalmasına karar verdi. Akşam 10’da yük treninden önce bir yolcu treni kapımızdan geçerek kuzeye gitti. Nakliye ekibi Pickleville’deki değişimi tamamladıktan ve işleri bitirdikten sonra sıcak kahve ve yemek için bizim restorana geliyorlardı. Bazen onlardan biri sahanda yumurta istiyordu. Sabah dörtte onlar kuzey sınırına döndüler ve tekrar restorana geldiler. Küçük bir pazarlık başladı. Annem geceleyin uyudu ve babam uyurken de gün boyunca restoranla ilgilenip pansiyonerlere yemek servisi yaptı. Babam annemin yattığı yatakta uyurken bense Bidwell’deki okuluma gitmek için yola koyuluyordum. Uzun geceler boyunca ben ve annem uyurken babam pansiyonerlerimizin sefer tası için sandviçlerin arasına konulacak etleri pişiriyordu. Amerikan tutkusu babamı da sardı ve o da hırsa büründü.
Uzun gecelerde yapacak çok fazla iş olmadığında babam hep bir şeyler düşünürdü ve bu onu çok yıpratıyordu. Bundan sonra hayata neşeli gözlerle bakmaya karar verdi. Çünkü geçmişte yeterince neşeli biri olmadığından başarılı biri değildi. Sabahın erken saatinde üst kata çıktı ve annemin yanına yattı. Annem de uyanmıştı ve konuşmaya başladılar. Ben de yatağımdan onları dinledim.
Babam yemeğe gelen müşterileri eğlendirmeye çalışalım diye bir fikir ortaya attı. Şu anda tam olarak cümlelerini hatırlamıyorum ama bu fikir bana pek parlak gelmemişti. İnsanlar, özellikle Bidwell’den gençler geldiğinde, ki bu nadiren olan bir şey, eğlenceli muhabbetler edilirdi. Babamın cümlelerinden çıkardığım sonuç bir otelcinin müşterilerine neşeli davranmasıydı. Bu düşünce annemin içine ilk başta sinmedi; ama olumsuz hiçbir şey demedi. Babam için ise Bidwell’in genç insanlarını birlikte eğlendirme düşüncesi tutku haline geldi. Akşamleyin mutlu bir grup Turner’s Pike’den şarkı söyleyerek geliyordu. Neşe ve kahkaha eşliğinde restoranımıza geldiler. Şarkılar söylenirdi ve şenlik havası vardı. Babamın bu durumla ilgili çok ayrıntılı konuştuğunu sanmayın, daha önce de dediğim gibi az konuşan biridir. Defalarca şunu söyledi: “Onlar gidebilecekleri birkaç mekân istiyorlar. Onlar gidebilecekleri birkaç mekân istiyorlar diyorum size.” Ve onun anladığı tek şey bu iken ben hiçbir şey hayal edemiyordum.
İki ya da üç hafta boyunca babamın bu düşüncesi evi âdeta istila etmişti. Bununla ilgili çok fazla konuşmamamıza rağmen bu sıkıcı ortamı biraz neşelendirmeyi gerçekten denedik. Annem pansiyonerlere gülümsüyordu, hastalığa yakalanan ben ise kedimize gülümsüyordum. Babamsa memnun olma konusunda biraz kaygılıydı. Şüphesiz onun içinde bir yerlerde şovmen ruhu saklıydı. Enerjisini geceleri gelen insanlar için harcamıyordu, yeteneğini Bidwell’den gelen kadınlara ve gençlere göstermek için saklıyor gibiydi.
Tezgâhın üstünde her zaman içi yumurtayla dolu olan telden yapılmış bir sepet vardı; çünkü insanları eğlendirme fikri aklına geldiğinde yumurtalar gözünün önünde olmalıydı. Yumurtaların meydana geliş yoluyla ve babamın fikrinin gelişim süreci arasında bir bağlantı vardı. Her neyse, bir yumurta onun tüm şevkini kırdı. Geç bir saatte babamın öfkeli bağrışı ile uyandım. Annem ve ben hemen yatağımızdan kalktık ve annem titreyen elleriyle masanın üzerinde duran gaz lambasını hemen yaktı. Aşağıda restoranın önünde bir gürültü koptu ve bir kaç dakika sonra babam yavaş ama sert adımlarla yukarı çıktı. Elinde bir yumurta tutuyordu ve üşümüşcesine eli titriyordu. Gözleri şuursuzca bakıyordu. Gözlerini bize dikmiş bakarken içimden elindeki yumurtayı ya bana ya da anneme atacak diye geçirdim. Ama onu masanın üstündeki lambanın yanına yavaşca koydu ve annemin yatağının yanında diz çöktü. Bir çocuk gibi ağlamaya başladı ve acısını içimde hissederek ben de onunla ağladım. Odanın içerisi bizim haykırışlarımızla doldu. Gülünçtür ki o geceden aklımda kalan şey annemin sürekli babamın kelini okşayıp durmasıydı. Annemin ona ne söylediğini, aşağıda olanları anlatması için onu nasıl ikna ettiğini hiç hatırlamıyorum. Aynı zamanda babamın söylediği şeylerde hafızamdan silinip gitti. Sadece kendi acımı, korkumu ve yatağın kenarına diz çöktüğünde babamın ışıkta kor gibi parlayan kel başını hatırlıyorum.
Aşağıda ne olduğuna gelince, her ne kadar babamın acısına şahit olsam da açıklanamayan bazı sebepler olduğunu biliyorum. İllâ ki herkes hayatında bir kez açıklanamayan durumlarla karşılaşmıştır. Akşam üzeri Bidwell tücarrının genç oğlu Joe Kane güneyden on treni ile gelmesi beklenen babasını karşılamak için Pickleville’e geldi. Tren üç saat gecikince Joe hem zaman geçirmek hem de babasını beklemek için restorana geldi. Yerel yük treni geldi ve çalışanlar yemek yediler. Daha sonra restoranda sadece babam ve Joe kaldı.
Bizim mekâna geldiği andan itibaren Bidwellli genç adam babamın davranışları yüzünden hayrete düşmüş olmalı. Ortalıkta boş boş dolandığı için babamın ona kızdığı fikrindeydi. Onun varlığından dolayı babamın rahatsız olduğunı fark etti ve gitmeyi düşündü. Ama yağmur başladı ve şehre yürümenin ve tekrar geri gelmenin hoş olmayacağını düşündü. Beş sente bir sigara aldı ve bir fincan kahve istedi. Çantasında gazetesi vardı, çıkardı ve okumaya başladı. Mahçup bir tavırla: “akşam trenini bekliyorum ve geç kaldı” dedi.
Daha önce Joe Kane’i hiç görmemiş olan babam dik dik ona bakarak uzun bir süre sessiz kaldı. Şüphesiz sahneye çıkmadan önce bir sanatçının hissettiği korku ve heyecanı yaşıyordu. Yaşamında birçok kez olduğu gibi sinir bozucu bir durumla karşılaştığında ne yapacağını çok düşünmüştü.
Bir şey daha var ki elleriyle de ne yapacağını bilmiyordu. Sinirli bir şekilde tezgâhın üzerinden elini çekti ve Joe Kane ile tokalaştı. “Nasılsın?” dedi. Joe Kane gazetesini koydu ve gözlerini ona dikti. Babamın gözleri tezgâhın üstünde duran yumurtalara takıldı ve konuşmaya başladı. Çekinerek “Pekâlâ” dedi ve devam etti “Pekâlâ, Christopher Colombus’u duydun mu hiç?” Kızgın gibi görünüyordu. Gayet emin bir şekilde “Christopher Colombus hilekârdır” dedi. “Yumurtayı dik bir şekilde koyduğunu söyledi. Söyledi, yaptı ve sonra gitti ve yumurtanın altını kırdı.”
