The novel Olive Kitteridge written by Elizabeth Strout is not what it appears to be. It is actually thirteen short stories, most of which contain Olive as a main character. It starts out with a chapter called “Pharmacy,” Olive is a main character and this chapter sets the tone on how she will tend to behave, and even brings forth the idea that Olive was unfaithful to her husband, Henry. Later in the novel a chapter called, “Security,” has Olive as a main character. This chapter brings back the storyline of Olive and the man she had an affair with from the first story, essentially bringing the novel full circle. However, some of these stories do not take that same approach; there are a few chapters, like “The Piano Player” and “Winter Concert” …show more content…
This chapter is important as it reintroduces the affair between Olive and Jim O’Casey. In this chapter, Olive is again a main character, and readers learn about the relationship between her and Jim through a flashback, “They had never kissed, nor even touched, only passed by each other closely as they went into [Jim’s] office...But after he said that that day, she lived with a kind of terror, and a longing that felt at times unendurable” (Strout 213). Olive is reminiscing about a conversation the two had shortly prior to Jim’s death, which they briefly discussed running away together. Olive was so ready to leave everything she had, and Jim responds by saying, “Perhaps it’s a good thing I haven’t asked you [to run away]” (Strout 213). Olive and Henry’s moments of unfaithfulness are strikingly similar, the two both knew of their feelings, but did not physically act upon them. This is the third to last chapter, and it reties in the theme of infidelity, which was given in the first chapter, thus keeping the novel …show more content…
Henry’s personality type is reflective because he has a low dominance and sociability, seen when he is described as a good listener (Strout 4), people with reflective personalities let others do all the talking and leading. Olive is a directive communicator, someone with high dominance and low sociability. This is seen when Olive’s son Christopher calls her out for being a bad mother, she has the nerve to act offended and cannot believe that he would say such a thing, but she does not realize that he is right (Strout 231). Malcom’s personality is emotive, a high sociability and high dominance. Malcom exhibits it the most clearly when he goes to confront Angie for calling his house, he has the power and ability to come at her cursing and yelling with no remorse (Strout 59). Bob and Kerry are both supportive communicators, people with a high sociability and a low dominance. Bob shows his communication style when he easily plays off his wife’s confusion at him being in Miami, but is not dominant enough to come out right away and tell her the truth (Strout 132-136). Kerry displayed it for many years as she did not ever tell Marlene that she had an affair with her husband, yet she was able to remain friends with her even though she thought Marlene knew about the affair. All of these character’s get the same personality type when they have their affairs. They each get a low sociability and a
In chapter 6, Ellis continues story of the politcal divide between Jefferson and Adams. Ellis describes the aftermath of Adam’s presidency and therefor defeat of Jefferson. Adams emotinal and erratic response to Jefferson’s presidency is also noted. However, their divide is soon closed and their shaky friendship grows again with a renewed correspondense through letters. Ellis deals with the letters sent back and forth after both men had retired and the signfigance of the letters. He also shows how the letters lead to eventual arguments. In the end, the friendship is shines through when both men die on the same day, with Adams dying words a tribute to his friend.
In numerous way a character in an book can be affected or influenced by their culture in the novel Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand a young man by the name of Louie Zamperini is affected at an early age by his culture. While reading the novel an individual would find out that Louie is the son of two Italian immigrants, few years after Louie was born he moves to this small surber city called Torrance with his family. While living in this town Louie family has to fight against prejudices of the citizen not wanting this Italian family living in the neighborhood. In the first few chapter someone would learn that in the 1920s Torrance ,California was very prejudices to the Zamperini family by trying to get the city council members from letting them move into the city.Meanwhile, Louie Italian heritage did have a small effect on him as he was becoming an adult.
After feeling ostracised by the township, the alienated Brennan family are driven to leave the town of Mumbilli at 4:30am. With hardly any peer support, Tom begins to lose his sense of security, resulting in his transformation into an unconfident teen who is afraid of public opinion. It is no wonder that Tom is unable to move on in his new town as he is being held back in fear of revealing his past. Burke tactfully illustrates Tom’s emotional kaleidoscope through phrases such as “I felt the knot snap” and “my guts landing at my feet” (Burke, pg 172) when reflecting on the accident. On the contrary, with encouragement from family members, Tom begins to step out of his comfort zone and face the future that is to come.
...s inner self. What is seen as a relationship amongst these two young men is now torn apart by the transformation of Henry caused from his witnesses during warfare.
In the middle of Chapter four, we find Jim and Arvay in the middle of a journey to the courthouse; the reader, halfway through the journey from the top of the page encounters an interior journey as Arvay travels within herself. This four-line passage serves as a milestone marking the beginning of the narrative, which is a journey across the landscape of the life of Jim and Arvay’s relationship. The passage begins with “The elements opened above Avery and she arose inside of herself”(57). The first clause of this sentence has a poetic eye focusing on an atmosphere, or an aura rising and expanding around Arvay’s form, perhaps circular, like the break in clouds whereby a ray of sunshine appears, suggesting even further, the halo, or the circle of seraphim as described in the words of the prophets. The coordinating conjunction “and” begins the second clause, implying the synchronous relation between the outer sky change, and the inner event of rising “inside of herself.” In this sense her experiences, her conversation with Jim, her anxieties about her “secret sin,” her religious drive converge and for a brief space are unifying, interlocking, affirming and redeeming. The mystical language employed reveals a kind of “interpenetration.” That this epiphany comes at the moment when she is discussing her own rape with the man that raped her shows the way in which she thinks about her experiences. Also, this passage shows how Jim speaks to her in ways that produce thoughts and feelings that she cannot seem to find words for annunciation. Her mystical language contrasts sharply with Jim’s straightforward sentences, recalling the title of the novel, Seraph on the Sewanee. After reading...
