The Story of an Hour

"The Story of an Hour"
by Kate Chopin

"What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in face of this possession of self assertion which she suddently recognized as the strongest impulse of her being". (Chopin 268)

Throughout "The Story of an Hour" it is clear to see that Josephine Mallard is unhappy in her marriage. This is shown when, after a moment of despair, she becomes overwhelmed with happines because she would no longer have to live for her husband but instead "she would live for herself". (Chopin 268) Chopin also mentions that Josephine only loved her husband "sometimes". What is never directly said is why Josephine is so unhappy. A more obvious reason is that she felt suffocated in her marriage. You can see this when she says under her breath, "free, free, free". (Chopin 268) In the above sentence there is evidence she is is suffocating because in her marriage she never lived her own life. When you are in love with someone there is no reason why you still can't feel this "self assertion".(Chopin 268)

Paul's Case

"Paul's Case"
by Paul Cather

"Everything was quite perfect; he was exactly the kind of boy he had always wanted to be". (Cather 210)

After reading "Paul's Case" it is clear that there is something mentally wrong with him. Whether it be from autism or tourettes, Paul has social and emotional problems. Among this I think that Paul has a big problem with society. You can see this is the way he regards school as useless and how he criticizes the men and women who are sitting outside on Sunday. These are activities that society deems normal and even encourages but Paul sees them as unecassary and stupid. He would rather be living his own life, away from his father and teachers and in an unreal world of actors and the theater. When Paul runs away from New York this is just what he gets. He is living by himself but the life he is living is fake, just like in theater, because the money he is living off of isn't his. In his life in New York he became the "boy he has always wanted to be."

The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County

The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County
by Samuels Clemens

"But still he was lucky, uncommon lucky; he most always come out winner." (Clemens 273)

I thought that The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County was a very humorous story. This sentence caught my eye because the protagonist, Jim Smiley, is not a man who you would think that luck would come to very often. Smiley, is a funny character but obviously has a big gambling problem. Despite this, I ended up loving him because of the spontaneity of his life. Other then the fact that he was always betting, his many different animals gave me the feeling that everyday is an unknowing adventure for Smiley. He seemed so laid back and calm. I envy him because of this, maybe if everyone in the world could just drop everything, buy a frog, and bet on how far he jumps they would lead a happier, easier life.

The Other Duel

The Other Duel
by Jorge Luis Borges

" Perhaps their only possession in their course primitive lives was their hatred, and therefore they saved it and stored it up. Without suspescting, each of the two became the others slave." (Borges 141)

When I began to read this story I didn't have any feelings towards Silveira and Cardosa, I thought that they were just two men who had a grudge against eachother. Then, after reading the above sentence, I realized that these two men are very sad characters. In both of their lives they have nothing but hatred for eachother, it is as if their lives thrive off one another. I feel bad for them because all they seem to live for is hate.

An Occurrence at Owl Creek

An Occurrenc at Owl Creek
by Ambrose Bierce

"... and had a kindly expression which one would hardly have expected in one whose neck was in hemp." (Bierce 134)

From the moment that I read the sentence above I had conflicting thoughts on how I was meant to feel for Peyton Farquhar. Up until then I had reason to believe that he was not a good person simply because he was about to be hanged. When Bierce mentions that he had a "kindly expression" I automatically began to feel sympathy for Peyton and wonder that if he was a kind man, what could he have done wrong?
I think that it is very impressive that Bierce can make me feel compassion for someone who, had I heard what he had done in everyday life, I would never feel this compassion for.