The Possibility of Maintaining Relationship of Modern Family in Margaret Atwood’s “Scarlet Ibis”
Sang Rae kim
Dr. J
ENG2101
WP#1 final Draft
Oct. 7, 2013
The Possibility of Maintaining Relationship of Modern Family in Margaret Atwood’s “Scarlet Ibis”
“Scarlet Ibis” (1983) by Margaret Atwood is a story that one family went to vacation for seeing the Scarlet Ibis and watched it, although whole family would come close to sink. Though the plot seems simple, it attracts our attention to the family members who are already accustomed their relationships and indifference to each other, which is one of trait of modern family. Probably everyone at one time or another would have wondered about the possibility of living with the same person for an entire life. “Scarlet Ibis” gives the answer about it. It says unless one family member who have a mind to keep the relationship of each other, it is possible to maintain the family. We will find it in the work by searching details about family member’s talking, acting and symbolic situation which is stand for a will that someone who wish to maintain relationship.
First, we have to point out the conditions of Christine and Don at the beginning of the story. She thinks herself as “faintly ridiculous, because of her pinky white skin and the large hat she were” (438), and “her lips, which were getting thin and pinched together” (438). Also she describes Don as “[h]is body, once muscular, was losing tone, sliding down towards his waist and buttocks” (440). We can figure out Christine is old enough to think that their, Christine and Don, appearance is less attractive than they used to be when they are young. Along with this situation, we can easily find some troubles in their relationship. Christine’s thinking about their married life show what the trouble is. She knows her husband has “a lot of pressure lately” (439) and she thinks” [this] pressure he [is] under was her” (440). It means she thinks herself as a burden of him. Furthermore, they have no sincere connection. When they have conversation about her uncle “he’d
Dr. J
ENG2101
WP#1 final Draft
Oct. 7, 2013
The Possibility of Maintaining Relationship of Modern Family in Margaret Atwood’s “Scarlet Ibis”
“Scarlet Ibis” (1983) by Margaret Atwood is a story that one family went to vacation for seeing the Scarlet Ibis and watched it, although whole family would come close to sink. Though the plot seems simple, it attracts our attention to the family members who are already accustomed their relationships and indifference to each other, which is one of trait of modern family. Probably everyone at one time or another would have wondered about the possibility of living with the same person for an entire life. “Scarlet Ibis” gives the answer about it. It says unless one family member who have a mind to keep the relationship of each other, it is possible to maintain the family. We will find it in the work by searching details about family member’s talking, acting and symbolic situation which is stand for a will that someone who wish to maintain relationship.
First, we have to point out the conditions of Christine and Don at the beginning of the story. She thinks herself as “faintly ridiculous, because of her pinky white skin and the large hat she were” (438), and “her lips, which were getting thin and pinched together” (438). Also she describes Don as “[h]is body, once muscular, was losing tone, sliding down towards his waist and buttocks” (440). We can figure out Christine is old enough to think that their, Christine and Don, appearance is less attractive than they used to be when they are young. Along with this situation, we can easily find some troubles in their relationship. Christine’s thinking about their married life show what the trouble is. She knows her husband has “a lot of pressure lately” (439) and she thinks” [this] pressure he [is] under was her” (440). It means she thinks herself as a burden of him. Furthermore, they have no sincere connection. When they have conversation about her uncle “he’d