To every woman a happy ending.
I think that the author tries to portray the fact that most women want to be viewed as perfect. However, he tries to showcase that perfection is unachievable in this world. If one wants to attain that state of perfection, they will not remain true to themselves and may lose themselves along the way.
went to and fro apologizing. Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs.
She was naturally very smart and healthy, but did not see any of the good qualities within herself. She only saw the label upon her, "a fat nose on thick thighs." She could not look past that label.
presented dolls that did pee-pee and miniature GE stoves and irons and wee lipsticks the color of cherry candy.
I think it is interesting how she is presented with all these gender expectations/roles at such a young age; it sets the foundation for aspiration. For example, many young girls aspire to be like their dolls.
Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.
I think Frost is trying to say all the decisions that you make have repercussions and you cannot change the past, you just have to learn to live with it.
Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Although both paths seemed appealing, he decided to take the road that was less popular.
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both
He is stuck between two options; he has to make a choice and is not sure which path to take.
But toward the happy ending, or away from it?
She isn't entirely ready to move past stealing things.
leaving behind a terrible sadness, an emptiness that felt violent, as if she’d been gouged
At the end of the day, stealing is not truly satisfying as it leaves her feeling empty.
winter is almost over; children grow so fast; kids hate scarves; it’s too late, they’re out the door;
Sasha is trying to rationalize and justify her stealing, but she just sounds crazy.
“You can’t tell. That’s something I’m learning, here in N.Y.C.: you have no fucking idea what people are really like. It’s not even that they’re two-faced— they’re, like, multiple personalities.”
This is ironic because Sasha's whole life is basically two-faced; she makes herself appear younger on the internet and steals objects behind everyone's back.
It struck her that the woman was close to her own age—her real age. She probably had children at home.
I thought it was interesting how these two women are very similar in age and they live completely opposite lives. While one appears mature with children, the other one acts out of impulse and steals objects from people.
It had never occurred to her that the woman was from out of town.
She cannot really help herself; she steals out of impulse and does not think of the repercussions. I think at this point in the tale, she starts to feel a sense of guiltiness.
There was a pause. “Normal,” she said
I find it interesting how she once described the screwdriver as necessity in her life and then once it was acquired it was if it had no meaning.
Her online profiles all listed her as twenty-eight.
She's creating a false identity for herself; why would she want to advertise herself as a younger person?
Post-wallet, however, the scene tingled with mirthful possibility.
She feels rejuvenated/full of energy after stealing.
“O.K.,” she said. “Steal it.”
She is talking to herself in third-person.
Sasha never took anything from stores—their cold, inert goods didn’t tempt her. Only from people.
She only finds pleasure in stealing from people. Is it possible she only feels this way because it provides her with a sense of power knowing that she posesses something that once belonged to somebody else?
Note to self: Call Greenway, have them take ugly thing away. ♦
I feel as if the ending is unsatisfying; it gives no indication of whether or not they find the SG's or they are able to collect enough money to put off their debt.
No money, no papers. Who will remove microline? Who will give her job? When going for job, must fix hair so as to hide scars at Insertion Points. When will she ever see her home + family again? Why would she do this? Why would she ruin all, leave our yard? Could have had nice long run w/ us. What in the world was she seeking? What could she want so much, that would make her pull such desperate stunt?
They will never be able to make it on their own without the proper resources
Feel angry, violated: someone came into our yard in dark of night, while kids sleeping nearby, stole? Stole from us? Stole $8,600, plus initial cost of SGs (approx. $7,400)?
He refers to the kids as if they were property/means of money instead of actual human beings.
Says this actually good news: with microline still in, will be easier to locate SGs, as microline limits how fast they can walk, since, fleeing in group, they are forced to take baby steps, so one does not get too far behind/ahead of others, hence causing yank on microline, yank that could damage brain of one yanked.
