Rettelse af engelsk stil:)

Er der en der gider læse flg:

A)
The short story ”Xmas” is about the teacher Gregory Dodd. Gregory is a man in the early part of his middle aged life. On his way from New Hampshire to Jamaica Plain in Boston, he is contemplating on his life so far. He thinks of his two ended marriages, which resulted in three children, and his recent relationship with a young revolutionary woman. In fact this particular woman is the reason why, his is an his way to Boston, in a car loaded with Christmas presents, both for her and her three children. But on the way to Boston Gregory is forced to hit the breaks, to avoid a crash. Gregory tries to avoid car, but the other car is blocking his way, so the to cars collides. The driver of the car steps out and heads for Gregory, who wants to apologize for the impact. However, while Gregory tries to apologize, the driver cuts him short with a uppercut, this leaves Gregory astonished while the driver heads back to his car and drives away. When the car is out of sight Gregory tells himself that the now lost tooth and the swollen lip, must have a more natural explanation than his memory tells him.

Man was created to have a fellowship with God, but because of his stubborn self-will, he decided to go his own self-sufficient way, and the fellowship with God was broken. The short story Xmas is a great example of how a man and his stubborn self-will ruins his life.

B)
The short story Xmas’ main character is Gregory Dodd. Gregory is a teacher of political science at the state university in New Hampshire. He has been married twice, once in his adolescences and a 15 years marriage in his young manhood. The fact that Gregory is in his forties, makes you think that he has a midlife crisis and it is therefore that he has left his recent wife after 15 years. Gregory has just begun a new relationship with a 10 years younger woman named Susan. This new relationship makes Gregory feel alive again, he has recaptured his freedom after 15 years of marriage. The fact that Susan is 10 years younger that Gregory makes him feel younger and more macho. It seems to me that Gregory is willing to do everything to hold on to Susan. The night before Christmas Eve, he packs his car with presents to play Santa Claus for Susan and her children, and drives the long way from New Hampshire to Boston. He is doing this even though he knows that his three children are in the home of his ex-wife, maybe they would be glad to see there father at Christmas, but oh no, he neglects his own flesh and blood to be with his mistress. Susan is the total opposite of Gregory. She is young, has very active in the radical the Weather Underground and on the other hand we have Gregory, who is an old fashion teacher with a boring life. Gregory is very spellbound by Susan’s life, in fact he is aroused in a sexual way, when she is talking about it. He uses Susan’s life to give purpose and substance to his own life. Susan is not glad to speak of her past with the Weather Underground and the father to her children, that might be a result of that Gregory is intimidated by the impression Susan gives of him. Her former husband was, unlike Gregory, a real man “it was like every time we made love, I got pregnant.” Furthermore he was very committed and loyal to the Weather Underground movement, that more that you can say about Gregory, who runs away from his problems. He always tries to make up an excuse that suits the situation. This is clearly seen when Gregory collides with another car, and the driver slams he fist into Gregory’s face, here Gregory tries to find a natural explanation to why he has broken his mouth. So I do not think that Susan is really in love with Gregory, he just replaces her ex-husband for a while. She needs him to provide for her self and her children.
The fact that it is the night before Christmas Eve, and Gregory is hearing Messiah on the radio and he meets a stranger is actually very symbolic. The impact with the strangers fist is a wake up call for Gregory, he is now confronted with the Messiah he has been looking for his entire life. Also the fact that Gregory has been listening to Messiah while driving and the story’ s title Xmas is a hint to the birth of the greatest Messiah of all time – Jesus! Gregory is hit by the strangers fist, just like the ancient world was hit by the force of Jesus’ words. Gregory now realises that he has been living for no one, except him self. This makes Gregory angry with him self “Rage washed over him like a cold wave.” The meeting with Messiah, has totally chanced Gregory’s life. He is now prepared to celebrate Christmas with his own family, “all he wanted was to be in his own home with his own children and their mother.” I think that Gregory after his meeting with Messiah is ready to go back to his old life, and appreciate his family. He has found the meaning with life, for him, and that is to be with his family.
I think that the narrator’s, Russell Banks” meaning with this short story, is to throw light on our selfish behaviour. We have to find the truth and embrace it and use it to anchor ourselves in the sea of chaos that is the world we live in. When it seems that all you have left are the dead remnants of the fabric life your life – believe!