Babam misafirine karşı Christopher Colombus’un ikiyüzlülüğünü destekliyormuş gibi göründü. Mırıldandı ve terledi. Christopher Colombus’u çocuklara büyük bir insan gibi öğretmelerinin yanlış olduğunu söyledi ve dahası o, çok önemli bir konuda insanları kandırdı. Yumurtayı dik tutacağını söyledi ve bunun blöf olduğu söylendiğinde hile yaptı. Hâlâ Columbus’u çekiştirirken babam sepetten bir tane yumurta aldı ve bir aşağı bir yukarı yürümeye başladı. Avucunun içinde yumurtayı yuvarlayıp durdu. Cana yakın bir şekilde gülümsedi. İnsan vücudundan çıkan elektrikle üretilen bir yumurtanın etkileri hakkında bir şeyler mırıldanmaya başladı. Yumurtanın kabuğunu kırmadan ve avucunda onu bir öne bir arkaya yuvarlama erdemiyle yumurtayı dik koyduğunu açıkladı. Onun ellerinin sıcaklığının ve yumurtaya nazikçe dokunmasının yeni bir yer çekimi merkezi yarattığını söyledi ve Joe Kane kibarca bununla ilgileniyordu. Babam: “Binlerce yumurtaya dokundum ve hiç kimse yumurtalar hakkında benden daha çok şey bilemez” dedi.
Tezgâhın üstündeki yumurtayı kaldırdı ve yumurta diğer yanına düştü. Yumurtayı her seferinde avucunda çevirerek yer çekimi kanunu ve elektriğin mükemmellikleri hakkında bir şeyler söylerek defalarca hile yaptı. Yarım saatlik bir çabadan sonra bir kaç saniyeliğine de olsa yumurtayı dik tutmayı başardıktan sonra genç adamın onu izlemediğini fark etti. Joe Kane’e başarısını göstermek için seslendiği anda yumurta yuvarlandı ve diğer yana düştü.
Bir şovmen tutkusuyla ve aynı zamanda ilk denemesinin verdiği utançla içinde o garip şeylerin olduğu şişeleri raftan aldı, misafirlere göstermeye başladı. Babam en değerli hazinesini göstererek: “Bunun gibi yedi bacaklı, iki başlı bir şey görmek hoşunuza gitti mi?” diye sordu. Yüzünü neşeli bir gülümseme sardı. Tezgâhın oraya gitti ve genç bir çiftçiyken cumartesi akşamları şehre gittiği zamanlarda Ben Head’deki adamların yaptığı gibi Joe Kane’in omzuna dokunmayı denedi. Alkolle dolu şişenin içinde biçimsiz şekliyle yüzen kuşun görünüşü müşterisini rahatsız etti ve gitmeye niyetlendi. Babam tezgâhın arkasından gelerek genç adamın kolunu tuttu ve yerine oturmasını istedi. Gerçekten sinirlendi ve kafasını diğer tarafa çevirip kendini gülümsemek için zorladı. Şişeleri tekrar rafa kaldırdı. Cömertlikle Joe’yu bir fincan kahve içmesi için zorladı ve ona bir sigara ikram etti. Daha sonra derin bir tava alıp sirke ile doldurduktan sonra yeni bir oyun yapacağını söyledi. “Bu yumurtayı sirkeyle dolu tavada kaynatacağım ve kabuğu kırılmadan yumurtayı şişenin içine koyacağım, yumurta şişenin içinde eski haline dönecek ve kabuğu tekrar sertleşecek sonra bu şişeyi sana vereceğim. İstediğin yere götürebilirsin bunu. İnsanlar yumurtayı şişenin içine nasıl koyduğunu merak edecek ve kimseye bir şey söyleme. Tahmin etmelerini iste. Bu hilenin eğlencili kısmı da bu işte.”
Babam sırıttı ve müşterisine göz kırptı. Joe Kane kendiyle uğraşan bu adamın akıl hastası ama zararsız olduğuna karar verdi. Kendisine ikram edilen kahveyi içti ve tekrar gazetesini okumaya başladı. Yumurta kaynayınca babam kaşıkla onu tezgâha götürdü ve boş şişenin olduğu odaya gitti. Misafiri onun oyununu izlemediği için sinirlendi; ama yine de neşeli bir şekilde işini yapmaya devam etti. Uzun bir süre şişenin ağzından içine sokmayı denedi yumurtayı tekrar kaynatmak için sirke dolu tavayı ocağın üstüne koydu sonra onu alırken elini yaktı. İkinci kez yumurta kaynadıktan sonra kabuğu biraz yumuşamıştı; ama babamın istediği kadar değildi. Tekrar tekrar denedi ve umutsuzluk benliğini sardı. Tam başardığını düşündüğü anda beklenen tren geldi ve Joe umursamaz bir tavırla kapıya doğru yürümeye başladı. Babamsa amacına ulaşmak ve onu restorana gelen müşterilerini nasıl eğlendireceğini bilen bir kişi ünvanına kavuşturacak olan şey için son bir umutsuz çaba sarf etti. Yumurta için endişelendi ve elinden geldiği kadar dikkatli ve nazik bir şekilde hareket etti. Terledi ve ter damlaları alnından aşağı aktı Yumurta elinde kırıldı. Yumurtanın içi üstüne sıçradığında kapının önünde duran Joe Kane döndü ve güldü.
Babam kızgınlıkla kükredi. Sinirinden yerinde duramadı ve peş peşe anlaşılamayan şeyler söyledi. Tezgâhtaki sepetten yumurtayı kaptığı gibi Joe’ya fırlattı; ama genç adamın başının yanından sıyırıp geçti çünkü hızla kapıya yöneldi ve kaçtı.
Babam elinde yumurtayla üst kata geldi. Ne yapmak istediğini anlamadım. O yumurtayı hatta tüm yumurtaları kırmayı, bunu yaparken annemle benim onu izlememizi istediğini zannediyorum. Annemin yanına gittiğinde ona bir şey oldu. Nazik bir şekilde yumurtayı masanın üzerinde koydu ve daha önce anlattığım gibi yatağın kenarında diz çöktü. Daha sonra o gece restoranı kapatıp üst kata geldi ve yatmaya gitti. Yattıktan sonra gazı üfledi ve annemle mırıldandıktan sonra uyudular. Ben de uyuduğumu sanıyorum; ama berbat bir uykuydu. Seher vakti uyandım ve uzun bir süre masanın üzerindeki yumurtayı izledim. Neden yumurtaların olması gerektiğini ve neden tekrar yumurtlayan tavuğun yumurtadan geldiğini merak ettim. Bu soru kanıma kadar işledi. Zannediyorum ki babamın oğlu olduğum için bu düşünce orada kaldı. Her neyse bu soru çözülmemiş şekilde aklımda kaldı. Ve sonuç olarak bu, ailemi belirli ölçülerde etkileyen yumurtanın zaferinin bir diğer kanıtıdır.
5 Nisan 2008 Cumartesi
21 Ocak 2008 Pazartesi
THE LOTTERY BY SHILEY JACKSON
SUMMARY
“The Lottery” is annual ceremony. All townspeople gather and wait for the ceremony to begin. Children play and pick up stones, men talk about rain, tractors and taxes, same joke and as last the women, wearing faded house dresses and sweater come after their menfolk. Tessie Hutchinson is late because of household chores. She talks with her friend, Mrs.Delacroix about reason of her late arrival. Because everybody is there, the ceremony starts and Mr.Summers reads off an alphabetical list of names. Who draws the paper with the black mark on it, he or she win “the lottery” and people stone him or her.
