A Husbands Worst Nightmare
A Husband’s Worst Nightmare
When a husband hears the news of his wife having an affair outside their marriage, he becomes the victim and is left to decide what to do about the situation. While an author can set up this chain of events with ease, taking the story and giving it life is something completely different. To bring the audience in and assist them in feeling what the husband is thinking and feeling, and at the same time showing sympathy to the wife is truly a work of art. “Under the Radar” a short story by Richard Ford does just that. Throughout this story the author uses background and specific emotions so the reader is brought in close. So close that the reader feels involved in someway. They end up feeling like they have a voice in the matter at hand. Ford’s continuous build up of suspense is what drives this story to a point of no return, a true cliffhanger, and a point Marjorie Reeves cannot return. This story is an example of how setting, emotion, and a relatable situation can work in the author’s favor. The main part of this story is evident in the first paragraph. In a very literal sense, Ford, reveals Marjorie’s secret that she’d been keeping from Steven. He lets the reader know exactly the type of person he wants Marjorie to be received as. The title for this story describes how this first paragraph should be, as well as how the entire story is going to take place. In this opening paragraph, the use of emotions is felt toward Steven and his predicament. On the drive over to the Nicholson’s for dinner-their first in some time-Marjorie Reeves told her husband, Steven Reeves, that she had had an affair with George Nicholson (their host) a year ago, but that is was all over with now and she hoped he-Steven-would not be mad about it and could go on with life. (Ford 20) This quotation is a description of what type of person Marjorie can be assumed as being, and not only that, but lets the reader know who the victim is going to
When a husband hears the news of his wife having an affair outside their marriage, he becomes the victim and is left to decide what to do about the situation. While an author can set up this chain of events with ease, taking the story and giving it life is something completely different. To bring the audience in and assist them in feeling what the husband is thinking and feeling, and at the same time showing sympathy to the wife is truly a work of art. “Under the Radar” a short story by Richard Ford does just that. Throughout this story the author uses background and specific emotions so the reader is brought in close. So close that the reader feels involved in someway. They end up feeling like they have a voice in the matter at hand. Ford’s continuous build up of suspense is what drives this story to a point of no return, a true cliffhanger, and a point Marjorie Reeves cannot return. This story is an example of how setting, emotion, and a relatable situation can work in the author’s favor. The main part of this story is evident in the first paragraph. In a very literal sense, Ford, reveals Marjorie’s secret that she’d been keeping from Steven. He lets the reader know exactly the type of person he wants Marjorie to be received as. The title for this story describes how this first paragraph should be, as well as how the entire story is going to take place. In this opening paragraph, the use of emotions is felt toward Steven and his predicament. On the drive over to the Nicholson’s for dinner-their first in some time-Marjorie Reeves told her husband, Steven Reeves, that she had had an affair with George Nicholson (their host) a year ago, but that is was all over with now and she hoped he-Steven-would not be mad about it and could go on with life. (Ford 20) This quotation is a description of what type of person Marjorie can be assumed as being, and not only that, but lets the reader know who the victim is going to
Cited: John C. Brereton and Richard Ford. Living Literature and Under the Radar. New York City: Pearson Education, 2008