Aimee Bender is an intelligent and unique writer from many different perspectives. In her book, Willful Creatures, there are several short stories that include rather interesting plots. This week we discussed specifically those of End of the Line and Fruit and Words.
In End of the Line, the key characters were the Big Man and the Little Man. This short story keyed in on the roles of bullying. As discussed in class, there are several ways to interpret the plot. From my point of view, I see it as the Little Man seeking fun and enjoyment out of the Little Man. Typically, people buy "pets" for companions, whereas in this case, where it seemed to be at first friendly fun, it turned into torture and cruelty. Too many self-minded people are filled with the ideas that animals, or in this case, PEOPLE that are smaller than them, have less power, no feelings, and can feel no harm. An example that I was going to reference in class was the Circus. People find enjoyment in watching lions jump through fire, elephant dance around being pulled by sharp wire and electric rods, and horses be whipped around the ring. Like this story, sympathy is lost when comparing Big to "Little".
I feel that Bender relates her stories so simply that everyone can interpret differently. In class we also discussed the end of this short on whether or not we believed that the Big Man was really sympathetic or not and the Little Girl who saw him wearing her hat. Personally, I believe that she wanted to believe that he was a good man, failing to know his true side and past of what just happened, and the Big Man was simply looking for a new target.
Another short by Bender that we discussed in class was Fruit and Words. In this short story I believe that Bender used several metaphors; the biggest one being the Mango. Throughout the story we learn that the main character is in a terrible relationship with her boyfriend of 7 years, Steve. The mango fruit becomes symbolic in her thirst for a better, more healthy relationship. I believe that the fruit stand was real in a sense of a "sign". I interpret the fruit stand to be symbolic of her trying to accept new things in life. However, when is got to the gas room, where she was forced to believe in something not physically there, she lost it and her fantasy ended. When arriving home, she found the mangoes rotted. This symbolizes her realization that the lady was right. One must come to the conclusion and realization when something is wrong and must start to believe that change is possible, you just have to have faith in yourself, and a little in others.
Courtney Bisher, Post 6.
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