POINT OF VIEW
The story is narrated by third person narration. The narrator does not participate in the story.
SETTING
The place is square of town, between the post office and the bank. The time is the morning of June 27th and around ten o’clock.
IRONY
1. The title is irony. When readers read it, they assume that good things will be lived because lottery brings to mind the conventional ideas such as winner, luck, money, enjoyment and these are positive things. But the lottery symbolizes “death” instead of positive things.
2. Although Mr.Summers also impresses positive things on people because of meaning of his name, he gives death to winner. This is irony.
THEME
One of themes is death. After reading, it is understood that scapegoats are chosen randomly and are not fair. Another is social division. People who attend this ceremony are in power and they also have economic power. For example Mr.Summers is the coal business and he conducts not only lottery, square dances, the teenage club, the Halloween program, as well. He has time and energy to devote civic activities. These indicate that he has leisure and money. Mr.Graves is the postmaster and it is understood that he is high position in the town. Other theme is weakness of women. For example women come square after their menfolk and they wear faded house dresses and sweater. It shows that they work inside of house and reason of Tessie’s late arrival is enough to be exemplified it. The last theme is hypocrisy. At the beginning Mrs.Delacroix is joking with Mrs.Huthincson about her late arrival. After Tessie is selected to be stoned, Mrs.Delacroix forgets their friendship and selects a stone so large she has to pick it up with both hands and says the other man “Hurry up”. This suggests that people are not always as they seem and evil exists in everyone.
Mrs.Tessie wants her married daughters to take part in the drawing with them so that her own chance of survival improves. This is a perfect example to show hypocrisy and devilry exists in every human being. Instead of trying to protect her children, she risks her own children’s safety.
ANALYSIS
The Lottery is very important for townspeople because it is ritual for them. According to townspeople, the lottery causes them to work hard. This sentence shows their thought: “Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.” The black box put papers has significant meaning for them. Although it was old and rust, townspeople don’t want to change it.
Names of Mr.Summers and Mr.Graves have symbolic meaning. Mr.Summers is in charge of black box and conducts the ceremony. His name symbolizes life, wealthy, welfare, but in reality gives that to winner instead of live.
Mr.Graves is also in charge of black box. “It had spent one year in Mr.Graves’ barn.” His name symbolizes gloomy things such as death and his name also refers to theme of the story.
“The Lottery” is annual ceremony. All townspeople gather and wait for the ceremony to begin. Children play and pick up stones, men talk about rain, tractors and taxes, same joke and as last the women, wearing faded house dresses and sweater come after their menfolk. Tessie Hutchinson is late because of household chores. She talks with her friend, Mrs.Delacroix about reason of her late arrival. Because everybody is there, the ceremony starts and Mr.Summers reads off an alphabetical list of names. Who draws the paper with the black mark on it, he or she win “the lottery” and people stone him or her.
POINT OF VIEW
The story is narrated by third person narration. The narrator does not participate in the story.
SETTING
The place is square of town, between the post office and the bank. The time is the morning of June 27th and around ten o’clock.
IRONY
1. The title is irony. When readers read it, they assume that good things will be lived because lottery brings to mind the conventional ideas such as winner, luck, money, enjoyment and these are positive things. But the lottery symbolizes “death” instead of positive things.
2. Although Mr.Summers also impresses positive things on people because of meaning of his name, he gives death to winner. This is irony.
THEME
One of themes is death. After reading, it is understood that scapegoats are chosen randomly and are not fair. Another is social division. People who attend this ceremony are in power and they also have economic power. For example Mr.Summers is the coal business and he conducts not only lottery, square dances, the teenage club, the Halloween program, as well. He has time and energy to devote civic activities. These indicate that he has leisure and money. Mr.Graves is the postmaster and it is understood that he is high position in the town. Other theme is weakness of women. For example women come square after their menfolk and they wear faded house dresses and sweater. It shows that they work inside of house and reason of Tessie’s late arrival is enough to be exemplified it. The last theme is hypocrisy. At the beginning Mrs.Delacroix is joking with Mrs.Huthincson about her late arrival. After Tessie is selected to be stoned, Mrs.Delacroix forgets their friendship and selects a stone so large she has to pick it up with both hands and says the other man “Hurry up”. This suggests that people are not always as they seem and evil exists in everyone.
Mrs.Tessie wants her married daughters to take part in the drawing with them so that her own chance of survival improves. This is a perfect example to show hypocrisy and devilry exists in every human being. Instead of trying to protect her children, she risks her own children’s safety.
ANALYSIS
The Lottery is very important for townspeople because it is ritual for them. According to townspeople, the lottery causes them to work hard. This sentence shows their thought: “Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.” The black box put papers has significant meaning for them. Although it was old and rust, townspeople don’t want to change it.
Names of Mr.Summers and Mr.Graves have symbolic meaning. Mr.Summers is in charge of black box and conducts the ceremony. His name symbolizes life, wealthy, welfare, but in reality gives that to winner instead of live.
Mr.Graves is also in charge of black box. “It had spent one year in Mr.Graves’ barn.” His name symbolizes gloomy things such as death and his name also refers to theme of the story.
THE YELLOW WALLPAPER BY CHARLOTTE PERKINS GILMAN
Charlotte Perkins Gilman had developed an emotional disorder and she was depressed. Physician says that she is because of “rest cure” and this unsuccessful prescription prompted her to write “The Yellow Wallpaper”
SUMMARY
The narrator and her husband rent a mansion for the summer where she will be healthy. However, she finds odd things about the house on her first day and John doesn’t accept her that thought. John doesn’t understand how she suffers and doesn’t accept her request to repaper the room. Then the narrator begins to write secretly. She wants to write because she feels well herself. But except for her everybody thinks that writing has made her sick. Later the narrator notices there is woman in the wallpaper during the night and she goes when the sun rises. Because of the wallpaper writer finds life more exciting and her health improves but she can not tell John it. She sleeps in the daytime and watches the wallpaper at night. She believes that there is creeping woman in the wallpaper. One day, the narrator locks the door and throws key down and her aim is to astonish John. When he comes he tries to open door and she tells him where the key is. He asks her why she creeps around. She tells “I’ve got out at last in spite of you and Jane and I’ve pulled off most of the paper, so you can’t put me back!” John faints, but Jane goes on creeping.
POINT OF VIEW
The point of view is first person narration because “I” is used.
SETTING
The place is a mansion and the time is summer.
CHARACTER LIST
The narrator is married to John and manipulated by him. Because she is ill, he doesn’t allow her what she wants but only rest. He especially forbids her from writing. She starts to live in her room whose walls cover with the yellow wallpaper. At first the yellow wallpaper irritates her, but later she sees the figure of a woman. She identifies herself with the woman and that woman tries to escape from prison of the wallpaper by moonlight.
John is a physician and the narrator’s husband. Although her husband, he treats her like an infant. John forbids her from working especially creative working such as writing. He has a classic idea about men and women for example men work outside of the house and women work inside of the house. His idea associates him with the sunlight.
