Paper+2+Autopsy

**Introductions** Put your group's 'best introduction' here. Put the person's name in. THEN put the **group's**  IMPROVED best introduction underneath it.

BBSSS "Best Introduction" Both Chang and Desai are authors that seek to build a close relationship between the reader and the characters they create, and in doing so reflect upon the key themes of their works. Setting is a significant tool for this in Desai's work, who I feel uses it more than Chang to reflect on theme and character.

"Improved Introduction" Both Eileen Chang and Anita Desai are authors that use setting tools to craft the characters they create. Desai uses aspects of the setting as symbols for her characters, using abstract description to invoke the key themes of her stories through characterization. Chang uses a series of metaphors as part of her efforts to satirize her characters, and uses setting less to underscore thematic concerns.

(Christine, Elvan, Alasdair, Agnes) // In short stories, narrators are always given a role, where good use of the narrator is often a useful literary technique. Referring to several short stories, including Eileen Chang's 'Great Felicity' and Anita Desai's 'The Accompanist', and their respective narrators, different ways of using the narrator to emphasise, or even present the theme, are clearly shown. // In short stories, narrators are always given a role, where good use of point of view is often a key literary technique. Referring to the omniscient narrator in Eileen Chang's 'Great Felicity' and the unreliable first person narrative perspective in Anita Desai's 'The Accompanist', different ways of using the narrator to emphasise or articulate the theme are clearly shown.

(Zareen), Anna, Vincent, Frank, Thomas "Best Introduction"

The titles "Scholar and Gypsy" and "Stale Mates" firstly serves as a taste of what type of tone the author wishes to use in the story. "Scholar and Gypsy" has an adventurous feel to it, while "Stale Mates" carries a sense of bitterness; and this provides the reader with an idea of what light the characters will be portrayed, although in both instances the titles are vague.

"Improved introduction" The titles "Scholar and Gypsy" and "Stale Mates" give the first impression of the tone the authors Desai and Chang would be using in the stories respectively. "Scholar and Gypsy" has an adventurous feel to it, while the contrast between the words Scholar and Gypsy suggest a proceeding contrast between characters in the story; "Stale Mates" carries a bitter tone and suggests a sense of helplessness for the characters. However, in both instances, the titles are very vague and open to interpretation of the reader.

**Best body paragraph** Put each person's 'best body paragraph' here. Write the group comments about how to improve this. THEN put each person's IMPROVED best body paragraph underneath it. Put your name in

BBSSS "Best Body Paragraph" Mrs Lou’s feelings of frustration and sadness in marriage is also frequently described by Chang. For example, she is described to feel as though she is left to “rattle around in the empty house alone” - here the word “rattle” is a reference to being caged, which suggests that Mrs Lou feels caged and trapped in her unhappy marriage with Mr. Lou. She is also described to “resent the people around her”, including her husband, and wonders why Mr Lou acts as “A responsible husband when there is no one to see.” This suggests that Mr Lou is not a responsible husband usually, and that their marriage is not what it seems on the surface. This, added to the fact that she constantly feels inadequate in the family and marriage, directly shows her misery and brings out yet another main theme in the story - the unhappiness of marriages. Chang also uses this to reflect the misery that arranged marriages bring.

"Improved Best Paragraph" Mrs Lou’s feelings of frustration and sadness in marriage are also frequently mentioned in Great Felicity. She is described as being left to “rattle around in the empty house alone”. The word “rattle” relates to the sound that a cage makes suggesting that Mrs Lou feels caged and trapped in her unhappy marriage with Mr. Lou. She is also described to “resent the people around her”, including her husband. Also, she wonders why Mr Lou acts as “A responsible husband when there is no one to see.” This suggests that Mr Lou is not a responsible husband usually, and that their marriage is not as pleasant as others make it to be. This, added to the fact that she constantly feels inadequate in the family and marriage, directly shows her misery and brings out yet another main theme in the story - the unhappiness of marriages.

__ Alasdair's best body paragraph: __

 __ Original: Secondly, the ending is striking in the way that the mother is fully apathetic to the death of another guest. While the hearse arrives, she beckons her son to enjoy the pineapple cake. She didn't give any concern for the death, and Victor's reluctance was instead treated 'impatiently'. This highlights the lack of morals of the mother. The theme of how materialism corrupts morality is shown here. The mother values the luxury food -- pineapple cake -- as more important than a man's life. After she is satisfied with her cake, she simply leaves. __

 __ Problem: lost focus on the discussion on 'endings' __

 __ Improved: Secondly, the ending is striking in the way that the mother is fully apathetic to the death of another guest. While the hearse arrives, she beckons her son to enjoy the pineapple cake. She didn't give any concern for the death, and Victor's reluctance was instead treated 'impatiently'. This highlights the lack of morals of the mother. She is the representative of people misplacing too much important for materials in the story, and the theme of how materialism corrupts morality is shown here. The mother values the luxury food -- pineapple cake -- as more important than a man's life. After she is satisfied with her cake, she simply leaves. What is surprising about this ending is that the entirety of the ending is compressed in 2 paragraphs. The reader will be stunned by magnitude she is corrupted. __

(Agnes) // To begin with, Chang's 'Great Felicity' is in third person narration, where the narrator is omniscient. There are quite a number of characters in this story, some being the two Lou sisters, Yuqing, Lou Xiaobo, Mrs. Lou, Dalu, Tangqian and Liqian, etc. Through the omniscient narrator, Chang reveals the thoughts and actions of all characters. Right at the beginning, the narrator describes the two Lou sisters talking about Yuqing, their soon-to-be sister-in-law, behind her back, about her appearance, figure, and her age, shamelessly, and their thoughts regarding the way Yuqing spent money as well. The sisters are 'infuriated' and 'thought [Yuqing] too extravagant', and 'they still couldn't help feeling that it was a shame the stupid woman spent her money in such bad taste', but 'of course, they kept smiling'. This is one of the many examples of the story where a mismatch is observed between a character's thoughts and actions. The narrator clearly lays out the contrast between what the characters are thinking on the inside and their outward actions, revealing the insincerity of the two Lou sisters. Through this, Chang criticises the insincere attitude she sees in people in her society. //

To begin with, Chang's 'Great Felicity' is in third person narration, where the narrator is omniscient. There are quite a number of characters in this story, some being the two Lou sisters, Yuqing, Lou Xiaobo, Mrs. Lou, Dalu, Tangqian and Liqian, etc. Through the omniscient narrator, Chang reveals the thoughts and actions of all characters. Right at the beginning, the narrator describes the two Lou sisters, Erqiao and Simei, talking about Yuqing, their soon-to-be sister-in-law, behind her back. They talk about her appearance, figure, and her age, shamelessly, and their thoughts regarding the way Yuqing spent money as well. The sisters are "infuriated" and "thought [Yuqing] too extravagant", and "they still couldn't help feeling that it was a shame the stupid woman spent her money in such bad taste", which is interestingly followed by "Of course, they kept smiling". This is one of the many examples of the story where a mismatch is observed between a character's thoughts and actions. The narrator clearly lays out the contrast between what the characters are thinking on the inside and their outward actions, revealing the insincerity of the two Lou sisters. Additionally, using the phrase 'of course', Chang implies that this is what is expected of people in the story, that it is taken for granted that people are not acting according to what they are feeling. Through this, Chang appears to be criticising the false attitude she sees so often in almost everyone in her society.