“I thought that I had worked it all out in the book, “ she says. “But seeing this play has had a cathartic effect.” The skeletons no doubt, are out of the closet.”
Through the novel Henry’s conversations with Dorian and Basil Hallward depict him as an invested disciple of Pater. Henry’s insight into to Pater’s philosophy can best be seen when he states that, “the only horrible thing in this world is ennui” or boredom (Wilde 220). Henry echoes Pater’s distaste for the formation of habits and not having new experiences that bring the individual out of their daily rut. Henry is the one who advises Dorian to live his life to fullest and to appreciate art and beauty, but the reader is not privy to Henry’s private life or his internal thoughts. While Henry accurately represents Pater’s ideals through his speech the reader cannot assume that he also enacts them in his daily life. The reader is reminded of their lack of insight into Henry’s character when Basil continually states “you don’t mean a single word of all that, Harry” (200). Basil is a close friend to Henry and from the beginning of the novel Basil is not blind to flaws of Henry’s character. In fact, he is fearful that Henry’s influence will corrupt Dorian. Due to the readers disconnect to Henry’s character the words of ...
In today’s culture psychologist, sociologist, and scientist investigate several types of personalities. Personality is the pattern of behavior, though process, emotions, and reactions to the people that surround us on daily basis. Several test have been developed for testing personalities. Some test can be simple and short while others lengthy and complicated. Scholars demonstrated knowledge about personalities looking back many thousands of years. The Greeks published a well documented history in profiling people according to personality traits. Two interesting character personalities are conformist type personality and manipulative type personality.
The novel Olive Kitteride written by Elizabeth Strout contains thirteen short stories, one of which is “The Piano Player”. Angela O’Meara is the main character of this chapter, and she has been the piano player at a local cocktail lounge for over twenty years. When looking at her behavior, she displays traits that show that she has a reflective personality. A reflective personality is one of four basic communication styles, which are all influenced by sociability and dominance. Subsequently, a reflective communicator is somebody who has a low sociability and a low dominance. As written in Selling Today: Creating Customer Value, “Sociability reflects the amount of control we exert over our emotional expressiveness.” (Manning 78), while “Dominance can be defined as the tendency to
“Everyday conceptions of personality traits make two key assumptions. First, traits are stable over time… Second, it is generally believed that traits directly influence behavior” (Matthews, Deary, & Whiteman, 2003). Traits can be used as explanations or reasoning for behavior or mood. There have been several notable psychologists to agree with and study the trait theory of personality. Gordon Allport was a psychologist that devoted his work to personality psychology with a focus on the trait perspective (Allport, 1961). Carr and Kingsbury (1938) advocated for further research into personality traits and the idea that the human personality was made specifically of traits even if the traits were not always overt or observable, but rather a person’s behavior could be interpreted to learn about what traits they may
Characteristics are used to describe a person’s personality, quality, and features. These traits set every individual apart. In the short story “Trouble Is My Business” by Raymond Chandler the author reveals many distinctive traits about Marlowe. From him being able to take a lot of physical punishment, to using his fists well, and also handing out insults and wisecracks. With this, you may never know what Phillip is capable of at any given moment.
With this approach, scoring her on the five dimensions of the Trait Perspective could capture Marilyn’s personality. In assessing Marilyn’s traits, it would be easy to grade her on the different dimensions of personality. In applying “The Big Five Model”, Marilyn would score low in conscientiousness and agreeableness and highest in the traits of extroversion, openness, and neuroticism (Friedman & Schustack, 264). Marilyn created an outgoing persona that belied her true personality where she was able to hide her depression and insecurities that in turn enabled her substance abuse. On the surface Marilyn appeared to have it all, but in always looking to find herself Marilyn became erratic and unstable not only in relationships, but also in her work. Her instability contributed to her impulsiveness and lack of dependability allowing Marilyn’s career to quickly suffer and her life to spiral out of control ultimately leading to her
A person’s personality has been the subject of psychological scrutiny for many years. Psychologists have drawn up several theories in an attempt to accurately predict and determine one’s personality. Foremost amongst these, is the “Big Five Trait Theory” which stemmed from Raymond B. Cattell’s theory.
Matthews, G., Deary, I. J., & Whiteman, M. C. (2009). Personality traits. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
The novel also highlights the passionate relationship between Henry and Catherine Barkley, a British nurse in Italy. Henry’s insight into the war and his intense love for Catherine emphasize that love and war are the predominant themes in the novel and these themes contribute to bringing out the implicit and explicit meaning of the novel. Being a part of the Italian army, Henry is closely involved with the war and has developed an aversion to the war. Henry’s association with the war has also made him realise that war is inglorious and the sacrifices made in war are meaningless. Specifically, Henry wants the war to end because he is disillusioned by the war and knows that war is not as glorious as it is made up to be.