ANALYSIS OF THE STORY
Moonlight and sunshine: There is a parallelism between moonlight and woman in the wallpaper. Moonlight is the time when women are free from oppressive of men’s sunshine. I want to stress “men’s sunshine” because according to John men work outside of house and women work inside of house during the day and there is no another choice for women. At the same time the woman in the wallpaper symbolizes that woman tends to work at house and there is not a choice to get an intellectual job in the outside world. That’s why the yellow wallpaper is yellow and this shows that colour of wallpaper is related to oppression of masculine because sunlight is associated with men’s order.
Feminine: The woman in the wallpaper represents feminine imprisonment. During the sunlight women doesn’t appear but moonlight. Sunlight represents men’s oppression and darkness represents liberation of feminine.
Creep: According to the narrator woman in the wallpaper creeps and end of the story she also creeps. Creeping is the beginning of walking and creeping symbolizes movement of feminism. Briefly feminism needs to “creep” silently before it could stand tall.
Tearing wallpaper: The narrator believes that she can come out of the wallpaper like the other woman and this is symbolic meaning: She and the woman liberate themselves from masculine oppression by tearing wallpaper and they become free.
IRONY
John tells her to exercise self-control, but he controls nearly everything about her for example he gives her a schedule for each hour in the day.
SUMMARY
The narrator and her husband rent a mansion for the summer where she will be healthy. However, she finds odd things about the house on her first day and John doesn’t accept her that thought. John doesn’t understand how she suffers and doesn’t accept her request to repaper the room. Then the narrator begins to write secretly. She wants to write because she feels well herself. But except for her everybody thinks that writing has made her sick. Later the narrator notices there is woman in the wallpaper during the night and she goes when the sun rises. Because of the wallpaper writer finds life more exciting and her health improves but she can not tell John it. She sleeps in the daytime and watches the wallpaper at night. She believes that there is creeping woman in the wallpaper. One day, the narrator locks the door and throws key down and her aim is to astonish John. When he comes he tries to open door and she tells him where the key is. He asks her why she creeps around. She tells “I’ve got out at last in spite of you and Jane and I’ve pulled off most of the paper, so you can’t put me back!” John faints, but Jane goes on creeping.
POINT OF VIEW
The point of view is first person narration because “I” is used.
SETTING
The place is a mansion and the time is summer.
CHARACTER LIST
The narrator is married to John and manipulated by him. Because she is ill, he doesn’t allow her what she wants but only rest. He especially forbids her from writing. She starts to live in her room whose walls cover with the yellow wallpaper. At first the yellow wallpaper irritates her, but later she sees the figure of a woman. She identifies herself with the woman and that woman tries to escape from prison of the wallpaper by moonlight.
John is a physician and the narrator’s husband. Although her husband, he treats her like an infant. John forbids her from working especially creative working such as writing. He has a classic idea about men and women for example men work outside of the house and women work inside of the house. His idea associates him with the sunlight.
ANALYSIS OF THE STORY
Moonlight and sunshine: There is a parallelism between moonlight and woman in the wallpaper. Moonlight is the time when women are free from oppressive of men’s sunshine. I want to stress “men’s sunshine” because according to John men work outside of house and women work inside of house during the day and there is no another choice for women. At the same time the woman in the wallpaper symbolizes that woman tends to work at house and there is not a choice to get an intellectual job in the outside world. That’s why the yellow wallpaper is yellow and this shows that colour of wallpaper is related to oppression of masculine because sunlight is associated with men’s order.
Feminine: The woman in the wallpaper represents feminine imprisonment. During the sunlight women doesn’t appear but moonlight. Sunlight represents men’s oppression and darkness represents liberation of feminine.
Creep: According to the narrator woman in the wallpaper creeps and end of the story she also creeps. Creeping is the beginning of walking and creeping symbolizes movement of feminism. Briefly feminism needs to “creep” silently before it could stand tall.
Tearing wallpaper: The narrator believes that she can come out of the wallpaper like the other woman and this is symbolic meaning: She and the woman liberate themselves from masculine oppression by tearing wallpaper and they become free.
IRONY
John tells her to exercise self-control, but he controls nearly everything about her for example he gives her a schedule for each hour in the day.
THE STORM BY KATE CHOPIN
SUMMARY
Bobinet and Bibi are not at home and when they attempt to go home they notice storm clouds. Meanwhile Calixta is at home, she is sawing and she isn’t aware of air. When it begins to grow dark she realizes the situation and goes to close windows and doors. At that time she sees Alcee and she hasn’t seen him very often. Although he wants to stay on her gallery till the storm is over, she invites him to their house. She has an affair with him when the storm gets strong. After storm Alcee leaves there and everything goes smoothly.
POINT OF VIEW
The point of view is third person narration because “she and he says or said” is used. At the same time it is total omniscience because we know what Calixta and Alcee think.
SETTING
The place is house of Calixta and the time is a terrible rain storm.
IRONY
Although Alcee deceives her wife during the day, he writes to his wife a loving letter at same night and this is irony.
ANALYSIS
1) There are relationship between title “The Storm” and events. At the same time the storm reflects their mood. Before the storm begins, Calixta is quiet and calm, but as the storm begins, the story reaches its climax. She has an affair with him when the storm gets strong. After the storm, everything goes smoothly.
2) This short story is really important if we assume that Kate Chopin riots against her time because in her time it was very difficult that woman had an affair with somebody. There was a classic idea in her time: woman had to do certain things to please her husband not anybody.
3) When this short story is read people should think “feminism”. In Kate Chopin’s time, women have chores like housework, washing, cleaning and sexual desire was considered to be something only experienced by men. Kate Chopin tries to break this taboo.
4) When life of Kate Chopin is taken into consideration, we can easily understand what she wrote it. After losing her father, three strong, independent women brought up her and they had a great influence on her life. She learned to be independent from them and she did not have a male figure when she was a child. That is why she did not think like common women who have chores.
Bobinet and Bibi are not at home and when they attempt to go home they notice storm clouds. Meanwhile Calixta is at home, she is sawing and she isn’t aware of air. When it begins to grow dark she realizes the situation and goes to close windows and doors. At that time she sees Alcee and she hasn’t seen him very often. Although he wants to stay on her gallery till the storm is over, she invites him to their house. She has an affair with him when the storm gets strong. After storm Alcee leaves there and everything goes smoothly.
POINT OF VIEW
The point of view is third person narration because “she and he says or said” is used. At the same time it is total omniscience because we know what Calixta and Alcee think.
SETTING
The place is house of Calixta and the time is a terrible rain storm.
IRONY
Although Alcee deceives her wife during the day, he writes to his wife a loving letter at same night and this is irony.
ANALYSIS
1) There are relationship between title “The Storm” and events. At the same time the storm reflects their mood. Before the storm begins, Calixta is quiet and calm, but as the storm begins, the story reaches its climax. She has an affair with him when the storm gets strong. After the storm, everything goes smoothly.
2) This short story is really important if we assume that Kate Chopin riots against her time because in her time it was very difficult that woman had an affair with somebody. There was a classic idea in her time: woman had to do certain things to please her husband not anybody.
3) When this short story is read people should think “feminism”. In Kate Chopin’s time, women have chores like housework, washing, cleaning and sexual desire was considered to be something only experienced by men. Kate Chopin tries to break this taboo.
4) When life of Kate Chopin is taken into consideration, we can easily understand what she wrote it. After losing her father, three strong, independent women brought up her and they had a great influence on her life. She learned to be independent from them and she did not have a male figure when she was a child. That is why she did not think like common women who have chores.
