The short story “The Missing Girl” by Shirley Jackson is one of the chapters in her book “Just an Ordinary Day”. This short story tells the reader about the girl who went missing. All throughout the story the main characters of the story Chief Hook, Betsy, Old Jane, Hilda Scarlett and the others are trying to find a girl. However, at the end all the people in the town doubt the fact that she has even existed in the first place.
This story made me wonder if such case could happen in the real life. And I assume that it is totally possible. All the people in the area were trying to find a missing girl. However, none of them did not even know her. They had no idea what she looked like, what her name was or what clothes she was wearing. Even though, the story seems to be a little bit weird, it is necessary to state that there is a part of true life to it.
The pace of the modern life has been so fast that people often are having a hard time noticing the others in the world. Just like in the story “The Missing Girl” by SHirley Jackson, people may spend a lot of time around each other. However, they still have no idea about the interests, life or style of that person. It is quite amusing that none of the characters in the short story seemed to be ashamed that they were not even sure that the missing girl was even real. They all seemed to be answering the questions of the police. However, they had no idea if their answers are right. In such a way I believe that they definitely were not helping to find her, but they were doing the opposite thing.
Also, it is quite cynical to read the last paragraph of the short story “The Missing Girl” by Shirley Jackson. All the people who have doubted the existence of the missing girl have come to her funeral. It is very interesting how people who did not care about the girl in the first place ended up attending her funeral and pretending that they had emotions to the victim or even knew her. However, from the whole story we know that it is definitely not true. All the people from the story had no idea who this girl was and what was she doing.
It is quite not understandable why people still went to her funeral, even though, they had no idea who this girl was. This story should help people to realize that people who surround us every day are very important. Sometimes paying more attention to people can save their lives. Even though, one of the women might have seen the girl in the bushes while driving, she still did not stop to save her. Therefore, a little bit more care to other people can be useful.
“The Missing Girl” is a short story that shows how people can be neglectful in modern life. Sadly that this happens in the ear when people seem to be more connected to each other than ever before. However, there are still people who do not fall within our vision. After reading this story I have come to a conclusion that there are probably many people who go missing annually but people do not notice that and do not report it to the police. Because people are too busy doing their own things. They seem to care less about the life around them and focus more on their own lives.
In conclusion, it is necessary to state that a short story “The Missing Girl” by Shirley Jackson reminds me of the modern life. Sometimes people fake their feelings and pretend to care while in the real life they do not care. Modern world has made people more careless and cruel. Therefore, this story should teach it readers that people should be paying more attention to people who surround them.
The Missing Girl Essays Examples
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WowEssays. (2023, February, 20) The Missing Girl Essays Examples. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://www.wowessays.com/free-samples/reading-response-essays-examples-2/
"The Missing Girl Essays Examples." WowEssays, 20 Feb. 2023, https://www.wowessays.com/free-samples/reading-response-essays-examples-2/. Accessed 22 November 2024.
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WowEssays. The Missing Girl Essays Examples. [Internet]. February 2023. [Accessed November 22, 2024]. Available from: https://www.wowessays.com/free-samples/reading-response-essays-examples-2/
"The Missing Girl Essays Examples." WowEssays, Feb 20, 2023. Accessed November 22, 2024. https://www.wowessays.com/free-samples/reading-response-essays-examples-2/
WowEssays. 2023. "The Missing Girl Essays Examples." Free Essay Examples - WowEssays.com. Retrieved November 22, 2024. (https://www.wowessays.com/free-samples/reading-response-essays-examples-2/).
"The Missing Girl Essays Examples," Free Essay Examples - WowEssays.com, 20-Feb-2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.wowessays.com/free-samples/reading-response-essays-examples-2/. [Accessed: 22-Nov-2024].
The Missing Girl Essays Examples. Free Essay Examples - WowEssays.com. https://www.wowessays.com/free-samples/reading-response-essays-examples-2/. Published Feb 20, 2023. Accessed November 22, 2024.
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