(Thomas) original improved The title never states whether Rakesh is truly being devoted or not, which leaves room for the reader to interpret the relationship between the father and son. Rakesh acts out devotion under the influence of his profession in medicine, which ironically comes as an act of disrespect to his father. So much so that in the final scene of the story, Varma "tucked his feet away" when Rakesh approached him. This action is significant as it creates a stark contrast with the opening scene when Rakesh bow downs to kiss his feet, showing the reader the changed relationship between the two with Varma no longer accepting his son's devotions. Thus, Desai uses the ambiguity of the title to emphasize the irony where the contrasting views towards filial piety between two characters lead to major conflict in the story, also serving to explore the fusion between traditional virtues and modern-influenced tradition.

(Zareen)

The irony for Stale Mates lies in the double meaning of the title, as mentioned before, one interpretation of the title is that the words can be broken down to mean "bad relationships", but the phrase "Stale Mates" has the more significant meaning of being cornered into a situation in chess where the king cannot make any move as it is checkmated. This is precisely the case for Luo who is being cornered by his three wives, and that it is because of his own doing. Luo out of the "modern" concept of free, romantic love, divorced his first wife; out of spite and irrational thinking divorced his second wife, and finally, marrying Wen who loses her emotion towards him to become contempt (as seen on page 135 where "His hints at taking more interest in her appearance were at first ignored. Then she flared up and said his fussiness was unmanly" where she has ceased to care how he looks at her anymore, finally resulting in the situation where he is living with three women who have detached themselves from him but that he cannot detach himself because of his reputation and 'diminished circumstances'.

The irony for ﻿the title " Stale Mates " lies in the double meaning of the title, as mentioned before, one interpretation of the title is that the words can be broken down to mean "bad relationships", but the phrase "Stale Mates" has the more significant meaning of being cornered into a situation in chess where the king cannot make any move as it is checkmated. This is precisely the case for Luo who is being cornered by his three wives, and that is because of his own doing. Luo out of the "modern" concept of free, romantic love, divorced his first wife; out of the rash assumption that he could win back Fan again divorced his second wife of the Wang family, and finally, marrying Fan who loses her emotion towards him to become contempt "His hints at taking more interest in her appearance were at first ignored. Then she flared up and said his fussiness was unmanly" (135) here she has ceased to care how he looks at her anymore, finally resulting in the situation where even the one he truly romantically loved since the beginning of the story has lost her emotion towards him, resulting in the situation where he is living with three women who have detached themselves from him but that he cannot detach himself because of his reputation and 'diminished circumstances'. Hence, besides being emotionally isolated, he is also cornered financially and can do nothing but live in the same house as them.

﻿ (Arthur) Best Paragraph Another aspect which contributes to provoking thought in readers is the character foil or contrasts in the stories. In “The Accompanist”, there is the contrast between Bhaiyya and what Bhaiyya could have achieved. This is raised during the climax of the story where Bhaiyya was doubted by his peers. Bhaiyya “could be a great Ustad yourself [himself].” He was brought up by his fater to play not only the tnapura, but the “sitar, sarod and viha himself.” In the paragraph after the incident readers follow the thought of Bhaiyya when he asks himself many rhetorical questions through the heavy use of modifiers. Such as “Were they right? Was this true? Have I wasted my life?”, and “Perhaps I was a stupid, backward boy.” The sentences induce thought in the readers just as it made the protagonists reflect on their own situation. The development of the theme from fulfillment in life into should one be fulfilled with what he has is a powerful switch hat readers could easily resonate with their own past experiences.

Improved Another aspect which contributes to provoking thought in readers is the character foil or contrasts in the stories. In “The Accompanist”, there is the contrast between the present Bhaiyya and the Bhaiyya that could have been. This is raised during the climax of the story where Bhaiyya was doubted by his peers. Bhaiyya is told he “could have been a great Ustad [himself].” He was brought up by his fater to play not only the tnapura, but the “sitar, sarod and viha himself.” In the paragraph after the incident readers follow the thought of Bhaiyya when he asks himself many rhetorical questions through the heavy use of modifiers. Such as “Were they right? Was this true? Have I wasted my life?”, and “Perhaps I was a stupid, backward boy.” The sentences induce thought in the readers just as it made the protagonists reflect on their own situation. The development of the theme from fulfillment in life into should one be fulfilled with the present is a powerful switch hat readers could easily resonate with their own past experiences.

(Anna) best: interestingly enough, we see a huge step in her development of emotional and intellectual intelligence when she [Pat] admits her weaknesses. "I'm just not as sophisticated enough for you, she says to her husband, a scholar. She, coming from an uneducated, simple farmer background, realizes that maybe she isn't as open as David, the scholar who is talking to locals. From that moment on we see a change in Pat's character - she has grown to be able to learn and understand her weaknesses to improve upon then.

Edit: interestingly enough, we see a huge step in Pat's development of emotional and intellectual intelligence when she admits and understands her weaknesses. "I'm just not as sophisticated enough for you", she says to her husband, a scholar. She, coming from an uneducated, simple farmer background, realizes that maybe she isn't as open as David, the scholar who is talking to locals. The significance of her understanding completely changes her character and her external and internal interaction, as we see her attitude towards what she previously called "primitive", become more open and willing.

**Worst Body Paragraph** Put each person's 'worst body paragraph here. Write the group comments about how to improve them. THEN put each person's IMPROVED worst body paragraph underneath it. Put your name in

BBSSS "Worst Body Paragraph" Similarly in Chang’s short story “Stale Mates” Luo’s plea for Miss Fan to wait “I have made a decision...It might take years “ foreshadows that the “years” he talks about is an understatement that it will take “a lot” of years and face many obstacles. The readers are thus prepared to expect a chain of events preventing Miss Fan waiting for Luo, and this element of foreshadowing also conveys the author’s message that love cannot be forced upon individuals and it may take time for love to be developed.

