In the Lake of the Woods

This story was written by Tim O'Brien in 1994. The story starts off with a man named John. His childhood was frequently interrupted by an abusive father. His father commits suicide and even though he was an abusive father it hurt John very much. He finds this girl Kathy in college and they "fall in love." He spies on her which she knows and she cheats on him. He is then sent to Vietnam. He keeps in contact with her however he participates in a slaughter of a village which he keeps a secret. He then tries to go for the Senate. He losses in a landslide and retreats with is wife to a cottage in the woods. His Nam memories haunt him and they boil to the surface. In his mind on night he takes boiling water and pours them on a plant saying "kill Jesus." The next day she is gone and so is the boat. A search ensues which he does not take part in which draws suspicion towards him. At the end his friend Claude helps him prepare a boat which he takes out north of the lake.

The story ends with no actual ending which is a very interesting choice. I believe that he killed his wife by pouring the water down her throat and then hiding the body in the boat. He then would use rocks to make the boat sink. He seems to be suffering from schizophrenia. His alter ego is the sorcerer. He also his haunted by his past memories of the village and his fathers suicide. The setting also plays a role in this story. Minnesota is a isolated place that is a desired emotion to escape the failed election that John suffers. The American political environment tears the relationship apart which i believe sends John over the edge. Kathy is happy because she can spend more time with John. They move to the cottage to repair their relationship however it seems they have gone in different directions. I think that this story ends in a man who has gone crazy due to mental illness/his past and kills his wife. He then flees into the wild where he can be alone and in his own mind. Although, I also thought that this could have been his last "magic trick". He could have made her disappear and wait until the search dies down. Then flee himself so they can be alone together. Those are my only two theory's.

The Hunger Artist

Ok I have no idea why this blog was deleted but it was so iam going to do it again. The story is about a man who starves himself for art. He does it for fame and glory. However, towards the end the people become bored with him and leave. He keeps starving himself anyways. I see symbolism in his actions and his settings. He doesn't want to give up his pasion and spirit. These things were symbolized in his act of starving. The cage can represent anything from security to the fact that he is traped by fame. The panther represents a new joy and something that is strong. This animal was moved into the cage after his death and it shows that life has moved on. People want the next best thing in fame.

Goodman Brown

This story has some symbolism. The old man who is walking with Brown represents his soul in my opinion. The old man at first is his evil side and his his darker thoughts. However, when he throws the staff and it turns into a snake that is a reference to the Bible. Moses Throws his staff to free his people. This is supposed to show that he is freeing his mind and his soul. His wife represents his god side. She is the best thing to happen to him but he sees he doing a witch ritual. He could have been dreaming but he is sure it was real. In the end he dies a miserable man because of this scene.

The Jewelry

This story shows a man greatly in love with his wife. However, one day she dies. The man is overcome with grief and tries to sell her "fake" jewelry. However, they are worth a lot. AT first he is ashamed because she was having an affair and getting the jewelry as gifts. However, he gets the money and acts like he is happy. However, this become ironic because he remarries a few months later and is miserable. All the riches in the world couldn't make him happy. She made him happy. She was happy about the jewelry but she enjoyed it with him (ex. when she put the necklace on him.)

The Cask of Amontillado

This story is about a man who is seeking revenge. He entombs this man in a underground catacomb. However, at the end it is said that he feels sick (his heart). This shows Irony because he should be happy about completing his murder. When then throws the torch in the tomb and he hears the bells jingle. He was trying to mock his victim but he doesn't get what he wants. What he thinks is going to happen doesn't and that in its self is irony.