Week 14 Analysis: Lispector
Close Reading on Clarice Lispector's, "The Daydreams of a Drunk Woman" (808-814)
The thing that intrigues me about this reading is the use of simile's and imagery. Lispector creates these vivid images in your head when speaking because she describes the situation so clear. For example, when the husband and the kids leave the woman home alone, she says, ""Oh what a succulent room! Here she was, fanning herself in Brazil. The sun, trapped in the blinds, shimmered on the wall like the strings of a guitar" (810). I like this quote because at least for me, I can perfectly image this scenery in my head and it give me a snip of what this story is like in reality. This story, "The Daydreams of a Drunk Woman," reveals deeper possibilities in this woman. She is unhappy and full of rage. The reasons for her misery all reflect on the choices that she has made while seeking security and protection and the social conditions that foster such poor circumstances. The woman's identity appears fragmented and her self-image is either broken or swollen and unreachable. As she congratulates herself repeatedly on being "protected like everyone who had attained a position in life," she viciously criticizes a more stylish woman she sees in the restaurant. This woman is so unhappy with her life that it becomes clearer that she has arrived at her position and escaped poverty by exploiting her body to marry a man she neither loves nor respects,"Certain things were good because they were almost nauseating. . . the noise like that of an elevator in her blood, while her husband lay snoring at her side. . . her chubby little children sleeping in the other room, the little villains... What is wrong with me? It was unhappiness" (814). She couldn't stand her husband and she couldn't stand her kids. As Lispector said, "her sensibility irritated her without causing her pain, like a broken fingernail" (812).
The thing that intrigues me about this reading is the use of simile's and imagery. Lispector creates these vivid images in your head when speaking because she describes the situation so clear. For example, when the husband and the kids leave the woman home alone, she says, ""Oh what a succulent room! Here she was, fanning herself in Brazil. The sun, trapped in the blinds, shimmered on the wall like the strings of a guitar" (810). I like this quote because at least for me, I can perfectly image this scenery in my head and it give me a snip of what this story is like in reality. This story, "The Daydreams of a Drunk Woman," reveals deeper possibilities in this woman. She is unhappy and full of rage. The reasons for her misery all reflect on the choices that she has made while seeking security and protection and the social conditions that foster such poor circumstances. The woman's identity appears fragmented and her self-image is either broken or swollen and unreachable. As she congratulates herself repeatedly on being "protected like everyone who had attained a position in life," she viciously criticizes a more stylish woman she sees in the restaurant. This woman is so unhappy with her life that it becomes clearer that she has arrived at her position and escaped poverty by exploiting her body to marry a man she neither loves nor respects,"Certain things were good because they were almost nauseating. . . the noise like that of an elevator in her blood, while her husband lay snoring at her side. . . her chubby little children sleeping in the other room, the little villains... What is wrong with me? It was unhappiness" (814). She couldn't stand her husband and she couldn't stand her kids. As Lispector said, "her sensibility irritated her without causing her pain, like a broken fingernail" (812).
Hey Alissa, I was intrigued by your post as you talked about how the woman's self image was ruined because of her social conditions. When you said that her personality was unreachable, you were spot on because she was seeing herself as a victim of her conditions and was using alcohol as a way to deal with her misery. People who practice this kind of lifestyle make it really hard for them to enjoy life and be relatable to other people.
ReplyDeleteHi Alissa,
ReplyDeleteI agree that Lispector’s use of imagery in “The Daydreams of a Drunk Woman” is intriguing. I think you chose a really nice quote to demonstrate the way Lispector describes scenes that play out in the story. It’s cool that the details the author uses in her writing stand out to you and help to give you an image of the events happening in the story.
Hi Alissa! Your analysis was extremely well thought out and really well put together. Each quote you used fit into what you were saying well and each quote used made it easier for me to remember what you were referring to. I completely agree that Lispector uses Imagery extremely well in creating clear pictures and descriptions of the situation. The way Lispector uses imagery, really helps the readers create a connection. Overall, great job on your analysis!
ReplyDeleteHi Alissa,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that Clarice Lispector character the woman is so unhappy with her life and thats why she makes all the choose she does. I like all of the literary device you choose because you gave a strong example of it and explained why the writer used this specific literary device.
Hey Alissa, I agree that the imagery in Lispector's work is very powerful and gives you a good idea of what she's imagining. It also helps you feel the disgust and deeply rooted unhappiness she feels. The words she uses evoke revulsion and hatred so well, you almost feel her emotions in yourself as you read the story. Then you realize that she has so little power over her life, all she really can do is be bitter about it. It's tragic and horrible at the same time. Great analysis, I look forward to reading more of your writing!
ReplyDelete