"Improved Worst Paragraph" An example of where Chang incorporates foreshadowing in her short story “Stale Mates” is through Luo’s plea for Miss Fan to wait for his “decision [which]... may take years.” It indicates his desire to be with Miss Fan in the future. The time frame of “years” is undermined, suggesting the possibility that future events may take more than the “years” Luo promises Ms Fan. Through the uncertainty produced by this example of foreshadowing, Chang reinforces her message that love is not something that can be limited, or forced upon anyone.

(Thomas) The title "traces of love" is significant here as it foreshadows the underlying feelings Mr.Mi has for his first wife, it also suggests that underneath the restrained exchanged between the two, there is still a trace of genuine affection. "All relationships are frayed and patched up", Chang points this out at the end to suggest that there is no possibiilty to have true love for one another, it also points out that there are only moments of love, rather than continued love. As demonstrated by the portrayal of the relationships between Mr.Mi and his past wife. Here, Chang uses the title as a reference to point out there can only be "traces" of genuine love due to various factors such as personal histroy, previous relationships etc. she explores these factors through her character constructs.

__ Alasdair's worst body paragraph: __

 __ Original: In the stories 'Stale Mates' by Eileen Cheng and 'Pineapple Cake' by Anita Desai, both endings serve to convey important messages that relate to the core of each piece. It also works to place the last piece of the plot in its place. __

 __ Problem: lost focus on the question which is on how readers are 'prepared' or 'surprised' by the endings. __

<span style="color: #008800; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"> __ Improved: In the stories 'Stale Mates' by Eileen Cheng and 'Pineapple Cake' by Anita Desai, both endings serve to convey important messages that relate to the core of each piece. For 'Stale', the readers are prepared for an ending that expresses the disastrous consequences resulting from the clash of Western and traditional values towards relationships. For 'Pineapple', a surprise ending is instead placed to show how the values of the child are often imposed on by the parents. __

(Arthur) Worst Paragraph The point of view in both stories differs, with “The Accompanist”, written from first person narration, and “Stalemates” being in third person point of view. This difference is appropriate in both stories in the portrayal of the theme. In the “The Accompanist”, the use of the first person narration enabled readers to view the world from Bhaiyya’s perspective, and readers were offered participation of Bhaiyya’s actions and beliefs through the first person point of view. Such as Bhaiyya’s explanation of why he followed the Ustad and became more important than anything else in life, for “I [he] found such satisfaction that I no longer wished for anything else.” The information could only be gained through the use of first person narration and this contributed significantly to the development of the theme of fulfillment in life. Bhaiyya’s thoughts provides the foundation of the theme. Through these deep emotional confessions made by Bhaiyya, readers would reflect on their own situation in life and resonate with the protagonist.

Improved Paragraph The point of view in both stories differs, with “The Accompanist”, written from first person point of view, and “Stalemates” being in third person point of view. This difference is appropriate in both stories in the portrayal of the theme. In the “The Accompanist”, the use of the first person narration enabled readers to view the world from Bhaiyya’s perspective, and readers were offered participation of Bhaiyya’s actions and beliefs through the first person point of view. Examples of this is during Bhaiyya’s explanation of why he followed the Ustad and became more important than anything else in life, for “[he] found such satisfaction that I no longer wished for anything else.” The information could not be in such detail or incite empathy from the readers if it was not conveyed through first person point of view. This contributed significantly to the development of the structure of the story, which is partly based on flashbacks of the protagonist. Bhaiyya’s inner thoughts provide the foundation of the theme, and through these deep, emotional confessions made by Bhaiyya, readers would reflect on their situation in life.

(Agnes)

// In 'The Accompanist', Desai writes the story in the way such that the narrator is the main character himself speaking, such that the point of view is inevitably limited to Bhaiyya's, the narrator. The story is virtually plotless, but a free flow of thoughts of the narrator, random flashbacks, his recalling memories in his life. He describes events in great detail as well, but blended with his emotions and feelings. In the story, the narrator describes his life, from "When I was a boy", when his father "taught me all the // ragas//, the// raginis //and tested my knowledge", how "I ... was beaten and cursed by the whole family", to how he ended up as an accompanist on the tanpura for Ustad Rahim Khan.//

In 'The Accompanist', Desai writes the story in the way such that the narrator is the main character himself speaking, such that the point of view is inevitably limited to Bhaiyya's, the narrator. The story is a free flow of thoughts of the narrator, random flashbacks, his recalling memories in his life. He describes events in great detail as well, but blended with his emotions and feelings. In the story, the narrator describes his life, from "When I was a boy", when his father "taught me all the //ragas,// the //raginis// and tested my knowledge", how "I ... was beaten and cursed by the whole family", to how he ended up as an accompanist on the //tanpura// for Ustad Rahim Khan. It is his justification to treat his Ustad as a god, to see him as his hero who has saved him from wasting his life, when what he was before was a delinquent, a disobedient, dishonest son.

(Zareen)

For Stale Mates, the reader is encouraged to review the story in Luo’s eyes, in those of his uncaring wives, and also from the perspective of his family and friends to whom he is the object of “scandal and ridicule” (136). For each set of characters mentioned above, their definition of his ‘stale’ relationship is different: for the families, Luo is a troublemaker: The Wangs were adamant against the divorce” “So the old lady go the idea that her daughter-in-law wished for her death”; “The head of the Luo clan was moved to speak. The old man threatened to invite the Family Law out of its niche and beat the young rascal in the ancestral temple”, all show their views on his stale relationships with the three women in the story. For the wives, the relationship is stale as “both of his ex-wives were much richer than he was after the divorce settlements” “but they never helped him out…providing for their children”. This brings out two points: firstly, although they’re financially independent at the end, they are forced to live with him because of the same of their divorcing that prevented them from remarrying according to Chinese tradition; and secondly, even though their relationship is loveless, they produced children. From the above, one can see that the title encourages the reader to analyze the two plots in fresh perspectives, to gain a deeper insight to the themes.