THE NECKLACE BY GUY DE MAUPASSANT
SUMMARY
Mathilde and her husband are poor and she isn’t satisfied with her life. She wants to live like rich people. One evening, he comes home with an invitation to the ball, but she doesn’t want to go there because rich people go there and she has no beautiful dress and jewels. When she decides to go he buys her an elegant dress and she borrows necklace of diamond from her friend. When she is in ball she enjoys very much. After coming back, she notices that necklace is not around her neck. Because she and her husband don’t find it, they decide to buy a necklace. Although it is very expensive, they buy and give it to her friend. Her friend never notices that they have replaced her necklace. They work ten years to pay off. One Sunday Mathilde runs into her friend and tells her truth. Mathilde learns that her necklace is a fake.
POINT OF VIEW
The point of view is third person narration because the narrator doesn’t participate in the story and “she and he said” is used.
CHARACTER
Mathilde is not content with her life because she isn’t rich. She thinks that prizes are enough to value an object. But later she understands that meaning of being rich is not to live comfortably. She doesn’t see her innate beauty and according to her a wife of a lower-middle class clerk is disrespectful.
IRONIES
1) Because she thinks that the necklace is diamond, she cannot say “I lost it.” Because of her honour she and her husband suffer during ten years. At the end of ten years, her friend, owner of the necklace, says: “It is not diamond, only paste.” In other words, although she isn’t ashamed of her fake necklace, Mathilde is ashamed of saying “I lost it.”
2) Mathilde is ashamed of going to ball with natural flowers, but her situation is worse than her expectation. She goes there with fake necklace.
ANALYSIS
Aim of the writer is to show us how life is strange, changeful and little things can make our good live turn into despair live.
The writer is eager to tell us “Lie is mother of unpleasant situation.” If she hadn’t lied, she and her husband wouldn’t have lived like this.
Mathilde and her husband are poor and she isn’t satisfied with her life. She wants to live like rich people. One evening, he comes home with an invitation to the ball, but she doesn’t want to go there because rich people go there and she has no beautiful dress and jewels. When she decides to go he buys her an elegant dress and she borrows necklace of diamond from her friend. When she is in ball she enjoys very much. After coming back, she notices that necklace is not around her neck. Because she and her husband don’t find it, they decide to buy a necklace. Although it is very expensive, they buy and give it to her friend. Her friend never notices that they have replaced her necklace. They work ten years to pay off. One Sunday Mathilde runs into her friend and tells her truth. Mathilde learns that her necklace is a fake.
POINT OF VIEW
The point of view is third person narration because the narrator doesn’t participate in the story and “she and he said” is used.
CHARACTER
Mathilde is not content with her life because she isn’t rich. She thinks that prizes are enough to value an object. But later she understands that meaning of being rich is not to live comfortably. She doesn’t see her innate beauty and according to her a wife of a lower-middle class clerk is disrespectful.
IRONIES
1) Because she thinks that the necklace is diamond, she cannot say “I lost it.” Because of her honour she and her husband suffer during ten years. At the end of ten years, her friend, owner of the necklace, says: “It is not diamond, only paste.” In other words, although she isn’t ashamed of her fake necklace, Mathilde is ashamed of saying “I lost it.”
2) Mathilde is ashamed of going to ball with natural flowers, but her situation is worse than her expectation. She goes there with fake necklace.
ANALYSIS
Aim of the writer is to show us how life is strange, changeful and little things can make our good live turn into despair live.
The writer is eager to tell us “Lie is mother of unpleasant situation.” If she hadn’t lied, she and her husband wouldn’t have lived like this.
THE JILTING OF GRANNY WEATHERALL
SUMMARY
Granny Weatherall lies in her bed and Doctor Harry examines her, but she doesn’t want to be examined. She thinks him for too young to be a real doctor, she believes that she is not sick. There are two man and her children for her during her lifetime. She remembers her first love, George who jilts her just before the wedding. During the story she remembers him because she thinks that he betrayed her. She wants him to know she is happy:”I want to find George. Find him and be sure telling him I forgot him. I want him to know I had my husband just the same and my children and my house like any other woman.” Later she marries John Whoom she has many children. One of them called Hapsy passes away and she reminisces him throughout the story.
While she is in her bad, she thinks death. Although she prepares herself for death, she doesn’t want to ponder death. Twenty years ago, she had assumed she was going to die but she wasn’t. She calls her children and looks back on their old days her old days were hand but enjoyable. She cooked, cleaned and sewed for them. While she is thinking these, she forgets everything and begins to hallucinate. She assumes as it all her old days are today. Her mind makes old memories seem as if it is today. Then she turns today and talks with Cornelia and doctor. Granny wants to see Hapsy and in her mind she finds her. When she is about to kiss her, Cornelia calls her. But Granny continues her mind travel, and this time, she thinks George. Suddenly she feels herself very tired and she suffers. She thinks hat death has come.
The priest arrives and Granny feels herself good. She knows that God will help her. She has felt this feeling since George jilted her. She talks with her children but they don’t understand her. Granny realizes that she is in extremis but she surprises because there are many things to do for her. Cornelia begins to sob. Granny tells her: “I am not going, Cornelia. I am taken by surprise. I can’t go.”
Granny wants God to give her a sign but God doesn’t. There is not bridegroom again. She has angst and she forget her other sorrows. She says:”Oh, no, there’s nothing crueller than this. I’ll never forgive it. She breaths deep and blows out the light.
POINT OF VIEW
The Jilting of Granny Weatherall is told by a third person narration. It is understood from that “She and he said” but using of stream of consciousness technique, we learn her all feelings and thoughts as if she talked to us. This point of view draws readers into the mind of Weatherall.
The author uses “stream of consciousness and by means of this technique we can understood thoughts, memories and associating of Granny’s mind. Moreover it helps us to see Granny’s confused and clear thoughts, disappointments, and feelings. By using the stream of consciousness technique, the author portrays Granny’s relationships with George, John, Hapsy, Cornelia and her other children and the author.
THE SETTING
The place is the bedroom where Granny Weatherall is dying. Time is the last day in the eighty-years-old woman’s life.
CHARACTERS
Granny: She is old and sick woman. She lives both today and past. Because she is jilted by her fiancé, she suspicious of everything and other people. According to her, she is jilted even God. She marries another man and he dies. She has many children and one of whom passes away. All these difficult experiences forced her to be strong. She prepares herself to die before but when it really comes, she is in surprise. At the end she dies.
IRONIES
1. When doctor examines Granny, she is angry with him because she thinks she is healthy. Although she lies on her death bed she says “I am not sick.” This is irony.
2. Although she died when she was eighty years old, she had prepares herself for death when she was sixty. But she was in surprise as she knew she would die. This is dramatic irony.
3. Through the story, Granny keeps her religious beliefs although she has to cope with many difficult problems. At the end of the story, while she is about to die is in a moment of doubt and say “God, give a sign!”
THEME
There are two themes one of which is self-pity and the other is the acceptance of death. Granny is abandoned by George on her wedding day and she suffers a lot because of this. She can not forget this painful experience. She is even jilted by God. When she was about the die, said “God, give a sign!” But God does not give a sign and she is jilted twice. As a result she becomes a woman who is suspicious of everyone. For example when Cornelia and doctor were whispering together, Granny said Cornelia: “Go away and don’t whisper” These show her self-pity.
After this story is read, is should be understood that death is unpredictable thing, in other words it is not important weather you are ready to die or not. By means of this story, people perceive death and mortality.
Granny Weatherall lies in her bed and Doctor Harry examines her, but she doesn’t want to be examined. She thinks him for too young to be a real doctor, she believes that she is not sick. There are two man and her children for her during her lifetime. She remembers her first love, George who jilts her just before the wedding. During the story she remembers him because she thinks that he betrayed her. She wants him to know she is happy:”I want to find George. Find him and be sure telling him I forgot him. I want him to know I had my husband just the same and my children and my house like any other woman.” Later she marries John Whoom she has many children. One of them called Hapsy passes away and she reminisces him throughout the story.
