Preview

Textual Analysis of T.C. Boyle's "She Wasn't Soft"

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1282 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Textual Analysis of T.C. Boyle's "She Wasn't Soft"
Lauren Luxenberg
Professor Altenburg
September 22, 2010
Textual Analysis Essay

Textual Analysis of “She Wasn’t Soft”
Throughout T.C. Boyle’s short story “She Wasn’t Soft”, the author introduces a spiked cup of Gatorade at the story’s end to symbolize Jason’s unhealthy approach and attitude toward his relationship with Paula. The author weaves a satirical theme to prove that people who stay in unhealthy relationships to maintain a sense of control and empowerment in the world never get what they want.
The Gatorade symbolizes Jason’s primary motivations: his own pleasure and the need for control. These mischievous motives have a detrimental effect, not only on himself, but also on his relationship with Paula. Jason does not plan the spiked Gatorade scheme out of a selfless desire to make Paula lose, but rather to make Paula forgive him. This thought process is clearly laid out when the narrator states, “What would make her happy, glad to see him, ready to party, celebrate, dance till dawn, and let bygones be bygones?” (Boyle 167). Since Paula’s wish to beat Zinny came from her desire to prove to herself that she was the best, she would likely be infuriated by the thought of defeating Zinny unfairly. Jason’s selfishness proves that his only motivation for continuing the relationship is for his own pleasure. Thus the tainted Gatorade is showcased as the physical manifestation of Jason’s self- centered pleasure seeking.
Though the Gatorade starts out as nothing more than a symbol of Jason’s selfish reasons and methods for wanting Paula to take him back, it evolves to illustrate the major satirical theme of the story; people making poor choices because of a desire for a sense of power. Jason does whatever he can to take control of any situation he is in throughout the course of the story. The examples of this behavior are almost constant. First Jason lies to Paula about his birthday and bribes her with “carb-loading” at the Pasta Bowl, which is routine before

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Two kinds represents the two kinds of daughters. A daughter who is obedient, who follows her mother's suggestions and a daughter who follows what's on her own mind. This story will help you find your own identity in this complicated world.…

    • 273 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    They want people to associate sports and success with the consumption of Gatorade. Gatorade has molded over the years from being merely a “thirst quencher” to being a juggernaut in the sporting world now serving as the official drink for over 11 professional leagues across the…

    • 1255 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Florence Kelley uses several rhetoric devices in order to make her claim about the insufficient working conditions for women and children. The use of rhetorical devices adds to her ability to make her case. By using such language, Kelley successfully delivers her message in a way that would compel the reader to agree. She uses a mixture of diction, syntax, and emotional appeal in order to really have her point stick with the reader and cause them to think about the cause she is trying to support.…

    • 623 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Using personal experience, Peggy Orenstein, discusses the impact businesses such as Disney and Mattel have on reinforcing gender roles. The fact that she is a mother discussing her own struggles gives the piece a more casual and personal tone. She is speaking to those like her. Having a conversation with the readers causes the piece to be well-rounded. While she does not address the reader directly the casual nature of the writing allows her to make an argument, bring up questions about the argument and then answer those questions all while simply talking about an experience she had with her own daughter. Also unlike a ‘Scholar of women’s studies’ her main focus is on her daughter. Not political correctness or staying true to her feminist beliefs, but providing the best atmosphere for her daughter.…

    • 483 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Dreams take place in the subconscious of the human mind, and many times, humans are unaware that these dreams are taking place; however, as shown in A Raisin in the Sun, dreams often are at the forefront of the human mind and motivate those looking to follow them to do anything they can to achieve them. As analyzed using the Freudian literary theory, A Raisin in the Sun contains many examples of this theory, including each character's individual goals and dreams and how the dreams are personified through the use of symbols.…

    • 453 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    At the start of the chapter the reader is given an insight into Gatsby's past through the use of retrospective narrative. It begins with a reminder that Gatsby is notorious as the first paragraphs lead to the revelation that he changed his name. This demonstrates his lack of confidence in his identity which creates an unsettling feeling as he denies his roots. This already imposes an instability in his life. Through the use of contrast we see what Gatsby comes from and what he is aiming for from the opposing lifestyles of his family and that of Dan Cody. The 'rowboat' that Gatsby uses shows his humble and simple lifestyle whereas the 'yacht' of Dan Cody implies wealth. However this wealth is not pure, we can deduct this from the description of Dan Cody which focuses on money and material belongings. Cody is called a 'product' which in itself represents materialism, this is reinforced by 'silver fields', 'millionaire' and 'property'. The image of Gatsby rowing out to the yacht already suggests this is what he is yearning for. The detailed description of Gatsby's clothes as a 'torn green jersey and a pair of canvas pants' clearly portray…

