While I was reading the story I expected Mrs. Mallard to be sad because of the worsening illness, however, she expressed the different feeling of freedom and independence from her husband’s death. As per the story’s title, the story of changing her feeling about her husband’s death happened within only an hour. She enjoyed freedom right after the storm of grief. Her attitude towards his death clearly showed that she has been waiting a long time for her husband’s death during the married life.
Although it is a short fiction that does not provide a detailed information about peculiarities of Mrs. Mallard’s marriage, a lot of metaphor expressions in story indicate her situation and feelings about her husband’s death. In the book, it says “But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air.” This quote makes her realize what having a true joy and freedom means. By describing the situation in details, her feelings turn out to be more lifelike.
If I were in Mrs. Mallard’s shoes, I would not keep a stiff upper lip about the death of a person I love. I would recall all the memories with my wife during a married life, and the emptiness around me would be so huge that I will not easily accept her passing away. I have been to my uncle’s funeral last year and my aunt was too weak to come. My mother said to me later in my house that aunt did not eat meals at all and suffered mental illness for almost two months. When I watched my aunt’s pain after the uncle’s death, Mallard’s behavior seems unrealistic to me. It is right that such attitude can help to live for the rest of the life, but only few people can follow her behavior when they see the death of their spouses.
Second Reading- Hills Like White Elephant (The words count should be 500-550)
One couple drank beer before boarding a train. The girl Jig, that is how her boyfriend called to her, said the hill looked like a white elephant. This description without meaning just expressed her casual thought of the hill line. However, after drinking more bottles of beer, she oppositely said the hill did not resemble a white elephant. The guy suggested to her to remove the barrier between their relationships. And, he said, if she did not want to do it, he would follow her decision. During a conversation with more drinks she said him to stop talking. The atmosphere between them was desolate, however, in the very end she said that her feelings for him were warm.
During the first time of reading this fiction I did not guess what was the main cause of a conflict between them. It was kind of a quiz. In the book, he says “It’s not really an operation at all.” He also says “It’s just to let the air in”. These quotes made me recall “abortion” with deducting entire situation. The couple’s conversation became serious after more beers. I could also be sure about a fight between them, finally understanding the meaning of a “White Elephant “, which is symbolic in this reading. This is her thought about the line of hills that does not imply any meaning, and she is not serious about it. However, after she changed her thought about the description of hill, they had a deep conversation about one issue. The beer can be another symbol that allowed them to talk about topic that they could not easily talk being sober.
If the issue is abortion, the fetus will increase the power of her. Because this is a sensitive issue for them, he tried to act respectfully towards her decision. However, if she encounters his persuasion, she will lose more power and he will have more authority to control her thoughts. In addition, he said the fetus is an obstacle to their relationships. I assume that he wanted to have a casual relationship with her, not considering the marriage, whereas she saw a baby as a logical step towards their family life.
The girl did not clearly express her opinion. In the book, he asks “Do you want it with water?” and she said, “ I don’t know”. She even asks “Is it good with water?” She tended to depend on his decision in even basic issues. Moreover, he could only speak Spanish as he ordered the bartender to bring more beers. I can assume that he had much power on her decisions, and eventually she decides to have an abortion. He considered the abortion had no problems with the simple operation. His words about being able to do whatever they wanted after removing fetus are unethical. In my opinion, they have to be responsible when making a baby. The life of the embryo will stop because of abortion operation. In this case, they kill one life for the sake of their meaningless relationships.