While she is in her bad, she thinks death. Although she prepares herself for death, she doesn’t want to ponder death. Twenty years ago, she had assumed she was going to die but she wasn’t. She calls her children and looks back on their old days her old days were hand but enjoyable. She cooked, cleaned and sewed for them. While she is thinking these, she forgets everything and begins to hallucinate. She assumes as it all her old days are today. Her mind makes old memories seem as if it is today. Then she turns today and talks with Cornelia and doctor. Granny wants to see Hapsy and in her mind she finds her. When she is about to kiss her, Cornelia calls her. But Granny continues her mind travel, and this time, she thinks George. Suddenly she feels herself very tired and she suffers. She thinks hat death has come.
The priest arrives and Granny feels herself good. She knows that God will help her. She has felt this feeling since George jilted her. She talks with her children but they don’t understand her. Granny realizes that she is in extremis but she surprises because there are many things to do for her. Cornelia begins to sob. Granny tells her: “I am not going, Cornelia. I am taken by surprise. I can’t go.”
Granny wants God to give her a sign but God doesn’t. There is not bridegroom again. She has angst and she forget her other sorrows. She says:”Oh, no, there’s nothing crueller than this. I’ll never forgive it. She breaths deep and blows out the light.
POINT OF VIEW
The Jilting of Granny Weatherall is told by a third person narration. It is understood from that “She and he said” but using of stream of consciousness technique, we learn her all feelings and thoughts as if she talked to us. This point of view draws readers into the mind of Weatherall.
The author uses “stream of consciousness and by means of this technique we can understood thoughts, memories and associating of Granny’s mind. Moreover it helps us to see Granny’s confused and clear thoughts, disappointments, and feelings. By using the stream of consciousness technique, the author portrays Granny’s relationships with George, John, Hapsy, Cornelia and her other children and the author.
THE SETTING
The place is the bedroom where Granny Weatherall is dying. Time is the last day in the eighty-years-old woman’s life.
CHARACTERS
Granny: She is old and sick woman. She lives both today and past. Because she is jilted by her fiancé, she suspicious of everything and other people. According to her, she is jilted even God. She marries another man and he dies. She has many children and one of whom passes away. All these difficult experiences forced her to be strong. She prepares herself to die before but when it really comes, she is in surprise. At the end she dies.
IRONIES
1. When doctor examines Granny, she is angry with him because she thinks she is healthy. Although she lies on her death bed she says “I am not sick.” This is irony.
2. Although she died when she was eighty years old, she had prepares herself for death when she was sixty. But she was in surprise as she knew she would die. This is dramatic irony.
3. Through the story, Granny keeps her religious beliefs although she has to cope with many difficult problems. At the end of the story, while she is about to die is in a moment of doubt and say “God, give a sign!”
THEME
There are two themes one of which is self-pity and the other is the acceptance of death. Granny is abandoned by George on her wedding day and she suffers a lot because of this. She can not forget this painful experience. She is even jilted by God. When she was about the die, said “God, give a sign!” But God does not give a sign and she is jilted twice. As a result she becomes a woman who is suspicious of everyone. For example when Cornelia and doctor were whispering together, Granny said Cornelia: “Go away and don’t whisper” These show her self-pity.
After this story is read, is should be understood that death is unpredictable thing, in other words it is not important weather you are ready to die or not. By means of this story, people perceive death and mortality.
THE FIVE FORTY EIGHT BY JOHN CHEEVER
SUMMARY
This short story portrays a struggle of good and evil. Blake has an affair with his secretary. After that night, he fires her. He loses his friends and marries wife only her beauty. He is selfish man because his friends and neighbours know his bad behaviour; they reject him as a friend. Although he has nobody around him, he sees himself perfectly. But everything changes after Miss Dent. She wants to revenge on him. They are in train and she wants to talk him. Although at first he does not want to accept her offer, they talk and he is really fear of her and behaviour. There is pistol in her hand and she threats him. At the end of the story, she wants him to put his face in the dirt and he puts. Then she goes away from him and he stands up and goes. Although he is proud man, she hurts his pride and revenges on him at the end of story.
POINT OF VIEW
It is narrated by third person narration because the narrator doesn’t participate in the story and “he, she said” are used.
SETTING
The place is train and the time is winter.
THEME
Theme is deception and redemption.
CHARACTERS
Blake: Blake is a businessman. He has an affair with his secretary. After their affair, she fires her.
Miss Dent: Miss Dent is a secretary and mentally ill. Because she is abandoned, she wants to take revenge on him.
This short story portrays a struggle of good and evil. Blake has an affair with his secretary. After that night, he fires her. He loses his friends and marries wife only her beauty. He is selfish man because his friends and neighbours know his bad behaviour; they reject him as a friend. Although he has nobody around him, he sees himself perfectly. But everything changes after Miss Dent. She wants to revenge on him. They are in train and she wants to talk him. Although at first he does not want to accept her offer, they talk and he is really fear of her and behaviour. There is pistol in her hand and she threats him. At the end of the story, she wants him to put his face in the dirt and he puts. Then she goes away from him and he stands up and goes. Although he is proud man, she hurts his pride and revenges on him at the end of story.
POINT OF VIEW
It is narrated by third person narration because the narrator doesn’t participate in the story and “he, she said” are used.
SETTING
The place is train and the time is winter.
THEME
Theme is deception and redemption.
CHARACTERS
Blake: Blake is a businessman. He has an affair with his secretary. After their affair, she fires her.
Miss Dent: Miss Dent is a secretary and mentally ill. Because she is abandoned, she wants to take revenge on him.
THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO BY EDGAR ALLEN POE
SUMMARY
The narrator, Montresor makes a vow that he takes his revenge on Fortunato. While revenging, he doesn’t want to take a risk. Fortunato is addicted to wine and Montresor says “I want you to taste Amontillado because I have my doubts”. Although they are in the carnival, they go to vaults. There are bones in that place. While they are walking Montresor shows him to trowel, but Fortunato doesn’t suspect anything. There is space where Montresor tells Fortunato that Amontillado is here. Because Fortunato is drunk, he goes there and Montresor starts to chain over him. Fortunato starts to scream and when the alcohol wears off, he moans. Just as Montresor is about to finish, Fortunato laughs because he thinks that Montresor is joking, but he is not. Briefly he buries him although Fortunato is alive.
POINT OF VIEW
The point of view is first person narration because “I” is used. Briefly, the narrator participates in the story.
SETTING
The place is the carnival and vault of Montresor, and the time is about dusk.
IRONIES
1) Aim of Montresor is to take Fortunato to his vault, but when he wants to go there Montresor says: “Your health is precious and you will be ill.” This is irony because Montresor’s thought is different from what he says.
2) Meaning of name of the character is “the fortunate one” in Italian but Fortunato has unfortunate fate because he is killed very cruelly and this is irony.
The narrator, Montresor makes a vow that he takes his revenge on Fortunato. While revenging, he doesn’t want to take a risk. Fortunato is addicted to wine and Montresor says “I want you to taste Amontillado because I have my doubts”. Although they are in the carnival, they go to vaults. There are bones in that place. While they are walking Montresor shows him to trowel, but Fortunato doesn’t suspect anything. There is space where Montresor tells Fortunato that Amontillado is here. Because Fortunato is drunk, he goes there and Montresor starts to chain over him. Fortunato starts to scream and when the alcohol wears off, he moans. Just as Montresor is about to finish, Fortunato laughs because he thinks that Montresor is joking, but he is not. Briefly he buries him although Fortunato is alive.
