The Boarding House by James Joyce(1914)

 


rating: 8.5/10

The story was not hard to understand, and it may be the first story that I could read with no pressure. The expressions were more acceptable to me. For instance, through the song "I'm a naughty girl," I could make an image of Polly more easily. I felt more comfortable with the story than other stories of 'Dubliners,' so I gave it a high rating. 

 In the story, Mr. Doran chooses to get married to Polly, considering his public reputation. I fully understand Mr. Doran because a reputation has a considerable impact on one's life. However, I still wonder why he didn't leave. I think he could leave the town, and it must be better for him because he won't be happy with a wife who has just become an adult. I think this is another 'paralysis.' He didn't choose to get out of the terrible condition though he had a chance. 

 Also, I felt the marriage might not be a pledge of pure love. What made the marriage was not pure love but a social hierarchy or reputation. People tend to find their lover who has a higher social standing. 

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The Semplica-Girl Diaries by George Saunders(2012)

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 rating: 9/10  This story is weird. All people in this world don't recognize the problem with using young girls as decoration. Eva was the only one who sympathized with the semplica girls and helped them. With this unique format and method, I felt excited. Also, the mood of this story was exclusive, so it was easy to read.   George Saunders may want to say about moral corruption due to the social atmosphere. Specifically, the story shows that the middle or lower class follows the culture of the upper class. The narrator's family was one of them following the semplica girl's trend of the upper class. It is natural because no one can accept their disabilities in front of their loving people. However, more money doesn't mean good. In this context, I think of <The Greatest Getsby>, which also contains the idea of moral corruption in the upper class. By the way, I felt sorry for my parents. They also might have pressure not to show their weakness to me.
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The Tower by Marghanita Laski (1955)

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rating: 8.5/10 While I read this story, I was curious about what 'the tower' means. Why should Caroline go up to the top of the tower? When she went up, I felt like she was defying her circumstances. She was to break the recognition that women should behave modestly and stay inside their husbands' barriers. Because I am a boy, I can not fully understand the stereotype or social pressure that women suffer. The only thing I can be sure of is that it is hard to draw a line between overprotectiveness and respect. If a boy learns that he should protect the woman, the boy becomes a man who wants to control everything with his wife. "Lady First" and "Gentleman" may be old trends nowadays. In the 2020s, men and women should respect and push each other rather than protect and control. Also, my grandmother came to my mind. Her thought can not be free from what she learned in her youth because she lived in an era in that women should follow men. The recognition of
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A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

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  rating: 9/10 The story moved me very much. I think people sometimes, or usually, consider other people only as a means to satisfy their good. Also, if someone has no use, they don't care about her. In this story, Pelayo and Elisenda find the old man with wings that look like an angel's. At first, they had no interest in the unique figure, but when they knew he was profitable, they exploited him. They took care of him only because they could earn money from him. Though Pelayo and Elisenda must be criticized and seem awful, I think most people are not really different. Even in KMLA, most students pretend to be kind and genuine to others when they need something from others. Even I pretend to be kind and sometimes feel I'm a liar. Thus, the story reflects a reality though it uses characters who are a bit different from humans in the real world. Considering weak people as a means to earn profit and exploiting them does occur realistically. This cruel reality makes me sad.
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