Readers Response

Readers response
The Mortal Immortal was quite different than past assigned readings for several reasons. First, it was a short story rather than a long-winded, descriptive novel. This appealed to me because that, in itself, shows a turn to the modern side of literature. Gone are the days of praising the sublime and merely hinting at characters emotions. More presently, audiences want to be quickly brought into the action, and to experience a high level of energy and enjoyment throughout the entire work. The Mortal Immortal is the first story to present this emotional intensity. I believe this is correctly executed through its first person point of view. In other readings, the protagonists was often non-discript and shallow. This choice of narration allows the reader inside the protagonist's head and reveals inner thoughts and desires. In this way, it is much easier to identify and, in the case of Winzy, empathize with. I couldn't help but feel deeply sorry for Winzy and Bertha as their different circumstances caused the aging process to be so painful. In a way, this unrealistic tale does shed light on a true theme. Love is something that most people don't believe they fully understand. In Mortal Immortal, it correctly presents young love as strong infatuation where both partners will stop at nothing to obtain affection. As a married couple ages, love changes again, and in a way, this story is representing that theme. This seemed an interesting choice to me at first, but after looking at it under the gothic heading, I was able to find some gothic themes. First, and most obvious, there is a female entrapped in a castle and oppressed by some higher authority she cannot overcome. Winzy seeks out Bertha just like any hero from the typical gothic novel. Themes of supernatural are present, but seem rather unexplained. I found it interesting that up until this point, most of the assigned readings had endings that answered all previous inquires and explained any