The text “Art for heart’s sake” was written by Reuben Lucius Goldberg, an American sculptor, cartoonist and writer, who was born in San-Francisco.
Introduction: The action began with male nurse Koppel’s words for Collis P. Ellsworth, who didn’t want to drink his juice. Ellsworth was not an ordinary patient, he was a shopaholic in global case. If he buys something, he will suffer from heart attack. Complication: After that came a doctor named Caswell, who offered old Ellsworth to take up art and called a young student Frank Swain from the Atlantic Art Institute to make Ellsworth concerned with art. The old man didn’t make any progress in painting, actually he was an awful painter, but suddenly Ellsworth send his “god-awful smudge” picture named “Trees Dressed in White” to the Lathrop Gallery, the biggest art exhibit, and was awarded a prize. Falling action: The young student, male nurse and doctor congratulated him with winning and recovery. Resolution: But suddenly Ellsworth said that he bought the Lathrop Gallery last month.
The theme of the story is loneliness that influences on human’s behavior. It’s represented with Ellsworth’ behavior, his speech, his attitude to people and his attitude towards things that he buys. It is difficult to find out real theme of the story. Each of us can find his own cause and theme, because the author forces it upon the story.
The story takes place in hospital room, art exhibition in the course of a few months. It’s represented with last words of Ellsworth that he bought the Lathrop Gallery last month. There seems to be an impression, that the author didn’t want a reader to see the setting, but to feel it. The author doesn’t show the setting of time directly, but it’s important because it helps the author to pierce the story with a humour.
The conflict of the story is internal. The plot turns on loneliness of old Ellsworth that influences on his behavior and how he fill his