    • 2010 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Two kinds is a fictional story written by the Chinese-American author Amy Tan. She was born in Oakland California. In this story, the writer explains the conflict and the problem of the mother-daughter relationships and also reveals about American life and the American dream. In this story, Nikon is shown as the main protagonist and the whole story is all about the writers feeling towards event during her childhood. The author also tries to explain the mother-daughter relationship and reveals the generational gap in between the mother and daughter. The author also illustrates the feeling of the children when their parents try to force them to be obedient rather than following their path. According to writer's mother everybody can…

    • 1233 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Great Gatsby Themes

    • 233 Words
    • 1 Page

    In the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald many themes are presented. One of…

    • 233 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In "Two Kinds," Amy Tan writes a coming of age story about a young girl in…

    • 823 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    When Gatsby found out that Daisy married Tom Buchanan, he lost himself. Gatsby was only worried about Daisy and what she wanted, for he needed to win her over to reach his goal. He focused so much on Daisy that he lost comprehension of his possible character collapse that could occur if he went too far with her pampering and temptation to take her from Tom. Gatsby has wasted many years trying to live up to the American dream and gain wealth. However, Jay has failed to realize that the so called “American Dream” doesn’t exist, for the society has become selfish and grouped into classes. Because of this and the fact that he was considered “new money”, Jay was powerless in the task of reaching Daisy’s class and rating. Jay was prepared to take the blame for Daisy, when she accidentally hit and killed Myrtle Wilson, Tom’s mistress. Because everyone believed that Gatsby did the bad deed, Nick told him to flee the town, but he stayed, for he couldn’t leave Daisy. After George Wilson, Myrtle’s husband, shot and killed Gatsby to gain revenge, Daisy left the town and didn’t attend Jay’s funeral, which led to the end of Jay’s character breakdown. Gatsby’s character downfall and ordeal were negatively impacted by his need to achieve the American dream and Daisy’s…

    • 988 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Robert Boyle believed that the universe (observable objects) was made up of tiny bodies called corpuscles and these tiny bodies were thought to bring about large-scale phenomena by moving around and interacting in specific ways. These corpuscles are innumerable and are of a determinate size and shape and are either in motion or at rest. According to Boyle, motion is considered the grand agent of all that happens in nature and the reason for why things occur. (Journal of History and of Philosophy, Volume 12)…

    • 1319 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Literary Analysis

    • 543 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In multi-paragraph essay form and with reference to the excerpt from “Lives of Girls and Women,”discuss the character of Garnet, his mother, and his sisters (Lila and Phyllis).…

    • 543 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Great Gatsby

    • 456 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Throughout works of literature, when a person has to deal with external pressures, forces beyond his or her control, either his true character is revealed, or what already comprises his personality is magnified. In the novel the Great Gatsby, the character Jay Gatsby is defined and clarified by the way that he faces external forces. Gatsby’s goal was to get Daisy at all cost, so he did everything to do so and this corrupted him.…

    • 456 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Literary Analysis

    • 568 Words
    • 3 Pages

    There are many essentials to surviving in life. After the basic necessities such as water, food, intimacy, and shelter are met, finding your personal identity is the most significant to the dynamics of life. Personal identity can be defined as the distinguishing character by which an individual is infinitively recognizable or known. Personal identity makes a person who he or she is to be defined as. According to Greek philosopher Aristotle, identity is a concept that refers to the aspect of existence; therefore, the aspect of existence is something in particular, with specific characteristics. Finding who we truly are can aid in loving, identifying, and accepting ourselves. Notary short stories, “What You Pawn I Will Redeem” by Sherman Alexie, “Hollow” by Breece D'J Pancake, and “Until Gwen” by Dennis Lehane are great exemplifications of how the struggle with identity hurt or harm the develop of an individual’s character.…

    • 568 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The author, Samuel Johnson once said that “Wine gives a man nothing… it only puts in motion what had been locked up in frost”. Francis Scott Fitzgerald lived during the Jazz Age, a time of frivolous and carefree living. He and his wife Zelda became engrossed in this lifestyle, they spent their time drinking and partying. They appeared to have a perfect life, but in reality they struggled with marital issues and an overall emptiness created through living in this way. Fitzgerald and Zelda attempted to drink away their sorrows which only succeeded in escalating their problems. Set during the Prohibition Era of the Roaring Twenties, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, explores society’s dependence upon alcohol and its failure in acting as a means of mental escape.…

    • 1218 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays

Related Topics