Engelsk Stil

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The Dress
In postmodern society it is important to communicate but it is often forgotten. After a long day at work which requires great reserves of energy many people are too tired to communicate with their family. This tendency will result in unsolved problem because modern people do not have the energy or the strength to discuss and communicate with each other about emotional issues. The story “The dress” by Julia Darling deals with the conflicts and consequences that the lack of communication has.

The short story begins in medias res and is written in past tense. Through the omniscient narrator you hear character’s thoughts. The story is composed of a beginning, middle and an ending. The beginning is divided into three parts. The first part contains a presentation of Rachel and the conflict which the short story is about. The next part is an introduction to the mother’s birthday and the last part describes Flora wearing the stolen dress. The mother’s birthday in the expensive restaurant is the middle of the story and the ending contains the time after the family leaves the restaurant.
The mother is forty years old. She fells sorry for herself and wants to feel loved. Her hair has some strands of grey in her hair and faint lines around her eyes. It seems as if she is in a midway crisis which is also shown by her reflection on life. She thinks that her time is running out and wants to make jewellery instead of being a bereavement counsellor. The facade means a lot to her because she is not able to communicate and solve the problems of the family: “The mother sat between them, nibbling olives, talking incessantly, aware of the hollow silence between them. She read the entire menu aloud in a surprised voice.” Her coping strategy is repression but it only makes things worse than they really are. Even though the mother is a bereavement counsellor she can not discuss her own problems. She tries to avoid communication and therefore she regrets that they did not go to the cinema where they could sit together in silence. In spite of the fact that the mother should be the mature person she acts childishly. She is unable to deal with emotions and she shies away from face-to-face conflicts: “... the mother, who wanted life to be calm, a flat sea with no sudden breezes. She likes emotions to be explored in safe rooms, with a clock.”
“Empty cigarette packets, broken lighters, dried-out mascara brushes” These worthless things and the mess in her room illustrate how chaotic Flora fells inside. At the same time the things symbolize the relationship between Flora and Rachel: A broken relationship which is empty and dried-out like the mascara. Flora is the youngest sister and it is difficult for her to find her own identity. Therefore she tries to take on Rachel’s identity which the dress symbolizes: “... the dress was meant for her, not Rachel. It made her feel taller, braver, cleverer, and Rachel was all those things already.” Flora admires Rachel and when she puts on Rachel’s dress she fells as clever as her big sister.
Rachel will not forgive Flora for stealing the dress. When Flora admits that she has stolen it and explains why she did it she is afraid that Rachel will hate her: “You’ll hate me.” “I hate you anyway,” said Rachel. Even though Flora tries to communicate and solve the conflict it is too late. Neither the mother who is compared with a harsh and unforgiving teacher will listen to Flora’s explanation. Both the mother and Rachel are frustrated but they can not talk about their issues. Therefore they use physical actions: “Rachel picked up the hanger and threw it into the floor. She wanted to hurt someone.” and the mother shakes Flora. They try to forget their conflicts but small problems as the dress will grow bigger if they are not solved.
The dress symbolizes the communication of the family. When they are at the restaurant they try to keep up the facade and forget the conflicts. In the start the dress is clean and ironed but then Flora drops a cocktail and stains the dress horribly. Therefore she buries the dress: “And the dress lay in the in the tired earth, smelling of dead birds in a porch in an empty house, and was forgotten.” Together with the dress they also bury and forget the communication which could have solved their problems.
The main theme of the story is communication or more precise: the lack of it. The short story is a criticism of postmodern society. Even though your material needs are fulfilled and you have a fine education you can not cope with your own problems. You will not waste valuable time on discussing conflicts because it is too emotional instead you try to ignore them. Modern people want to achieve at perfect life but they are not aware of the fact that “the perfect life” also includes conflicts which have to be solved. That is why it is so important to communicate.
 

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