The Character's Conflict in Carol Shields' Invitations

October 6, 2007
Invitations
Carol Shields

The character's conflict is initiated by the arrival of an invitation, is exacerbated by further invitations and is resolved, in the end, when she decides to preserver her private time.

It's a Monday as our protagonist walks over and looks inside her mailbox. She doesn't have much reason to expect a letter so soon, but as she looks inside her mail box, she finds herself chewing on her own thoughts, as a small, square card, makes itself visible. Inside the small card is an invitation regarding our characters invite to an exhibition of drawings at a private gallery. The name of the artist paints a faint picture for her, one that leaves her unsure if she's ever seen his work or not before. She questions the thought of what kind of art she'll be viewing, but what really matters, was that she had been invited. Although pleased with the invitation, she doesn't let it get past her that she probably wasn't specifically chosen, which was made evident through the presentation of the invitation. The invitation contains a typed address with a spelling error, sadly being in her name. She knows that somewhere, no doubt, she'd turned up on a mailing list and that was where it ended. She plans to wear a certain printed velvet skirt she has and to toss on a black turtle neck sweater to go with it. She feels certain that there's a good chance no one will even speak to her while she's there, but it would definitely be better than spending her Saturday evening at home, reading a book while loneliness overwhelms her drop by drop.

As Tuesday arrives, our main character reaches into her mailbox yet again, finding surprise in the arrival of a second invitation. This time the invitation is for a cocktail party being held by a distant friend of friend. She's never met this person, but like before, the name is one she can faintly and dimly remember. Through what seems to be fateful bad luck, the parties are both being held on the same day, the day being next Saturday. For a minute she doesn't see this to be much of a problem as she entertains the possibility of attending both parties, running back and forth frantically, but in all reality, this isn't an option as both parties are on opposite ends of the city. The more she thinks about the two parties, the more she feels it would be wrong to attend the gallery invitation as she realizes that she has no intentions on buying any pictures. Wednesday comes around and oddly enough the presence of a third invitation shows up, once again for Saturday evening. The third invitation is the first of the invitations to be hand written and the first of which to charm her so much, that she reads it over quickly three times. She was being invited to a small buffet supper, a supper which included 12 or so guests. As she reads the guest list, names of importance make themselves known to her, from the author of a new biography to a hairdresser responsible for the invention of the Gidjet cut. All she can think about at the moment is how much better this dinner invitation sounded compared to the possibilities of peering at violent works of art or standing around with a drink, trying to make up something to talk about with a bunch of strangers. A fourth invitation makes its way into her mailbox on Thursday, this time for a formal dinner party. This invitation isn't just printed on any kind of paper, but fine paper, including a hand written note at the bottom. The invitation flatters her and gets her mind thinking about the elegant night she would surely receive if she accepted this invitation instead of the others. Friday comes along and so does the arrival of yet another invitation, this time not even surprising her in the least. Just as all the other invitations seemed to out due the invitation received before it, the fifth invitation accomplished this once again. The paper used this time was a heavy, creamy stock, which came enclosed in a thick double envelope. The invitation was for a reception that was to be held a top a large downtown hotel, where she was to be the guest of honor. Instant joy and happiness are felt as it sinks in that she alone, is to be honored by many. In only a moments time though, this joy and happiness is lost to panic and fear as she tries to collect herself. She's faced with a dilemma as all the invitations are for tomorrow evening, and her decision as to what invite she will accept is still unmade.

On Saturday she lays out the five invitations that each, in their own ways, have been so welcoming, luring and honoring. As she ponders whether or not to attend any of the invites she has received, it becomes aware to her that someone or something is conspiring to consume a portion of her life, a part that she isn't easily willing to give up. She decides in the end to spend her Saturday evening at home with a cup of coffee, reading a copy of Jane Austen's "Mansfield Park" This book, which under some strange odds, was the only item left by the last tenant that lived there, as well as a book she had always intended to read. The choice to stay home and read a book was made because this woman doesn't want to shame herself by confiding in the social rubic that society has naturally come to inhabit. She feels as though theres only one decision that can be made, the right one, the decision to stay true to her desire for private time.

Through the various uses of conflict in this story, our character finally learns the lesson that these invitational conflicts have taught her, a lesson in not shaming the small time us human beings have to ourselves, the private time that must be embraced while it still can.