POINT OF VIEW
The point of view is first person narration because “I” is used. Briefly, the narrator participates in the story.
SETTING
The place is the carnival and vault of Montresor, and the time is about dusk.
IRONIES
1) Aim of Montresor is to take Fortunato to his vault, but when he wants to go there Montresor says: “Your health is precious and you will be ill.” This is irony because Montresor’s thought is different from what he says.
2) Meaning of name of the character is “the fortunate one” in Italian but Fortunato has unfortunate fate because he is killed very cruelly and this is irony.
HILLS LIKE WHITE ELEPHANT BY ERNEST HEMINGWAY
SUMMARY
Jig and the man is called “The American” go from Barcelona to Madrid. She is pregnant. They drink beer and talk about “operation”. This operation refers to abortion. Although Jig doesn’t want to have an abortion, he insists on this issue. According to man, child is obstacle for them and after operation, everything goes smoothly. It’s clear from his sentences: “That’s the only thing that bothers us. It is the only thing that’s made us unhappy.” As for Jig, she can not decide what she will do. She looks out from window and sees hills like white elephant. He doesn’t interest in her comment. During their journey their conversation is abortion and end of the story what they will do is uncertain.
PLOT
The plot is conservation between two main characters. Their conversation is about abortion. This topic “abortion” is understood from that sentence “It’s to let the air in.” They don’t say clearly “abortion”, they choose to say “operation” instead of it. May be they don’t want to be heard their conversation. Maybe there are two reasons for this: They lack of sharing of feelings and reaction of society.
POINT OF VIEW
The story is narrated by third person narration because “he said” and “she said” are used and dialogues are not given perspective of the narrator.
THE SETTING
The place is a bar at a train station in Spain. The time is not given, but more probably it is summer.
CHARACTERS
Jig: She is young woman and pregnant. Because she is referred to as a “girl” in the story, we can say she is young. She is in conflict with herself because she cannot make a decision whether to have an abortion or not. She wants to be sure whether their lives change or not after operation.
The man: A man is called “The American”. He wants Jig not to give a birth. For him abortion is the best solution. This is clear due to his words “simple” and “easy”.
ANALYSIS
Unnamed Character: There are two main characters, one of them Jig and the other “a man” or “The American”. We don’t know their real names. This indicates that their story can happen to anyone.
Title: Title is a metaphor when the girl looks at mountains; she likens them to white elephant. A white elephant is a burden to its owner because it is very huge animals and not only is difficult to feed it, but bring it up also. Because of this there is relation between elephant and baby, both of them require responsibility. There is also one point that “white elephant” is an idiom and its meaning is useless or unwanted things. At the same time, hills resemble stomach of a pregnant woman because of similarity of their shape.
Train: Both characters travel by train not a car, bus or ship. Movement of train symbolizes dilemma of Jig. Train must go either forward or backward and Jig must decide whether she wants a baby or not.
The last decision: At the beginning of story, Jig starts to talk and the story finishes her sentence. It is understood from that the last decision for the abortion will belong to her.
Beer: Although Jig is pregnant, she drinks beer. She is the one that even said, “Let’s drink beer”. She says “Everything tastes of liquorice. Especially all the things you’ve waited so long for, like absinthe.” Absinthe is very strong alcoholic drink. As it is known alcohol is harmful for babies. Although she still hasn’t decided for operation. She poisons her baby. At the same time, this is irony.
The land description: The landscape is very important symbol in the story. When Jig looks at one side of the train station, she sees “the country was brown and dry” but when she looks on the other side, she sees “fields of grain and tress along the banks of the Ebro. Far away, beyond the river, were mountains. The shadow of a cloud moved across the field of grain and she saw the river through the trees.” Both of landscapes are different from each other and they symbolize decision of Jig. The first one shows her feelings of after abortion and what society thinks about her if she gives a birth. The second shows that she wants to give a birth. Fertility and beauties of tree and cloud symbolize good things such as a having a baby.
Jig and the man is called “The American” go from Barcelona to Madrid. She is pregnant. They drink beer and talk about “operation”. This operation refers to abortion. Although Jig doesn’t want to have an abortion, he insists on this issue. According to man, child is obstacle for them and after operation, everything goes smoothly. It’s clear from his sentences: “That’s the only thing that bothers us. It is the only thing that’s made us unhappy.” As for Jig, she can not decide what she will do. She looks out from window and sees hills like white elephant. He doesn’t interest in her comment. During their journey their conversation is abortion and end of the story what they will do is uncertain.
PLOT
The plot is conservation between two main characters. Their conversation is about abortion. This topic “abortion” is understood from that sentence “It’s to let the air in.” They don’t say clearly “abortion”, they choose to say “operation” instead of it. May be they don’t want to be heard their conversation. Maybe there are two reasons for this: They lack of sharing of feelings and reaction of society.
POINT OF VIEW
The story is narrated by third person narration because “he said” and “she said” are used and dialogues are not given perspective of the narrator.
THE SETTING
The place is a bar at a train station in Spain. The time is not given, but more probably it is summer.
CHARACTERS
Jig: She is young woman and pregnant. Because she is referred to as a “girl” in the story, we can say she is young. She is in conflict with herself because she cannot make a decision whether to have an abortion or not. She wants to be sure whether their lives change or not after operation.
The man: A man is called “The American”. He wants Jig not to give a birth. For him abortion is the best solution. This is clear due to his words “simple” and “easy”.
ANALYSIS
Unnamed Character: There are two main characters, one of them Jig and the other “a man” or “The American”. We don’t know their real names. This indicates that their story can happen to anyone.
Title: Title is a metaphor when the girl looks at mountains; she likens them to white elephant. A white elephant is a burden to its owner because it is very huge animals and not only is difficult to feed it, but bring it up also. Because of this there is relation between elephant and baby, both of them require responsibility. There is also one point that “white elephant” is an idiom and its meaning is useless or unwanted things. At the same time, hills resemble stomach of a pregnant woman because of similarity of their shape.
Train: Both characters travel by train not a car, bus or ship. Movement of train symbolizes dilemma of Jig. Train must go either forward or backward and Jig must decide whether she wants a baby or not.
The last decision: At the beginning of story, Jig starts to talk and the story finishes her sentence. It is understood from that the last decision for the abortion will belong to her.
Beer: Although Jig is pregnant, she drinks beer. She is the one that even said, “Let’s drink beer”. She says “Everything tastes of liquorice. Especially all the things you’ve waited so long for, like absinthe.” Absinthe is very strong alcoholic drink. As it is known alcohol is harmful for babies. Although she still hasn’t decided for operation. She poisons her baby. At the same time, this is irony.
The land description: The landscape is very important symbol in the story. When Jig looks at one side of the train station, she sees “the country was brown and dry” but when she looks on the other side, she sees “fields of grain and tress along the banks of the Ebro. Far away, beyond the river, were mountains. The shadow of a cloud moved across the field of grain and she saw the river through the trees.” Both of landscapes are different from each other and they symbolize decision of Jig. The first one shows her feelings of after abortion and what society thinks about her if she gives a birth. The second shows that she wants to give a birth. Fertility and beauties of tree and cloud symbolize good things such as a having a baby.
