In “An End to Audience?” , Margaret Atwood discusses the responsibilities of fiction writers. She believes that the function of a fiction writer is to examine society in ways “through which we can see ourselves and the ways in which we behave towards each other” (17).
Another responsibility for an artist is to speak out the forbidden and be the voice of the powerless. These theories can be applied to the short stories of “The Stolen Party” by Liliana Hecker and “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker. For instance, In “The Stolen Party”, Liliana Hecker depicts a typical stereotype barrier between two socio-economic groups: the rich upper class and the poor lower class. In this particular story, Rosaura is treated differently because of her social economic status.
According to Atwood, fiction writers should be a “guardian of moral and ethical sense in a community” (17).
In this short story, the author conveys the moral and ethical values of the two classes. Some of the children at the party are educated, mannered, and well behaved. Rosuara is a well educated child, at the top of her class. She is courteous, determined, courageous, humble and in some cases better behaved than some of the rich children and although they have the same values, they are treated differently. As a child of just 11 years old, her naivety and innocence is shattered by the harsh reality that social barriers exist.
In a conversation with her mother, Herminia, Rosaura says, “rich people go to Heaven too” (315. While Rosaura is at the birthday party having a great time with the monkey, she is disillusioned by Senora Inez’ actions. “You really and truly earned this,” Senora Ines said handing over two bills she rummaged from her purse. “Thank you for all your help, my pet” (320).
The Essay on Flannery Oconnor A Twentieth Century Fiction Writer
There has been a significant amount critical analysis written about Flannery O'Connor's short stories and novels. There is a significant amount critical analysis about Flannery O'Connor because she used so many styles that have not been used before. Flannery O'Connor ranks among he most important American fiction writers of the twentieth century. Flannery O'Connor was born in 1925 in Savannah, ...
The money that was being handed to her made her realize that she was being treated as an employee rather than a birthday guest. The inconclusiveness of this story leaves the reader to reflect or infer what is to happen next. This achieves the author’s role of helping the reader realize how they see and judge themselves and others. “The Stolen Party” also exemplifies Margaret Atwood’s second theory.
Atwood mentions that in order to make a story’s moral authority known, the author must speak out for the suppressed. In this particular story, the issue of misused unacknowledged social power is related to the theory. Throughout the story Senora Inez thinks she holds a higher place in society than her employees and their children. It is never mentioned in the story that the rich people are better or that they hold authority because of their social standings. So by simply assuming that the child needs the money and is willing to work is a misuse of her power.
Another example of this is the blonde girl with the bow in her hair. She thinks she is better than Rosaura because she doesn’t know her and doesn’t coincide with her circle of friends. Even at this young age the blonde girl is already taught that her social class is better than the people who do not have the same criteria as her social group. Furthermore, Lilian Hecker gives Rosaura a voice by expressing the story from her point of view. A great majority of stories are told of rich people giving charity to those of lower income. In this case, the author is able to give a voice to the powerless by letting their story be known through their point of view.
The Essay on City Girl Maggie Dee Mother
The way in which a parent raises their child has a direct impact on the way the child perceives itself as well as how siblings perceive each other. In addition, the social atmosphere surrounding the child and any major crisis's that happen in their life, contribute to this perception. In the story " Everyday Use" by Alice Walker, the daughters, "Dee" and "Maggie" are affected by all three ...
Rosaura is associated with being part of a lower social economic class that sets her apart from everyone else at that party. She remembers her mother’s words perfectly. “You know what you are to them? The maid’s daughter, that’s what” (315).
This gives the reader a better understanding of the characters’ morals and characteristics. Atwood’s theories can also be exemplified in “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker.
In this short story, the author complies with the responsibility of writing the moral sense of the community and examining society in an aspect that can make the reader reflect. The values of Dee are questioned throughout the story. Dee is a child who is embarrassed of her mother and of her heritage. This family, the Johnsons, have lived their lives according to their traditions and their heritage. Mrs. Johnson was “a large, big boned women with rough man-working hands” who liked to “kill and clean hogs mercilessly as a man”, tend the fields, and use a butter churner (698).
Growing up, Dee has never liked or been part of their lifestyle. She was glad when their first home had been burned to the ground. When she left to college, she didn’t take the quilts that her mother had offered her; quilts that had been a great part of her family history. When she returned for a visit, she was changed.
She had become modernized and had been taken in with the crowd. During her visit, she insisted on taking things that were part of her heritage, such as the churner, the old benches that sat outside, and the quilts she didn’t want to be a part of. She wanted to put these things on display as art. She failed to realize that theses things had value. She didn’t know the history behind her real name, the churner, nor the quilts. Walker conveys Dee’s morals in order for the reader to realize and become appreciative of their heritage and traditions.
This helps the reader reflect on how they treat their family heirlooms and the things that have been passed down from generation to generation. In addition, Alice Walker gives a voice to Mrs. Johnson’s other daughter Maggie. Maggie had always been very close to her mother. Maggie walks behind her mother with her “chin on her chest, feet in a shuffle and eyes on the ground” (699).
The Essay on The Deserving Daughter Maggie Quilts Dee
Having a genuine understanding of the true meaning of heritage is sometimes expressed in simple ways. In Alice Walker s short story Everyday Use, makes a far more effective statement in painting out that authentic black culture becomes artificial when its artifacts are worshipped for their own sake and not used as they were intended (Callahan 402). In this short story, a woman is torn in the ...
Walker gives her a voice when Maggie speaks out against her sister taking the quilts.
Maggie knew her sister didn’t realize how priceless those quilts were. Maggie knew the history and value of those quilts and she knew how to quilt. Her mother defends Maggie by saying, “She can always make some more. Maggie knows how to quilt” (704).
She had taken such a part in their heritage because she made it her life.
It is in this situation that the author gives a voice to the suppressed by giving Maggie the ability to speak out against her sister. Margaret Atwood responsibilities for fiction writers may be applied to a variety of fiction stories. “The Stolen Party” and “Everyday Use” exemplify Atwood’s theories.