For Stale Mates, the reader is encouraged to review the story from Luo's point of view, in those of his uncaring wives, and also from the perspective of his family and friends where he is the object of “scandal and ridicule” (136). For each set of characters mentioned above, their definition of his ‘stale’ relationship is different: for the families, Luo is a troublemaker: "The Wangs were adamant against the divorce” as this would prevent the Wang girl from remarrying as the shame of divorce is bestowed upon her: this may lead the Wang family to believe that Luo is inconsiderate and selfish; “ T he old lady go the idea that her daughter-in-law wished for her death” This suggests that Luo's wishes to divorce his first wife without a death in the family (by Chinese tradition) has created a riff between his mother and daughter-in-law ; “The head of the Luo clan was moved to speak. The old man threatened to invite the Family Law out of its niche and beat the young rascal in the ancestral temple” Here suggests that even within the Luo family the younger and older generation's conflict on marriage tradition is fueled and to the elders, Luo is seen as insolent and disrespectful, drawing the family apart. The above all show their views on his stale experiences on marriage adn divorce with the three women in the story. For the wives, the relationship is stale as “both of his ex-wives were much richer than he was after the divorce settlements... but they never helped him out". This brings out two points: firstly, although they’re financially independent at the end, they are forced to live with him because of the shame of their divorcing that prevented them from remarrying according to Chinese tradition; and secondly, the irony that he has become more financially dependent than them but they refuse to help him out, suggesting a breakdown of the patriarchal role of men in the family in terms of dominance and financial prowess . From the above, one can see that the title encourages the reader to analyze the plot development in a fresh perspective.

(Anna) <span style="font: 12px/19px Helvetica; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">In Scholar and Gypsy, we are introduced to Pat right away, as she 'fell across her bed as though she had been struck by calamity'. The author uses 3rd person narrative that allows us, as the reader to dive straight into the mind of the characters. We see from her reaction to Bombay that 'she could barely believe that she had, after all, survived'. and that 'it seemed to her that life, energy, hope were all seeping out of her'. She then continues to complain to David, her husband, about how uncomfortable she is. Our first impressions of her are negative - she seems so spoilt, close-minded compared to David who looked 'so fitting on the Bombay streets', and displeasing. The reader's dislike towards her is further emphasized when she says to David, 'I never expected them [indians] to be so primitive'. As Desai described her, initially Pam was 'more like a corpse than an american globe-trotter', especially compared to David who 'attracted people like a magnet'.

<span style="font: 12px/19px Helvetica; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Edit: <span style="font: 12px/19px Helvetica; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">In Scholar and Gypsy, we are introduced to Pat as she 'fell across her bed as though she had been struck by calamity'. Desai uses third person narrative that allows the reader to be able to narrate the situation as well as hear the private thoughts of characters, and we see from her reaction to Bombay that 'she could barely believe that she had, after all, survived' because 'it seemed to her that life, energy, hope were all seeping out of her'. The reader's first impression of her are negative, her complaints to David, her husband, portrays her to being spoilt and close-minded, as shown when she says to David 'I never expected them [Indians] to be so primitive'. The reader's dislike for Pat is further emphasized as Desai glamorizes David who looks 'so fitting on the Bombay streets', allowing us to compare the two characters. Her reluctance to be open to the Indian culture at the start of the story show the lack of emotional intelligence that Pat has at the start of the story.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Put your group's 'best conclusion' here. Put the person's name in. THEN put the group's IMPROVED best introduction underneath it.

BBSSS "Best Conclusion" In this way, style, structure and characterization were used by both Desai and Chang in order to influence the readers’ train of thought. It resulted in the the reader being either surprised or prepared for the end.

"Improved Conclusion" Style, structure and characterization were used by both Desai and Chang in order to influence the readers’ train of thought, and cause the reader to be led towards a false idea. This resulted in the the reader being either surprised by, or unprepared for the end.

(Thomas) group: anna, zareen, frank, vincent To conclude, the significance of the title in both stories is that it plays on the key role of representing major themes and conveying the author's message. In "A Devoted Son", the title ties in with the plot as it highlights the irony between Rakesh's modern medical acts of devotion and Varma's tradition view about what constitutes devotion. While in "Traces of Love" the title first emphasizes the underlying feelings Mr.Mi has for both his first wife and Dunfeng, and by the end of the story it serves to emphasize Eileen's message to the reader that all relationships in the world are frayed.

"Improved Conclusion" In conclusion, the significance of the titles in both stories is that they play on the key role of representing major themes: for Traces of Love, the title provides emphasis on the underlying and hidden feelings that Mr. Mi has for both his first wife and Dunfeng; the author's message is also supported by the title, with Chang's being that all romantic relationships (in marriage) in the world are frayed. For A Devoted Son, the title ties in with the plot in the sense that it highlights the contrast of Rakesh's definition of a "devoted" son by taking care of his dying father medically, with his father's traditional definition of how a devoted son should act, which is to give him his final pleasures. The message Desi brings out here is the contrast between the younger and older generation when it comes to family matters and old age.

(Christine, Elvan, Alasdair, Agnes)

// In conclusion, as from the above, we see that each author has a different role for their narrators. And it is sometimes through these narrators that the theme of the story is developed. //

In conclusion, as from the above, we see that each author has a different role for their narrators, and it is sometimes through these narrators that the theme of the story is developed. In Chang's 'Great Felicity', the omniscient narrator has the role to present to the readers the common disconnection between the thoughts and actions of all the characters; in Desai's 'The Accompanist', the story is in first person narration, with the narrator's free flow of thoughts blended with his emotions and biases guiding the story.

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<span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Verdana; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> Best Intro (Whitney) IMPROVED **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Regarding the quote “Short Stories are, whatever else, instruments of thought”, the primary goal of short stories is to propel contemplation and thinking of the reader. Such thoughts could regard its themes, evaluation of the characters, or relating themselves to the situation of the story. Such process of “thinking and contemplation” should take place during and after reading the story. I will evaluate the effectiveness of such methods by using the stories “Traces of Love” by Eileen Chang and “A Devoted Son” by Anita Desai as examples. In my opinion, the most striking methods go in the following descending order of effectiveness to make one “think”: Narration (the voice that portrays inner thoughts of characters and story line), characterization (How the personality of characters are reflected), plot (the series of events) and imageries (sensual instruments like visuals, aural images to describe the environment). **

