Analysis Of Friend Of My Youth

Edna’s children are different from other children, if one of her boys fell “…he was not apt to rush crying to his mother’s arms for comfort; he would more likely pick himself up, wipe the water out of his eyes and the sand out of his mouth, and go on playing”. Edna is not a typical Creole “mother-woman” who “idolized her children (and) worshipped her husband” (8) and at times that results in her husband’s claims that she neglects her children. Edna’s children leave her attached to her husband, and even if she is somehow able to escape the relationship with her husband she will never be able to escape her children. She realizes this and whether consciously or not, doesn’t care for her children the way this is expected of a woman in her time period. When Adele Ratignolle reminds her to, “Think of the children!…Oh think of the children! Remember them!” Edna finally realizes her decisions affect her and her children. Instead of accepting her responsibility as a mother Edna decides to give up, and does so by committing suicide.

When Edna returns home later that day, she finds out that Robert is leaving for Mexico. She is rather upset with this news and afterwards leaves to go home. "She went directly to her room. The little cottage was close and stuffy after leaving the outer air. But she did not mind; there appeared to be a hundred different things demanding her attention indoors." (42) She tries to ignore that his leaving and not telling her affects her so much. Yet she declines an invitation from Madame Lebrun to go and sit with them until Robert leaves. When Edna sees him leave it tears her up inside that her companion, the one person that she felt understood her, is leaving: "Edna bit her handkerchief convulsively, striving to hold back and to hide, even from herself as she would have hidden from another, the emotion which was troubling - tearing- her. Her eyes were brimming with tears." (44) Edna's life is not complete when Robert leaves:

Bloom notes that, “Edna is even more isolated at the end than before” (9). As the signs of her discontentment become more severe and it becomes seemingly clear to her that she will not be able to have her strongest desires fulfilled, her suicide proves to be the next step in her spiral downward.

The story begins with Robert writing letters to his sister which he expresses his feelings and emotion. One day, Robert told his sister that he felt “lonely” and saying that he has “no friend” (3) to talk or be able to have good conversation or connections with. He also goes on and tell his sister that "... I have one want which I have never yet been able to satisfy, and the absence of the object of which I now feel as a most severe evil. I have no friend, Margaret: when I am glowing with the enthusiasm of success, there will be none to participate in my joy; if I am assailed by disappointment, no one will endeavor to sustain me in dejection”

For one thing, I didn't appreciate this story, and I didn't see why Edna's life was totally hopeless. I couldn't have cared less about her, truly. Also, her situation didn't address me by any means. Everything is subjective, be that as it may, Edna has numerous a greater number of alternatives and decisions than a few ladies ever have. More than anything she has wellbeing and the capacity to secure herself and her kids. That in itself is more than numerous ladies have, even today. I can comprehend feeling limited, however I think Edna was an extremely narrow minded lady. On the off chance that anything, she ought to have thought about her youngsters. I am not here to say that ladies don't have presences outside of their relational unions, their

Afterwards, the group attends a party where Dr. Barnes tells Sister Bates (Eden’s ex) that he is still mad at Doctor Eden. She begins to tell him that he wants Nurse Linley, who is known as Doctor Barnes' fiancée. After they talk about it, Sister Bates stops

One of the conflicts that Edna struggled is with love. “Good bye because I love you “ ,stated Robert in his letter that he left to Edna (XXXIX.116). What Robert had left Edna was the reason she decided to give up. This shows weakness within herself because, Edna gave up her family,hope,and her skills for a man that really didn't deserve her. It also shows an act of weakness because, she couldn't let go of the true that Robert was gone. Although Edna never gave up on love but she gave up on the most important thing family.

Of the two interpretations presented, the latter is more compelling. The first argument – that Edna's death failed to represent a true awakening and was instead counterproductive to her progress made through the book – is a valid point, but it misses the point of the story and misinterprets the books ending. Edna's journey was about her own liberation and development; not whether she succeeded in disestablishing or defying social convention. The book centers around her maturation from the position of a demure housewife to an independent woman who thought and acted for herself. The ending cements her awakening, rather than rendering it a failure, as her suicide was not caused by Robert leaving her; rather, it was her final move towards independence,

However, they do open up to each other about how they both feel for each other. Finally, Robert stays true to heart and picks societies rules over true love. As soon as Edna decides to become vacant to assist her friend Adele,  Robert decides to take off. This conflict brings up the theme about  independence and how it can lead to solitude. Edna has lost a lot of things now that she is “free”. She then loses any type of relationships that  was with her husband, she has also lost the relationships that she had with her children, and she loses the company that she had with civilized society.In other words, she has choosen isolation and solitude instead of associating with her husbands company.Edna and Robert unfortunately dont work out. Edna is now alone in her awakening.Edna has found the courage to cross societies standards and her end result is solitude

The age gap between generations can alter the perspectives in which one understands certain situations. In Alice Monro’s short fictional story Friend of My Youth the female characters have an important role in displaying the central theme of the story. It also presents different perspectives on life and its outcomes. The point of view displayed in the story is first person, specifically the daughter’s perspective. This tactic chosen by Monro gives a unique standpoint within the story, and portrays the conflict of interest between the narrator and the mother. It also converts to third person to create character development midway through the story; there is another conflict

She attached herself to young men that she thought would take her away from the place where she didn’t belong. She fell in love with Robert because he was the one who started the awakening. “It was you who awoke me last summer out of a life-long, stupid dream”(620). She imagined that he would take her away to a place where they could be happy and she could be who she wanted.

Her inability to cope with her identity issues leads her to leave her husband and children in an attempt to find herself during this time of sudden awakening. Edna later reveals to the family doctor that “there are periods of despondency and suffering which take possession of me. But I don't want anything but my own way. That is wanting a good deal, of course, when you have to trample upon the lives, the hearts, the prejudices of others--but no matter-still, I shouldn't want to trample upon the little lives” (128-129). Edna is telling the doctor that although she does not want to hurt her husband and children by leaving them, her happiness and freedom is more important. Edna’s relief from her familial responsibilities leads to her having an affair with Alcee Arobin, the town’s seducer. Edna’s affair helps fulfill her sexual needs that have been neglected for so long. Edna is therefore able to satisfy her needs without having to sacrifice her freedom as an independent woman. However, when that affair ends, Edna strives to start another one with her good friend Robert. He is hesitant due to the fact that Edna is the wife of another man and during this time in society adulterous relationships were highly frowned upon, and despite Edna’s pleas and insistence on her new found independence Robert cannot bring himself

We all have friends that are alike or different from each other. My friend Nicole and Amy are also friends. Both of them are alike in some ways, but at the same time unlike from each other. For example, they both dress to their comfort, but the clothes they choose to wear are different. They both have similar taste in music and television shows. However, Nicole and Amy are more different than alike.

Imagine your sole confidante, childhood playmate, personal comedian and physiologist disclosing your secrets to a stranger. Unfortunately, this stranger happens to be the person who enforce a form of punishment for the actions that were once a secret. Furthermore, this confidante is considered your friend. Does an instance of this friend disclosing your secret of immoral activities to a person of authority violate the success of the friendship? In fact, this act is not a violation of the laws of friendship. The ideas of friendship are subjective, and thus where you might think your friend’s actions are unjust, your friend is actually looking out for your best interest and security. Also, a good friend would not desire

As we grow older, we meet new people and make new friendships. Out of all the people you meet there is always that one friend that you click with the most. That being said a best friend is someone you look out for and care for like sibling. As we grow older we have a perception of growing old and having your best friend by your side, but I came to the realization one morning that it is not true. I found out my childhood best friend past away from a drug overdose.