Sarah Cole : a Type of Love Story
Warren Hoang
Professor B. Lewis
English 1A
3 October 2012
Opposite ends of the same stick
In “Sarah Cole: A Type of Love Story” by Russell Banks, the main character Ron believing himself to be so much more above the woman he once dated because of his great looks. Ron was a successful lawyer in the state of New Hampshire when he met a woman named Sarah Cole. Except there was a catch—Sarah Cole was the most homely woman Ron had ever seen. Despite that, Ron and Sarah eventually engage in a relationship that would soon take a turn for the worst. Now, 10 years later, Ron tries to relive those past events with Sarah, to figure out what if what he had done to Sarah was wrong. Ron comes to the conclusion that he mistreated Sarah because he was so obsessed with the idea that he was so much better looking than her, and he looks back to those events with much regret, wishing he could change his ways, and although they were on different ends of the social spectrum, he truly did love her for everything that she was. The author starts off the story with specific traits of the characters, particularly highlighting the ego that exists within the main character Ron. Banks puts extra effort into emphasizing that Ron believed himself to be a very attractive and desirable man. “…I must tell you that I was extremely handsome then and if Sarah were not dead, you’d think I were cruel, for I must tell you that Sarah was very homely. In fact, she was the homeliest woman I have ever known” (Banks 1) The narrator explicitly states that his opinion of himself was that he was extremely handsome—reinforcing the idea that Ron had quite the big ego. “Ron is effortlessly attractive, a genetic wonder, tall, slender, symmetrical, and clean.” Ron is heavily characterized as someone who is simply in love with himself, he thinks of himself as the closest thing to perfection in a male—an archaic superficial reflection of the female fantasy. . “He goes on reading. He takes a second sip of his drink.
Professor B. Lewis
English 1A
3 October 2012
Opposite ends of the same stick
In “Sarah Cole: A Type of Love Story” by Russell Banks, the main character Ron believing himself to be so much more above the woman he once dated because of his great looks. Ron was a successful lawyer in the state of New Hampshire when he met a woman named Sarah Cole. Except there was a catch—Sarah Cole was the most homely woman Ron had ever seen. Despite that, Ron and Sarah eventually engage in a relationship that would soon take a turn for the worst. Now, 10 years later, Ron tries to relive those past events with Sarah, to figure out what if what he had done to Sarah was wrong. Ron comes to the conclusion that he mistreated Sarah because he was so obsessed with the idea that he was so much better looking than her, and he looks back to those events with much regret, wishing he could change his ways, and although they were on different ends of the social spectrum, he truly did love her for everything that she was. The author starts off the story with specific traits of the characters, particularly highlighting the ego that exists within the main character Ron. Banks puts extra effort into emphasizing that Ron believed himself to be a very attractive and desirable man. “…I must tell you that I was extremely handsome then and if Sarah were not dead, you’d think I were cruel, for I must tell you that Sarah was very homely. In fact, she was the homeliest woman I have ever known” (Banks 1) The narrator explicitly states that his opinion of himself was that he was extremely handsome—reinforcing the idea that Ron had quite the big ego. “Ron is effortlessly attractive, a genetic wonder, tall, slender, symmetrical, and clean.” Ron is heavily characterized as someone who is simply in love with himself, he thinks of himself as the closest thing to perfection in a male—an archaic superficial reflection of the female fantasy. . “He goes on reading. He takes a second sip of his drink.