Whitney’s best body paragraph IMPROVED
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Narration serves as the most striking device to trigger thoughts as it can provide either a singular or various perspectives of a story. This causes the readers to think as they analyse the perspectives provided separately, or simply pieced the perspectives together to gain a full view on a subject. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In “Traces of Love”, the omniscient third person narrative allows readers to access the inner thoughts of all three characters <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Mr. Mi, Dunfeng and Mrs. Yang <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Chang uses the narrative to make readers analyse the theme of “Love and Marriage”: What contributes to a successful marriage? The narrative exposes Mr. Mi’s view “This time he had not tumbled into marriage. He made inquires and planning so that he could have peace and a pretty companion during his old age.” This is a lesson he learnt in response to his previous failed marriage in his “anxious young years”, during which he married merely out of passion but resulted in “rows and fights”. Sadly, he sees that his rational weighing of pros and cons did not lead to absolute success in his second marriage, where the emotional gap is predominant and intimacy ceases to exist. “(In his current marriage) That was all. ‘ I’m sorry.’ ‘Thank you.’” <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He is so discontent with his current marriage to the extent he starts to compare his current marriage with his previous failed one. The narration of his thoughts implies that he even prefers he previous conflict-ridden marriage over his present one in which he gains no emotional satisfation. This is seen through the quote “It was his young anxious years that truly touched his heart.” The fact that the marriage of his “youth” touched his heart instead of his present one shows contrast on his view between the two. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whilst in Dunfeng’s view, she defines “success” of a marriage in a different manner. In her view, she had “run the risk of marriage” and succeeded nonetheless as she “found a reliable husband, feeling as though she had always been there.” <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thus we see that Dunfeng achieves security not only in terms of economic and social status, but also in a psychological sense as she has a superior male figure that allows her to rely on for protection. She admits that there is lack of physical intimacy, as seen from the quote where she deliberately complains to Mrs. Yang: “We seldom do it, only once every few months.” However in reality, she does not put emotional and physical intimacy as a top criteria to define the satisfaction gained from the relationship. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This hence makes the readers think on what is really a successful marriage: A mutually loving relationship, or one that brings security and stable life? Another issue worth contemplating is <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the influence that gender play in the opinion on whether the marriage is successful or not . Such as how women who suffered inferior social status a the time married not out of love, but for economic and social security. Whilst men married as they displayed their attractive wives a sign of wealth. **

Whitney’s worst body paragraph (Improved)
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Characterization is the second most striking device. <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The importance of characterization <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">comes after narration. This is because it is the narrative that <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">forms our perception of the character and it illustrates the character’s appearence, actions and personality. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet, it is inevitable that the actions and conflicts between the characters is <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">what triggers the story line. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Readers think and contemplate as they constantly related themselves to character in the process of reading the story. They analyse the traits and action of the characters, and this triggers subsequent reaction or emotion towards the characters, such as admiration, hatred, sympathy, empathy etc. <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These are all examples on how characterization causes readers to think. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In “A Devoted Son”, the narrative similarly portrays the characters clearly for the readers to analyse. Varma is commented as “stubborn” <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by the narrator as the situation where his visits him after a day of work is described. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“ ‘Papa, I’m home.’ Varma simply sat and stared stubbornly into the sunset.” <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Varma rejects the proposal, or seemingly orders, of his son to take medicines for the sake of his poor health. Varma whines and complains, seeming like a child who knows not what is good for him. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I will not live by your medicines.” <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This continues until he finally throws a tantrum at his son by sweeping away the medicine to reflect his strong discontent. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“He swipes the bottle from his son’s hand, suddenly effective, suddenly his own.” <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The cynical attitude in addition to the strong gesture of sweeping a offer from his devoted son onto the ground reinforces his stubborn character. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Readers are likely to develop a sense of annoyance towards Varma as he fails to appreciate the genuine efforts of his son to care for him. <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This can be served as dramatic irony in a sense as readers are able to see past the seemingly outrageous regulations on diet and daily habits that the son imposes on his aging father, as we know it is for the sake of his health. However, due to Varma’s low level of education and his deteriorating mind that goes with old age, he fails to see the honourable intentions of his son. The portrayal of Varma’s stubborn nature triggers a critical view of readers towards his character, hence causing them to think. **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet, the visual descriptions of Varma, this “genuinely sick man” who has been deprived of all pleasures” as described by the narrator, truly demands sympathy from the readers. <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The narrative illustrates the sick state of Varma to instill images of a dying person in the minds of readers, this is a type of characterization. “Lying everyday stretched out on a bed, weak and feeble after a day’s sickness”. Readers begin to contemplate whether it is actually humane for Varma’s son to constantly strive to extend his father’s life, if it simply exposes him to endless days of suffering and idleness? At the climax of the story, Varma begs his son to “let him die”. Whether Varma should continue to live on medicines or simply die as he wishes is entirely up to discretion of the son. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The image of a father being at the son’s mercy causes us to contemplate whether Rakesh is being a “devoted son” by trying to keep his father alive, or a “dictating son” by forcing his father to suffer. The also causes the readers to think as the definition and theme of filial piety is challenged. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hence, the depiction of characters can thinking of the readers, <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">as they develop their own preference critique towards the characters <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Readers can also related to characters and evaluate what they would do in their shoes. **

Cheryl's best paragraph

<span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In “Scholar and Gypsy” the title labels husband and wife as scholar and gypsy. However, what role each of them played was not specified. <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This hence triggers the interest of the readers as they interpret who is the scholar and who is the gypsy. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The definitions of a scholar and a gypsy are so far apart. A scholar, by definition, is a learned knowledgeable person. A gypsy gives the impression of an ignorant unrefined peasant <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">who enjoys wandering and embarks on an endless pursuit for freedom <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Both, it would seem, are after the pursuit of knowledge. The unclear definition of which roles husband and wife play respectively is central to character development. In Bombay and Delhi, David was seemingly the person who knew better. He excelled in interacting with people and adapting to their culture. He “attracted people like a magnet” and he took well to both places. He was always “longing to talk, to tell, to ask and question”. It was clear at the beginning that David was meant to be the “scholar” writing his thesis on sociology. Pat on the other hand, was “wilted”. She was afraid to interact with the local people in Bombay and Delhi, “shuddering” as she whispered how they “were terrible, terrible.” <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The intolerant discrimination born out of ignorance rang out in her every word when she talked about how they lack “the polish, the smoothness, the softness”. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Because of their primitiveness, Pat was so “frightened” that she needed David to “get [her] out”. However, in Manali, Pat came alive again. This reversal of roles was preceded by the sense of foreboding of change in the title. Pat was so different that Desai deemed her change a “revival”. From the start, she identified with the locals and hipppies “explosively”. She “did know...every path and stream and orchard in the place for miles” just a few days after she arrived. <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She gained the knowledge not only by observing carefully as a “scholar” should but also by identifying with them on a deeper level, spiritually. Within days she was acting like one of them, patting dogs on the head and asking “an old man in a black cap” about his products. She thought the temple was “the most magnificent spot on earth” and viewed them with an admiration born out of understanding. She saw how they were “upright, honest and independet”, so different form the people in Bombay and Delhi. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here, David seemed lost, he lost interest in his pursuit of knowledge as a “scholar” and “tired of his thesis”. <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Manali, he was the ignorant and petulant “gypsy”. T <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hus the definition of husband and wife in the title gave them expectations to defy and was essential for the character building of both of them.

