On the surface, Doris Lessing’s protagonist had a perfect life. “Happily” married, financially secure, big house, healthy well-adjusted children, home help; what more could a woman want? The story is a product of its time (the early 1960s). Susan’s anguish about losing her independence and lack of fulfillment in life leads to depression, mental decline, and temporary escape from her demons in Room 19 of a seedy hotel. Too afraid of being ridiculed to confide in her husband and ask for help, she sees only one way out. Themes include loss of autonomy/identity, unsatisfying marriage, depression, communication breakdown, isolation, suicide. More…
Ckeckouts
This story by Cynthia Rylant deals with the themes of loneliness, puppy love and lost opportunity. A teenage girl is lonely after her parents move to a new city. Her only joy is shopping for the family groceries. This helps the girl take her mind off problems and think more clearly. At the supermarket the girl finds herself strongly attracted to a bag boy operating one of the checkouts. The boy is also strongly attracted to her. Fast forward to the end of the story, and both are with another partner. More…
Three Girls
In this story by Joyce Carol Oates a woman recalls when, as a college student, she and a fellow girl-poet encountered a woman they believed to be a heavily disguised Marilyn Monroe browsing in a used bookstore. Torn between acknowledging the woman and protecting her privacy, they choose the latter. “Marilyn” gives them a book as a memento and leaves. For the girls, who are coming to grips with their sexuality and mutual attraction against social norms of the time, the shared experience triggers a first kiss. Themes include identity, gender norms, sexuality, passion, courage, stereotypes. More…
Zita
There are two Zitas in this romantic coming of age story by Arturo B Rotor. The first is the woman who caused a broken-hearted young man to seek solace teaching on Anayat, an off-the-grid Philippine island of broken cliffs and coconut palms; the second, an adolescent Anayat schoolgirl who he agrees to teach how “to be a lady”. As sometimes happens, schoolgirl Zita develops a crush on the teacher. When he leaves in the hope of reconciling with his former love, she comes to understand something he once told her. Themes: unrequited love, alienation, depression, teenage infatuation. More…
He
The central theme of this poignant, rather dark story from Katherine Porter is a mother’s relationship with her devoted special needs son. The woman is obsessed with appearances. Although she professes greater love for him than her other children combined, one wonders if this is out of pity or, worse, a mere show for neighbors. Similarly, are her tears as she takes the boy to the County Home the result of losing him, a sense of failure/shame as a mother, and/or (as the narrator cruelly suggests) wishing he had never been born? Other themes: struggle against poverty, family, appearances, guilt. More…