A Few Notes For Orpheus FINAL COPY

As humans, we are considered to be very social creatures due to our need to learn, to communicate with one and another and to belong. In the short story “A Few Notes For Orpheus” by Don Bailey, looks back on the childhood of a man We, as readers, experience the separation of the protagonist, Jake, from his parents. Throughout the story, many symbols arise that conveys a deeper meaning towards the central theme of the short story. It shows how even though families are separated through distance, they can still be brought together when the situation arises. In the story, the telephone and the fishing trip become effective representations of family communication and how when faced with the presence of death, the family is forced to a new level of communication.

The telephone is one of the main uses of communication in the story. Jake, the protagonist, receives a call from his mother whom he has not spoken to for many years due to their unpleasant life together. She is calling to relay the news of his father’s illness and terminal condition. After the conversation, Jake realizes that he must bring his daughter to visit his parents so she has the chance to see her grandfather for the first time. After his divorce he has not spoken to his wife Edith in months. This is shown when Jake wife asks “Is this a social call or what?” she said. ”I haven’t heard anything from you for months.” shows how Jake is forced with the presence of the near death of his father he is forced to have a conversation with his ex-wife. Jake sees the importance of bringing his daughter to see his father before he dies. Though he has not spoken to his wife in months and was back on his child support, he felt that the urgency of the call was needed. Jake’s main problem is that he is unable to communicate and struggles to talk to his wife; he would rather walk way than be involved in any sort of conflict. He was never really able to have a good communication with his wife because his