Cheryl’s worst paragraph In “Scholar and Gypsy”, the title also brings out some of the central themes of the story. When David and Pat were in Bombay and Delhi, Pat was so lifeless that David had “a sense of disappointment in her: <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She was portrayed then as the inferior one of this relationship, because of her weakness. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. She was just not “sophisticated enough” for David. <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here, the theme of the repression of women by dominant men is brought out <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. In Bombay and Delhi, she was the damsel in distress, needing David to help “get her out” and being the reason they had to leave. <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This implication was shadowed with the undertone of her femininity. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However when she was in Manali, she came into her own as a strong steady partner and actually shows David around Manali, instead of the other way around. <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">David however didn’t recognize his wife’s efforts and achievements. He called her his “poor addled wife” when she shared her insight at the temple with him <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He tied to make out how ignorant and unlearned she was and drowned her out with his “roars of derision” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. In Manali, when she’s adapted so well and identified on a deep level, he still refused to think of her as the “scholar”. <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He tried to remain the scholar and the expert on sociology <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> when he’s “never so much as looked into the soul...of the next man”. T <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hough Pat had tons to offer, he still tried to treat her this way, showing that he would never really see her as his equal.


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ray’s best paragraph **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In “A Devoted Son,” the word devotion leads to an ambiguous sense as the father understands devotion as a grant of wishes, while the son <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">devotes himself through the thought using his skills to make the best situation for his father. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> There is an ongoing conflict throughout the story because the father’s “Wunderkind” doesn’t allow his father to take the fatty and rich food <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">he usually enjoys. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The son, Rakesh, is influenced by the the title and this is characterized by the word “devotion” Even though he was expected to stay in the U.S.A. and marry a foreign woman, he came back to his village and married a woman from <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">his village to show filial piety towards his parents. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> He even started his own clinic as a means to show support for the villager’s health. Rakesh submits himself to his father; however, his father is displeased with his actions and tells his son in the end of the story, “Let me die, I tell you.” <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This shows that there were many interpreted uses of the word devotion and that its functions did influence the author’s general idea behind the story. **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ray’s best paragraph (improved) **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In “A Devoted Son,” the word devotion leads to an ambiguous sense as the father understands devotion as a grant of his wishes, while the son devotes himself solely to impress or improve the life of his father. There is an ongoing conflict throughout the story because the father’s “Wunderkind” doesn’t allow his father to take the fatty and rich food he is used to enjoy as part of his daily diet. The son, Rakesh, is influenced by the title and this is characterized by the word “devotion.” Although he was expected to stay in America and marry a foreign woman, he came back to his village and married a woman from his village to show that he still belongs to his village and respect’s his family’s values. Furthermore, he even started his own clinic as a means to show support for the villager’s health. Near the end, Rakesh submits himself to his father; however, his father is displeased with his actions and tells his son in the end of the story, “Let me die, I tell you.” This shows that there are many possible different ways to interpret the word devotion and that the author left the readers with some options to demystify the ambiguity throughout the story. **

Ray’s best paragraph (improved) plus Whitney’s improvements In “A Devoted Son,” the word devotion leads to an ambiguous sense as the father understands devotion as __a grant of his wishes__, while the son devotes himself solely to impress or improve the health of his father. There is an ongoing conflict throughout the story because the father’s “Wunderkind” doesn’t allow his father to take the fatty and rich food he is used to enjoy as part of his daily diet. The son, Rakesh, is influenced by the title and this is characterized by the word “devotion.” As readers start the story, their first impression of Rakesh as a devoted son is hence reinforced by the title. Although he was expected to stay in America and marry a foreign woman, he came back to his village and married a woman from his village to show that he still belongs to his village and respect’s his family’s values. Furthermore, he even started his own clinic as a means to show support for the village’s health. Near the end, Rakesh submits himself to his father; however, his father is displeased with his actions and tells his son in the end of the story, “Let me die, I tell you.” This shows that there are many possible different ways to interpret the word devotion and that the author left the readers with some options to demystify the ambiguity throughout the story.


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fay’s Best Body Paragraph **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another similarity that the character Basu has with Mrs Lou is that they both seem to be “trapped” in life <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to the point where they both cannot have the life they want <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; there are elements in the story which symbolize this. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In “Pigeons at Daybreak”, the bedroom Basu stays in most of his time seems comfortable, safe and protected to him <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(a sense of protection to him) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, however, <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">through Desai’s imagery of Basu’s bedroom, the readers interpret it <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> as a small, cramped environment, as if he is imprisoned in the one room. The fact that we know Basu never leaves his room often emphasises the theme of imprisonment. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The caged parrot also symbolizes this. <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The parrot’s life resembles Basu’s <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> who only eats, complains, refuses to do things, and sleeps in the one place/one room. <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The parrot is forced to stay in his cage just like Basu has no freedom to leave his own room due to his fragile situation. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When they are on the terrace and Basu is made to <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rest <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> on the hammock <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">instead of his usual comfortable bed <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, “The strings cut into him so that he could not turn on that wobbling net in which he was caught like some dying fish gasping for air.” This simile is effective and describes Basu’s situation very well. He is like a trapped fish, nowhere to go, uncomfortable and feeling very unsafe. <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The use of imagery is very powerful and in this case, also ambiguous. It describes his suffering due to his asthma attack, where he is feeling desperate to break free for air, however it is also trying to describe how he is trying to break free from his “trapped” life. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just like Mrs Lou, she is also “trapped” in life, but in a fairly different way compared to Basu. Mrs Lou is socially trapped as she tries too hard to find a way to fit into the society and her high class, nouveau riche husband who she feels she needs to measure up to. She like Basu seems to be useless and helpless in life, as both are being supported by their wife/husband. <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is as if they don’t have a way of controlling their own life which causes the readers to sympathise on their behalf. **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ray’s worst paragraph **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most often, the title of the story is significant because it can <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">inject an interdependent relationship between the theme and the title. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In “A Devoted Son,” education is one of many themes that relate to the reward of the son’s devotion to society. The title functions as a foundation for the story to incorporate the values of an education. The son is able to deem respect from the villagers and from his parents for being a “first in the country.” It is often the case that education does bring a <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">recognizable status <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in society but as the story mentions, it comes with the “fruit of their sacrifice.” Rakesh was supposed to bring more benefits to his parents through the use of his devotion and <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">educated mindset <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Unfortunately, it is ironic that the father <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">loses everything he desires <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to have because of Rakesh’s education in the West. <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Through these circumstance, <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the father was led to suffering and looking like a corpse in which no one cared about towards the end of the story. The theme education is <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">able to absorb the negative consequences from the devotion <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of the son and this signifies the title’s purpose through the usage of a theme. **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ray’s worst paragraph (improved) **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most often, the title of the story is significant because it has an interdependent relationship between it and the theme of the story. In “A Devoted Son,” education is one of many themes that relate to the reward of the son’s devotion to society. The title functions as a basis for the story to incorporate the values of an education. The son is able to deem respect from the villagers and from his parents for being the “first in the country” of receiving a full scholarship to abroad. It is often the case that well educated person will be recognized with status in society but as the story mentions, it comes with the “fruit of their sacrifice.” Rakesh was supposed to bring more benefits to his parents through the use of his devotion and academic and educated mindset. Unfortunately, it is ironic that the father loses everything he desires to have after Rakesh returns from his educational experiences in the West. By understanding these circumstances, the father was led to suffering looking like a corpse in which no one cared about towards the end of the story. The theme education is able to show that devotion can also have negative consequences and this signifies the title’s purpose through the usage of the theme. **

