Death In Joyce Carol Oates 'You Must Remember This'

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Joyce Carol Oates creates a heroine, in You Must Remember This, plagued by a seemingly hereditary death wish. Young Enid Stevick attempts to take her life and has left her family speechless. Though her grandfather succeeded in taking his own life and her father fantasized about it, no one seems to be able to discuss the very taboo subject of death, especially when invited by an innocent young girl. Enid’s attraction to death is also paralleled by Enid’s attraction to her half-uncle, Felix, both of which evade Lyle. When Enid is in the intensive care unit, her parents attempt to lie on her behalf and convince themselves of her sanity as much as they attempt to convince Dr. McIntyre. Throughout Enid’s hospital stay, Lyle displays insecurities, …show more content…

He finds himself intimidated by the doctors, particularly the young Dr. McIntyre. One can infer that this younger doctor had achieved a level of success that evades Lyle’s grasp, causing feelings of insecurity and envy. Lyle tries to bring the doctor down to a level at which he can contend and sees this doctor as a salesmen like himself. Lyle sees Dr. McIntyre as detached and scheming, “withholding the proper degree of warmth, solicitude”, and that he is a poker player maintaining a bluff. In Lyle’s head, this young doctor is attempting to ‘sell’ a mental illness diagnosis that caused Enid’s suicide. Lyle even sounds skeptical about his daughter’s medical prognoses though it all seemed observable in her poor condition and ragged appearance. As the more experienced salesman, Lyle, knows that he “wasn’t born yesterday”, so he will not be moved to change the story of Enid’s “accident”. He feels as if these doctors are interrogating him in a way that disrespects his position and story. He is further stripped of agency and authority as he is repeatedly questioned. Oates’s techniques in writing the “interrogation” omit many interrogative punctuation which leads us to assume the questions are lifelessly stated or that the dialogue is quick and judgemental. His discomfort in the questioning at the police station supports the notion that he lacks the conviction and confidence in what he repeats over and over: “she was not”. Lyle appears to be the only one who swallows Enid’s lie, even Hannah and Lizzie search for a suicide letter. His eagerness to believe Enid’s lie to regain control of his family. Lyle “knows” that he “must choose his words with care”, “knew to keep his voice controlled” and so one. He does not wish to question his control and face his failures as a father and husband. Lyle tries to convince himself by reasoning Enid “wouldn’t have had the presence of mind to

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