Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Adventure
In the short story "Adventure" by Sherwood Anderson, Alice Hindman is the main character. She falls in love with a guy when she was just sixteen. The guy's name was Ned Currie. He was a bit older and more mature than Alice and when he said things that he did not mean she believed him. She really thought he loved her. She was too immature and young to realize that he did not. He chose to leave her without even knowing for sure that he would have a job in Cleveland and then he also would not let her come with him. Alice should have realized then that he did not really care about her, but instead she gives up her whole life waiting on Ned when she should have known he was never going to come back to her. Alice becomes very depressed and lonely, but it is hard to feel sorry for her because she did it to herself. She would not pay any other guys any mind because all she cared about was a guy who had moved on and forgotten about her. Alice should have been more realistic with herself. It ends with with Alice accepting the fact that some people live and die alone. The mood of the story was very lonely and depressing.
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This story also happens in today's world when a much older guy meets a attractive younger lady and he begins telling the immature girl things that she likes to hear. After this, the male begins to take advantage of a the woman's feeling and get what he wants and this is how the story "Adventure" goes. Alice mets Ned Currie but Ned has no intentions of falling in love. Ned leaves Alice and nevers returns and Alice waits her entire life on a guy that doesn't love her.
ReplyDeleteI would have to disagree with you two on a couple issues that are given in the story. I agree though that Alice fell in love at an early age and is might have been a more of a "need" love instead of a "desire" love. Big difference. I believe that the first time that maybe a young person falls in love or likes a person, it's a new feeling and would like to hold on to it. The part where Bailey, you state, "Alice should have realized then that he did not really care about her..." isn't true entirely. On page 1470, it says,
ReplyDelete"He wanted the girl to become his mistress but changed his mind. He wanted to protect and care for her. 'You don't know what you're talking about,' he said sharply, '...For the present you'll have to stay here. It's the only thing we can do.'"
He later states that, "Now we will have to stick together, whatever happens..."
I disagree that he didn't love her. Back then, it was an abomination to live together not being married and it's mentioned when Alice said, "'In the city we will be unknown and people will pay no attention to us.'" It's clear that they loved each other, but living together was out of the question. I know personally that even the strongest relationships can crumble by long-distance splits. Any soldier deployed can tell you that. What happened was the deterioration of love that is very possible with long-distance relationships.
I completely disagree with the older man and younger woman notion, because it is entirely not valid to any of the truths in this short story! It's quite sexist too. The story doesn't show Ned's name, but says he's a young man. Does that mean he's 22? 25? 30? We don't know so how can you make that point? Totally invalid, and you're basis "siran" is completely off of opinion basis with NO examples. To be honest, read the article before making such brash comments.
In response to Nicole Bailey post, I agree with just about ever thing she says the only difference is that I think Ned did love her at one time or at least have feelings for her. Even though he left without her, I think he really leave with the intentions of getting a job and a place to live in order that she may come and join him. He just got caught up in his new life and forgot about her. That when she should have realized that she should have moved on. I understand why she waited in the beginning but after the letters stopped along with all communication, she should have gotten a clue.
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