Ray’s worst paragraph (improved) plus Whitney’s improvements Most often, the title of the story is significant because it has an __interdependent relationship between it and the theme of the story.__ In “A Devoted Son,” education is one of many themes that relate to the reward of the son’s devotion to society. The title functions as a basis for the story to incorporate the values of an education. The son is able to deem respect from the villagers and from his parents for being the “first in the country” of receiving a full scholarship to abroad. It is often the case that well educated person will be recognized with status in society but as the story mentions, it comes with the “fruit of their sacrifice.” Rakesh was supposed to bring more benefits to his parents through the use of his devotion and academic and educated mindset. However, after the return of Rakesh to the family after his studies in the west, an immediate contrast between the education standard and social status of the father and the son is realized. One is “illiterate” and has “has worked 20 years at a shipping depot”; while the other finished school and came out of a medical college to “pursue a career in the most prestigious of American hospitals”. The prestige of Rakesh, which was supposed to bring to glory to Varma as the father, somehow morphs into this superior shadow that Varma must live under. I t is ironic that the father loses everything he desires to have after Rakesh returns from his educational experiences in the West, such as the freedom to choose his own diet. This is true even though the son returns to India purely out of the motivation to care for his aging parents and repay their sacrifices in creating his success as a doctor.

Another way the theme of education reflects the title “A Devoted Son” is the difference in how the son and father picture the ideal “retired life” or “old age”. The son puts emphasis on health. He commits to show his “devotion” by attempting to cure his father’s diseases with “a diet of medicines and tonics” and restricting his diet. Such mentality has inevitably been trained under his education to become a doctor, whose responsibility is to promote a healthy physical body. Varma, on the other hand, puts emphasis on sufficient food as it is the essential symbol of well-being. He understands not why his son makes him live as though he is impoverished by forcing him to eat minimum amount of tasteless food. Overall, His efforts in glorifying his parents through academic achievements back-fires as the difference in education gradually forms Rakesh’s hierarchy over his father due to his knowledge and status. // Under // these circumstances, the father was led to suffering looking like a corpse in which no one cared about towards the end of the story. This thus causes readers to question the title: whether Rakesh //is// a devoted son by using his knowledge in attempt to nurse his father back to health, or has he simply used his academic achievements (contributed by Varma) to gain superiority over his own father? The theme education is able to show that devotion can also have negative consequences and this signifies the title’s purpose through the usage of the theme.


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fay’s worst paragraph **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mrs Lou also presents readers the traditional roles of a married Chinese couple where the husband serves as the worker, <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">head of the house <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and makes a living for the family, whereas the wife stays at home, looks after children and takes care of the housework. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the protagonist, she shows a relationship with all the other characters in the story, however none of the relationships seem very close at all, which is ironic as they are all family and friends. <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This shows how Mrs Lou does not contribute to the social classes very much, and is not the type of person that is able to get along with everyone. In contrast to Mr Lou who is of a high social class, Mrs Lou is constantly trying to match up to him in order to gain her husband a good reputation however does not succeed. She remains as the character whom the readers always show pity on, as she is desperate, but also useless at the same time. **


 * Best body paragraph elvan:**


 * Early in the beginning of the story of ‘Devoted Son’, we could see that despite receiving a high degree of education from the west, the son seem to fulfill his filial piety to his parents by returning to his hometown. The way he kissed his father when he received his results and the way he kissed his father when he returned from study, have given an image to the reader that Rakesh did not change, he is still the devoted son of Varna, he still respect the elderly and maintains humility in front of them. The case when he did not marry a woman from the west but obey his mom to pick his wife for him in which “he agreed, almost without argument” shows that not only does he respect the elderly, he respect the old tradition, he follows it.**


 * Worst body paragraph:**

In the stories of ‘Devoted Son’ and ‘Shutdown’, both seem to have drawn a conflict between two cultures, the western and the eastern. In ‘Devoted Son’, the writer make use of the development of the son’s relationship with his father after his return of education from the States to bring out a direct cultural conflict between father and son. By looking at the development of the son’s character and his rising power of role in the family when he return from the States, we could know that he break the traditional value in the east that the elderly is the most powerful and superior person in the family. Also by looking at the Rakesh’s strict and disciplined attitude towards his father’s sickness, we are able to know the difference of values emphasized by the west and the east. The former one focus on biological aspect, whereas the later one focus more on the pride a person received in a family or in a community. Conclusion: In conclusion, through the character development in both stories, we could clearly see both writers try to emphasise on the conflict between the western and eastern values. In ‘Devoted Son’ we could see how Rakesh’s character changes when he return from the States and in ‘Shutown’ we can see how Cuiyuan experience in a conflicting character in which her hopes were in the end ‘Shutdown’ in her dreams.