The SG's are treated more like animals than human beings. They are chained to each other and unable to escape from each other without being severely damaged.
brothels.
prostitution houses
There is so much I want to do and experience and give to kids.
It is evident that he cares deeply for his children and would do anything to make them happy, even if it means being broke.
where does girl of thirteen get idea that $300 = appropriate amount for b-day gift?
I feel as if this is an allude to today's societal pressure to buy luxury goods to fit in with a certain population.
Note to self: Talk to her, explain that it does not hurt, they are not sad but actually happy, given what their prior conditions were like: they chose, are glad, etc.
tries to justify the use of the SG's; although they may seem as if they are living in poor conditions, they are living in better conditions then they previously were
Well, huh, amazing the strange, arcane things our culture requires some of us to do, degrading things, things that offer no tangible benefit to anyone, how do they expect people to continue to even hold their heads up?
holds a condescending tone; he sees no value or purpose in his work
kitsch
something of poor taste
Our gift not the very worst. Although possibly the least expensive—someone brought a mini DVD-player; someone brought a lock of hair from an actual mummy (!)—it was, in my opinion, the most heartfelt.
continuously compares himself to richer individuals throughout, thus resulting in a feeling of insignificance; he is trying to reassure himself that everything is okay
House is mansion where Lafayette once stayed. Torrinis showed us Lafayette’s room: now their “Fun Den.” Plasma TV, pinball game, foot massager. Thirty acres, six garages (they call them “outbuildings”): one for Ferraris (three), one for Porsches (two, plus one he is rebuilding), one for historical merry-go-round they are restoring as family (!).
feeling of being ostracized as he notes all the luxurious items in the house
Upon arriving home, put bumper in garage. In garage, found dead large mouse or small squirrel crawling with maggots.
implies that they are poor and live in unsanitary conditions
Anyway, what the heck, am not planning on writing encyclopedia, if any future person is reading this, if you want to know what a “demon” was, go look it up, in something called an encyclopedia, if you even still have those!
he suspects that there may be a loss of general knowledge/concepts in the future
When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one portion of the family of man to assume among the people of the earth a position different from that which they have hitherto occupied, but one to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them,
Every individual is born with a purpose; it is their duty to take what they are provided with at birth and make use of it to their best ability. Every one is capable of accomplishing great things if they try.
I had walled the monster up within the tomb!
He thought he got rid of his "demon", but the cat was actually right there all along.
let me confess it at once — by absolute dread of the beast.
Why is he terrified of the cat? Is it because he is scared that he will submit to hurting the cat as he did so in the past?
by some one of whom the animal must have been cut from the tree and thrown, through an open window, into my chamber.
He tries to justify his act of cruelty by conjuring a bizarre belief that someone misplaced the carcass.
One morning, in cool blood, I slipped a noose about its neck and hung it to the limb of a tree;
This shows a relation to the statement earlier made about black cats being disguised as witches. People who were thought to be witches were hung as a punishment in the past.
PERVERSENESS.
Definition: doing something wrong just because it is wrong
but it was, at best, a feeble and equivocal feeling, and the soul remained untouched.
Suggests that he had a fleeting sense of guilt; however, it was equally gratifying as well.
The fury of a demon instantly possessed me. I knew myself no longer.
He no longer knows he he is and inflicts harm upon the cat without thinking.
For Pluto, however, I still retained sufficient regard to restrain me from maltreating him,
He has a significant change in his temperament and his relationships begin to suffer from it; however, he treats Pluto the best out of all of them. Pluto eventually begins to cower away from him though.
Mad indeed would I be to expect it, in a case where my very senses reject their own evidence
His factual evidence refutes everyone's opinion, even if it might seem crazy.
My tenderness of heart was even so conspicuous as to make me the jest of my companions.
He has always grew up kind-hearted, easy going. Foreshadowing a change in temperament.
regarded all black cats as witches in disguise
The superstition foreshadows disastrous events that will later occur, it instills a sense of paranoia.