Examine How John Wyndham in ‘Dumb Martian’ Captures the Moment When Someone’s Life Changes Dramatically.
In the short story ‘Dumb Martian’ written by John Wyndham, the main character, Lellie’s life changes dramatically when she lock Duncan out of the dome and starts to challenge Duncan.
Firstly, the author captured this moment by making this remarkable. It is so remarkable that it costs a human life, Duncan’s life. “His hand slapped across her face harder than he had intended.” This shows how badly treated was Lellie. Enduring much of Duncan’s abuse in the past, both physically and verbally, Lellie wanted to pay them all back to him. She also wanted revenge for her friend Alan Whint, which the author had faintly showed that Duncan murdered him. Lellie changed. She wanted Duncan to find this change and proved that she is not dumb in the hard way.
Secondly, the author made this change a sharp contrast from what she was like before. Lellie seemed to be a weak and innocent at the beginning of the story, from Duncan’s and other people’s point of views. She couldn’t pronounce proper English and she looks funny in Earthman’s eyes. “His eyes strayed her to a gallery of pinned-up terrestrial beauties.” It is easy to think she is dumb as Duncan always says. As later we see how logical her plan is, it sort of gives us a sense of shock. All the emphasis on how dumb Lellie was earlier in the story builds up to create this surprise. This intensive contrast captured Lellie’s moment of life change to be more dramatic.
Finally, the author captured this moment of life change in an unpredictable and ironic way. The author manipulates us to believe Lellie is dumb by the frequent use of the word. Plus, most of the story is told at Duncan’s point of view and we didn’t see much of Lellie’s thought at a deep level. All of the descriptions of Lellie’s naïve personality lead us to this unexpected moment of change, which is at the same time, irony. This irony helps add dramatics because it shows that Lellie is no longer a slave; she is changed to now the one in charge. The author made
Firstly, the author captured this moment by making this remarkable. It is so remarkable that it costs a human life, Duncan’s life. “His hand slapped across her face harder than he had intended.” This shows how badly treated was Lellie. Enduring much of Duncan’s abuse in the past, both physically and verbally, Lellie wanted to pay them all back to him. She also wanted revenge for her friend Alan Whint, which the author had faintly showed that Duncan murdered him. Lellie changed. She wanted Duncan to find this change and proved that she is not dumb in the hard way.
Secondly, the author made this change a sharp contrast from what she was like before. Lellie seemed to be a weak and innocent at the beginning of the story, from Duncan’s and other people’s point of views. She couldn’t pronounce proper English and she looks funny in Earthman’s eyes. “His eyes strayed her to a gallery of pinned-up terrestrial beauties.” It is easy to think she is dumb as Duncan always says. As later we see how logical her plan is, it sort of gives us a sense of shock. All the emphasis on how dumb Lellie was earlier in the story builds up to create this surprise. This intensive contrast captured Lellie’s moment of life change to be more dramatic.
Finally, the author captured this moment of life change in an unpredictable and ironic way. The author manipulates us to believe Lellie is dumb by the frequent use of the word. Plus, most of the story is told at Duncan’s point of view and we didn’t see much of Lellie’s thought at a deep level. All of the descriptions of Lellie’s naïve personality lead us to this unexpected moment of change, which is at the same time, irony. This irony helps add dramatics because it shows that Lellie is no longer a slave; she is changed to now the one in charge. The author made