I found this story by Allan Gurganus to be extremely unique. The point of view, setting, character, and many other elements of it take the reader on a very entertaining and interesting journey.
Point of view: The story is told in the point of view of an unnamed narrator who only knows the details of the situation through other people. It is the story of his birth at a bridge party. From the first few lines, the reader is already told that this story has an interesting point of view. Little of the story is actually about the narrator, and rather about the situation. That in and of itself gives a new take on the idea of third person point of view, because he really knows these women (his mother, grandmother, and the other woman who are part of their community), but he is not completely involved in the situation. Not only does this type of point of view give an interesting take on a story about a birth at a bridge party, but the use of characterization is also unique.
Character: Other than the narrator himself and a dog named Mikado, the characters in this piece are all women. They are also Southern women and they all fit certain stereotypes of country club types. There are several women in the story, which offers a wide range of character types. While one woman simply goes to work to help deliver the baby, another woman leaves as soon as possible, and one who attempts to take charge of calling for help but forgets to actually request an ambulance. Something I liked about this piece is that, while it’s obvious to some people that these woman are supposed to be Southern just from the way they talk and their characterizations when put together, they can fit into other settings as well.
Setting: This story includes a lot of detail when it comes to the women, the house they are in, Mikado the dog, and the situation itself. For example, there are a variety of details regarding the house: “One yard above the carpets and Persian rugs, temporary tabletops paved a whole new level. Surfaces nestled along halls and on the second-story landing. Women huddled from four edges toward each other. That season’s mandatory pastel, shoulder pads. Handbags propped along every level ledge. Mantels, banisters. Cloisonne ashtrays glutted with half-smoked cigarettes.” This is one paragraph in many that details the situation. It was so easy for me to see the house and these women and Mikado the dog while reading this story.
Point of view: The story is told in the point of view of an unnamed narrator who only knows the details of the situation through other people. It is the story of his birth at a bridge party. From the first few lines, the reader is already told that this story has an interesting point of view. Little of the story is actually about the narrator, and rather about the situation. That in and of itself gives a new take on the idea of third person point of view, because he really knows these women (his mother, grandmother, and the other woman who are part of their community), but he is not completely involved in the situation. Not only does this type of point of view give an interesting take on a story about a birth at a bridge party, but the use of characterization is also unique.
Character: Other than the narrator himself and a dog named Mikado, the characters in this piece are all women. They are also Southern women and they all fit certain stereotypes of country club types. There are several women in the story, which offers a wide range of character types. While one woman simply goes to work to help deliver the baby, another woman leaves as soon as possible, and one who attempts to take charge of calling for help but forgets to actually request an ambulance. Something I liked about this piece is that, while it’s obvious to some people that these woman are supposed to be Southern just from the way they talk and their characterizations when put together, they can fit into other settings as well.
Setting: This story includes a lot of detail when it comes to the women, the house they are in, Mikado the dog, and the situation itself. For example, there are a variety of details regarding the house: “One yard above the carpets and Persian rugs, temporary tabletops paved a whole new level. Surfaces nestled along halls and on the second-story landing. Women huddled from four edges toward each other. That season’s mandatory pastel, shoulder pads. Handbags propped along every level ledge. Mantels, banisters. Cloisonne ashtrays glutted with half-smoked cigarettes.” This is one paragraph in many that details the situation. It was so easy for me to see the house and these women and Mikado the dog while reading this story.
This comment has been "out there" for 9 years and no one has commented on "extremely unique"???
ReplyDeleteSomething is unique (singular, one of a kind) or it's not. There are no gradations to "unique"