GIMPEL THE FOOL BY ISAAC BASHEVIS SINGER
SUMMARY
People think that Gimpel is imbecile, but he isn’t. Everybody around him deceives him. Although he doesn’t believe them, he chooses to seem foolish person. Gimpel is orphan and he marries a woman who says she is also orphan, but this is not true. People say him “she is virgin pure” but this is also not true. She is pregnant when they marry and she cheats on him most of the time. Then she gives birth to even other children, none of whom are Gimpel’s. When she is on her deathbed she confesses everything and wants him to forgive her. Later when he is asleep evil comes and ask him a few questions. Gimpel’s answers are logical and related to God. According to him he shouldn’t deceive and lie to people because God sees everything. Briefly Gimpel chooses good way which reaches God.
POINT OF VIEW
The story is told from the viewpoint of first person narration because “I” is used all through the story.
THEME
The theme is “faith”. Although Gimpel is deceived most of the time by villagers and even his wife, he doesn’t give up believing God.
CHARACTERS
Gimpel is round character because we know his thoughts and feelings. Although everybody around him think that he is imbecile, he doesn’t think like them. As the story progresses we understand that he is clever man. When people cheat on him he doesn’t want to take revenge on them because God sees everything and bad behaviour is sin. Gimpel knows that he is not as stupid as the people think. In the end we understand that Gimpel is right.
Elka is his wife. She isn’t virgin pure and she deceives him a lot. Although she is his wife, her behaviour is not different from ordinary people.
IRONY
People think that Gimpel is not clever, but he is cleverer than them because he sees many things that other people can’t see.
People think that Gimpel is imbecile, but he isn’t. Everybody around him deceives him. Although he doesn’t believe them, he chooses to seem foolish person. Gimpel is orphan and he marries a woman who says she is also orphan, but this is not true. People say him “she is virgin pure” but this is also not true. She is pregnant when they marry and she cheats on him most of the time. Then she gives birth to even other children, none of whom are Gimpel’s. When she is on her deathbed she confesses everything and wants him to forgive her. Later when he is asleep evil comes and ask him a few questions. Gimpel’s answers are logical and related to God. According to him he shouldn’t deceive and lie to people because God sees everything. Briefly Gimpel chooses good way which reaches God.
POINT OF VIEW
The story is told from the viewpoint of first person narration because “I” is used all through the story.
THEME
The theme is “faith”. Although Gimpel is deceived most of the time by villagers and even his wife, he doesn’t give up believing God.
CHARACTERS
Gimpel is round character because we know his thoughts and feelings. Although everybody around him think that he is imbecile, he doesn’t think like them. As the story progresses we understand that he is clever man. When people cheat on him he doesn’t want to take revenge on them because God sees everything and bad behaviour is sin. Gimpel knows that he is not as stupid as the people think. In the end we understand that Gimpel is right.
Elka is his wife. She isn’t virgin pure and she deceives him a lot. Although she is his wife, her behaviour is not different from ordinary people.
IRONY
People think that Gimpel is not clever, but he is cleverer than them because he sees many things that other people can’t see.
A&P BY JOHN UPDIKE
SUMMARY
The story “A&P” is a short story about a young boy called Sammy. He is nineteen years old. He works at supermarket. He rings and bags customer’s groceries up. One day three girls come and they wear only bikini, they even don’t wear shoes. Sammy finds these girls attractive, but the manager, Lengster disapproves their dresses. Because their dresses are not appropriate to come shopping, he asks them to leave the store. Sammy thinks that his behaviour is embarrassing and he quits his job.
POINT OF VIEW
The story is narrated by first person narration because we learn everything from perspective of main character. At the same time, he directly says us his thoughts.
THE SETTING
The story is set in an A&P supermarket Time is about the year 1960.
CHARACTER
Sammy: He is a boy and not exactly individual. He is only nineteen and wants to prove himself. The girls give him an opportunity to express himself. He wants to rebel against his surroundings. He wants to reject society. He realizes that only he can change his life and quits job. At the same time he knows that life is not easy for him and he says “I felt how hard the world was going to be to me here after.” He comes from a middle-class family. We can understand from that when his parents have somebody over they get “lemonade.”
ANALYSIS
Sheep: Sammy wants to prove that he doesn’t think like everybody. In their town women generally put on a shirt or shorts or something before they get out of the car into street, but girls only dress “bikini”. Sammy knows that people disapprove their dress and Lengel says them to leave the store. In general people like his behaviour, but Sammy doesn’t and he quits his job to prove that he is not sheep. Briefly he wants to say us he thinks, he doesn’t live according to traditions or taboo.
Witch: Sammy is so attracted by girls that he can not remember if he rang crackers up or not and he rings them up again. When his customer realizes this she talks him loudly. Because treatment is not understanding and nice, he says her “witch”.
Bikini: Three girls wear bikini although they go to market. Maybe they want to say “We are free girl and we don’t think like you, our viewpoints are different from yours and we don’t wear like common women.
Quits his job: He quits his job because he likes girls and he wants to show them he stands up for them and he does what he believes. At the same time he thinks himself “Unsuspected hero” because he wants to attract them to his courage.
There is the most important reason to quit his job. He understands that his life goes on routinely. He will spend his entire life at the store if he does not soon quit his job. He realizes that he will not be promoted. Maybe he will be only manager like Stokesie. When we think his age there are many things he can do. Briefly he does not want to spend his life working at store.
The story “A&P” is a short story about a young boy called Sammy. He is nineteen years old. He works at supermarket. He rings and bags customer’s groceries up. One day three girls come and they wear only bikini, they even don’t wear shoes. Sammy finds these girls attractive, but the manager, Lengster disapproves their dresses. Because their dresses are not appropriate to come shopping, he asks them to leave the store. Sammy thinks that his behaviour is embarrassing and he quits his job.
POINT OF VIEW
The story is narrated by first person narration because we learn everything from perspective of main character. At the same time, he directly says us his thoughts.
THE SETTING
The story is set in an A&P supermarket Time is about the year 1960.
CHARACTER
Sammy: He is a boy and not exactly individual. He is only nineteen and wants to prove himself. The girls give him an opportunity to express himself. He wants to rebel against his surroundings. He wants to reject society. He realizes that only he can change his life and quits job. At the same time he knows that life is not easy for him and he says “I felt how hard the world was going to be to me here after.” He comes from a middle-class family. We can understand from that when his parents have somebody over they get “lemonade.”
ANALYSIS
Sheep: Sammy wants to prove that he doesn’t think like everybody. In their town women generally put on a shirt or shorts or something before they get out of the car into street, but girls only dress “bikini”. Sammy knows that people disapprove their dress and Lengel says them to leave the store. In general people like his behaviour, but Sammy doesn’t and he quits his job to prove that he is not sheep. Briefly he wants to say us he thinks, he doesn’t live according to traditions or taboo.
Witch: Sammy is so attracted by girls that he can not remember if he rang crackers up or not and he rings them up again. When his customer realizes this she talks him loudly. Because treatment is not understanding and nice, he says her “witch”.
Bikini: Three girls wear bikini although they go to market. Maybe they want to say “We are free girl and we don’t think like you, our viewpoints are different from yours and we don’t wear like common women.
Quits his job: He quits his job because he likes girls and he wants to show them he stands up for them and he does what he believes. At the same time he thinks himself “Unsuspected hero” because he wants to attract them to his courage.
There is the most important reason to quit his job. He understands that his life goes on routinely. He will spend his entire life at the store if he does not soon quit his job. He realizes that he will not be promoted. Maybe he will be only manager like Stokesie. When we think his age there are many things he can do. Briefly he does not want to spend his life working at store.
Kaydol:
Kayıtlar (Atom)
