A Story : A Short Story

Three of the quotes have already been explained and related above. One quote which defines Rachel the most displays how she feels in regards to her sisters and mother. “I was so excited to be getting out of that horrid mud hole I couldn’t think straight. I’m sure I said goodbye to Mother and Adah and Leah, though I really don’t remember giving second thought to when I would ever see them again, if ever.

She knew there was better ways to live and decided that she could never achieve this way

Imagery is another literary technique that is used to characterize Rachel. In the incident over the red sweater, Rachel states, “That’s not, I don’t, you’re not… Not mine.” I finally say in a little voice that was maybe when I was four. “From this line, a picture is painted through words to show Rachel’s facial expression and her reaction to having to admit that the sweater belonged to her. Cisneros also paints a picture of Rachel when she states, “all of a sudden I’m crying in front of everybody. I wish I was invisible but I’m not. I’m eleven and it’s my birthday today and I’m crying like I’m three in front of everybody”; in reference to Rachel having to wear “the ugly sweater with red plastic buttons and a collar and sleeves all stretched out like you could use it for a jump rope”. From that statement, Cisneros shows how sad and upset Rachel was about having to put on that sweater.

Rachel had always had a love for sports, but football was a life changer for her. How it all started, is one day her step-father jokingly asked her if she wanted to try football, and she replied with yes very seriously.

This inner defiance gives evidence to Rachel’s determination and individuality. The sweater now represents a sort of barrier and if she submits herself to it, she fears the world of ages and maturity.

Another way to deal with past regrets that is brought to light is the idea of repressing that memory in the first place. Unlike her sisters, Rachel Price is the only one who ignores her guilt. After Ruth May’s death and their departure from Nathan, Rachel rarely ever brings these major events up again. Instead she talks about her new life, speaking about her newest boy toy and complaining about the African’s culture. The night of Ruth May’s death, since Rachel is

Although Rachel is very emotional, in the only dialogue between her and Mrs. Pierce she sounds very shy, unsure of herself, not ready to confront and timid.

, she is giving the readers a way she knows how to describe her feelings. This shows her character because its her describing her feelings in a personal way. The point-of-view of the story helps to characterize Rachel. By the story being in Rachel’s point-of-view, the reader gets first person responses to events.

Rachel grew up in a house hold where she had to grow up really quick. In her early teenage years she witnesses her mom struggle through abusive relationships with her step dad and other boyfriends that came after. She eventually became an alcoholic. By the time Rachel was 13 year old, she dropped out of school to take the role of the emotional and financial care taker of her mother. Living in her

When Mrs. Price begins to become angry, she demands Rachel to "put that sweater on right now" (Cisneros 2). One must do what the instructor asks of them, and this is another reason for her showing signs of being vulnerable. Rachel clearly feels powerless in the presence of her

Rachel took her arm away from his but still walked close to him. Then he had cried out "Rachel! Do you not love me? Is not my love for you as sacred as anything in all of life itself?" Rachel was quiet. They passed a street lamp. Her face was pale and beautiful. He had made a movement to grab her arm and she had moved a little farther from him. "No," she had replied. He then said "Some time--when I am more worthy?" he had asked in low voice, but she did not hear him, she did not even say goodnight and went into her house.

Beyond racial divide, Kingsolver portrays how Rachel’s self-obsession leaves no room for her family in order

Much of what Rachel's Challenge is built upon is a lie. Or at the very least, a distortion of the truth.

In the short story, Rachel’s parents represent comfort from the outside world. “Mama is making a cake for me tonight, and when Papa gets home everybody will sing Happy birthday, happy birthday to you” (n.p.). The aforesaid quote is mentioned twice

While there are many depictions of thematic tension that demonstrate the allegorical allusion between good and evil within this scene, I will break down two moments that independently argue the significance of Rachel’s character as the manifestation of good, redeeming the negative connotation Christianity has within the story. With the technical elements already dissected, I focus solely on how the scenes operate on a thematic scale. The first moment would be when Rachel joins in with a Preacher for a duet of the song “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”. While the preacher sings throughout this song from the start