The Gender Unit Paper
Laura T
ENG 1B
Mr. C
February 23, 2014
Prompt #2
The Gender Unit Paper The common theme in the short stories "A Pair of Tickets", "A Rose For Emily", and "Girl" is expectation. Each main character experiences a feeling of expectation from either within themselves, from others, or a cultural norm. Each character feels burdened by these expectations and that can be sensed in the tone of these short stories. These expectations have evident effects on the female characters as it effects their thoughts, actions, and self-realizations. Although each story is significantly different, they all share the same theme. The dialogue from each female character in these stories is minimal but the qualities these characters possess can be gathered from the text. In "A Pair of Tickets" by Amy Tan, the main character Jing Mei is confused and guilty. Never feeling like she was Chinese, Jing Mei did not know what it meant to be that ethnicity; it was not until Jing Mei was to travel to China because of her mother's unfortunate passing that she would find out what it meant to be Chinese. This new culture was so foreign to Jing Mei but she attempted to adapt. "I think about what my mother said, about activating my genes and becoming Chinese. And I wonder what she meant"(151). Coping with her mother's death, Jing Mei battled with her inner self as she learned more about her culture and of her's mother's past. These qualities follow Jing Mei throughout the story until she comes to terms with who she is and learns from this new experience. "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner showcases Emily Grierson, a prideful, headstrong woman. Emily Grierson takes pride in her name and does not let people forget it. If anyone acts in a manner against her that she dislikes, she will not stand for it for she holds the name of Grierson. "... I have no taxes in Jefferson... show these gentlemen out!"(33). This type of pride carries Emily throughout the story and holds her title with "the high
ENG 1B
Mr. C
February 23, 2014
Prompt #2
The Gender Unit Paper The common theme in the short stories "A Pair of Tickets", "A Rose For Emily", and "Girl" is expectation. Each main character experiences a feeling of expectation from either within themselves, from others, or a cultural norm. Each character feels burdened by these expectations and that can be sensed in the tone of these short stories. These expectations have evident effects on the female characters as it effects their thoughts, actions, and self-realizations. Although each story is significantly different, they all share the same theme. The dialogue from each female character in these stories is minimal but the qualities these characters possess can be gathered from the text. In "A Pair of Tickets" by Amy Tan, the main character Jing Mei is confused and guilty. Never feeling like she was Chinese, Jing Mei did not know what it meant to be that ethnicity; it was not until Jing Mei was to travel to China because of her mother's unfortunate passing that she would find out what it meant to be Chinese. This new culture was so foreign to Jing Mei but she attempted to adapt. "I think about what my mother said, about activating my genes and becoming Chinese. And I wonder what she meant"(151). Coping with her mother's death, Jing Mei battled with her inner self as she learned more about her culture and of her's mother's past. These qualities follow Jing Mei throughout the story until she comes to terms with who she is and learns from this new experience. "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner showcases Emily Grierson, a prideful, headstrong woman. Emily Grierson takes pride in her name and does not let people forget it. If anyone acts in a manner against her that she dislikes, she will not stand for it for she holds the name of Grierson. "... I have no taxes in Jefferson... show these gentlemen out!"(33). This type of pride carries Emily throughout the story and holds her title with "the high