Best body paragraph: Early in the beginning of the story of ‘Devoted Son’, [] despite receiving a high degree of education from the west, the son seem to fulfill his filial piety to his parents by returning to his hometown. When he returns from studies, the first thing he does is to kiss his father’s feet, this scene echo with the scene happened early in the story when he similarly kissed his father’s feet once he received his result. This gives an image to the reader that Rakesh did not change even after he receive a western education from states, he still respect the elderly and maintains humility in front of them. The case when he did not marry a woman from state but obey his mom to pick his wife for him “he agreed, almost without argument” shows that not only does he respect the elderly, he respect the old tradition, he follows it.

Worst body paragraph: Both the writers of ‘Devoted Son’ and ‘Shutdown’ try to draw a conflict between the western culture and the eastern culture. In ‘Devoted Son’, the writer make use of the development of the son’s relationship with his father after his return of education from the States to bring out a direct cultural conflict between father and son. In “Shutdown” the story took place in ShangHai during the time of modernized China. Through describing the event where a girl unexpectedly met a man that she fancy on the tram but could not be together, and she found out in the end it was only a dream. The writers tries to make use of this setting to imply a conflict of struggle between an open minded western culture and a conservative Chinese culture happening inside her mind.

__ FRANK __ __ Best Paragraph __ __ The setting can bring out and underscore the different moods of various characters. In”Pigeons at Daybreak”, there are mainly two settings, in the living room and the terrace of the Basu’s. In the living room, comfort is projected into the minds of the readers where Otima “could set down comfortably, she settled herself on top of a cane steel like a large soft cushion of white cotton…” and that Mr. Basu has a large bed with “all the pillows and bolsters”. This is dramatically contrasted by the “wobbling net in which he was caught like some dying fish”, and in effect brings out the moods of the character. Readers can feel the frustrated mood that Mr Basu is currently in, as the setting is placed in such stark contrast. The asthma also causes reader to visualize the pain which Basu is undergoing, and in essence highlights the changed of his moods. __ __ In “Stale Mates”, the beginning of the story emphasized the setting, in which the four people were “in a boat sat facing each other on wicker seats under the flat blue awning”; provide a romantic scene for levers to meet. Likewise to the above story, it presents to the audience a scene which relates to the mood of the characters, endorsing the love experienced by the characters and felt by the audience. __

__ Improved Best Paragraph __ __ The setting can underscore the different moods of various characters. In ”Pigeons at Daybreak”, there are mainly two settings, in the living room and the terrace of the Basu’s. In the living room, comfort is projected into the minds of the readers where Mr. Basu has a large bed with “all the pillows and bolsters”. The appearance of “pillows” and “bolsters” gives a mental image to the readers that Basu is rich in terms of materials, and lives in extraordinary comfort and wellbeing. This is dramatically contrasted by the “wobbling net in which he was caught like some dying fish”, where the significance of the “wobbling net” is that the Basu is in a disposition of unease and discomfort, as the “net” is a very cheap and common object, lacking any wealthy symbolism in which “cushions” provide. This in effect brings out the progressive fluxes within the mood of the character. Readers can feel the irritated and painful mood that Mr Basu is currently in, as the setting is placed in such stark contrast, a “pillow” with a “wobbling net”. __ __ In “Stale Mates”, the beginning of the story emphasized the setting, in which the four people were “in a boat sat facing each other on wicker seats under the flat blue awning”. There is an immediate impact on the words due to the appearance of the “boat” and “awning”, both in which are portrayed in the western thoughts to be stunning and tender. The composition of such an environment provides a romantic scene in which lovers meet, hence allowing readers to gain an intuitive understanding of the passionate mood felt from the two lovers. Likewise to the above story, it presents to the audience a scene which relates to the mood of the characters, endorsing the love experienced by the characters and felt by the audience. __

__ WORST ONE __ __ The theme is by far the most crucial element in which the setting can carry out, since it is the backbone of the entire story. “Pigeons at Daybreak” has used the living room and the terrace for presentation of this theme. The living room protects the couple from “the public sleeping outdoors and its disturbance- its ‘nuisance’”, and the troubled neighbors who “nearly killed him,” and were “addicted to the radio turned on full blast.” However, they also have unconsciously imprisoned themselves within their own room, pictured by the author as “the listless parrot in the cage”. As they move onto the terrace, the setting is later changed to a cool, peaceful environment and atmosphere. The gradual change in the atmosphere presents the theme of the story; self-imprisonment and freedom, life and death. “Great Felicity” uses similar approaches to illustrate the theme of the context, which is that marriage is a form of death. Description of some scenes includes “the guests were all flies”, “weeping of the bride”, “a vengeful ghost” and “like maggots squirming out of a jar”. Those strong comparisons describe the setting of the wedding ceremony as more like a burial, with the palanquin as the coffin. __

__ IMPROVED __ __ The theme is the most important element in which settings can bring out, as the theme is also the main idea of the story. “Pigeons at Daybreak” uses 2 main locations for presentation of its theme; the living room and the terrace. The living room protects the couple from the “public sleeping outdoors and its disturbance- its ‘nuisance’”, and the troubled neighbors who “nearly killed him”, and is represented as the Basu’s protection from dangers and fear of the outside world. The room’s role is similar to a cage, surrounding the Basu’s, and while it does bring them superficial peace and comfort, it also strips them of their freedom and contact with the outside world. They have hence unconsciously imprisoned themselves within their own room, symbolized by “the listless parrot in the cage” in their living room. Note that the parrot, although glamorous and well cared for, is described as listless, as though it lacks something worth living for, and is not enjoying the any offerings of comestibles like “the chili”, but is also reluctant to venture outside. This perfectly reflects the disposition that Basu is currently in, not enjoying the riches of his materials but is afraid to step out of his “prison”, or room. __ __ As they move onto the terrace, the gradual change in the atmosphere presents the theme of the story; self-imprisonment and freedom. The setting is later changed to a cool, peaceful environment and atmosphere, and it well reflects the theme of the story, because Basu is no longer restricted by the needs of his luxurious goods, and finally experiences freedom again. This grants him an inner peace, where he “seemed to let it pour into him”, as though the serene landscape could pass its peaceful demeanor into him, and it is proved that his mood has really cooled when he spoke “quiet calm” despite his wife’s alarmed speech. From the gaining of his inner peace, he is then “free” from his dependence, and is symbolized by “the flutter of pigeons” flying deep into the sky. The setting paints a thematic picture into the reader’s head, and conveys the meaning of pure peace and restfulness to it. In effect, the theme of the story is then brought out to the reader, that freedom can only be achieved by venturing if you are out of your comfort zone. __