Assignment #2
1. Character: Mary In the short story “The Shinning Houses” by Alice Munro, the main character Mary shows her feelings about life and their place in this world through the quote, ““Mary found herself exploring her neighbour’s life . . . she did not talk to many old people anymore.”” (Pg.1). This quote is in the beginning of the story, it illustrates the idea that in the community where Mary lives is quite not fit the life style of Mrs. Fullerton. Most of younger generation does not explore the lifestyle of Mrs. Fullerton fully with serious consideration. The people in the community also misunderstand this “not charming lady” who refuses to paint her house. Thus, she is lowering the property level of this community, which brings displeasure from other people. Mary believes Mrs. Fullerton has been here longer than most people in the community; it is not fair to force her leave there without serious consideration in the later of the story. The misunderstanding and insufficient communication will torn down the connection between each other gradually along the time.
2. Symbol “But houses like Mrs. Fullerton’s had been separated from each other by uncut forest and a jungle of wild blackberry and salmon-berry bushes; these surviving houses, with thick smoke coming out of their chimneys, walls unpainted and patched and showing different degrees of age and darkening, rough sheds and stacked woos and compost heaps and grey board fences around them — these appeared every so often among the large new houses of Mimosa and Marigold and Heather Drive -- dark, enclosed, expressing something like savagery in their disorder and the steep, unmatched angles of roofs and lean-tos; not possible on these streets, but there (Pg. 5). This significant symbolism reveals the contrast between the shinning house and Mrs. Fullerton’s old house. Most people have moved to the new subdivision and she is the only few who choose to live in the old house. It highlights the conflict between the old generation and the new one, the new and old, the luxury and simplicity.
3. Quote that sums up the story The quote I choose which sums up the story is “ Outside it was quite dark, the white houses were growing dim, the clouds breaking and breaking, and smoke blowing from Mrs. Fullerton’s chimney. The pattern of Garden Place, so assertive in the daytime, seemed to shrink at night into the raw black mountainside” (Pg. 9). The reason I choose it because it provide me a clear understanding in the end, the author Alice Munro leaves the space for readers to explore within their own imagination. Also the description of the white houses and Garden Places are represents Mrs. Fullerton and other people who live in the community. It reveals the theme in an unclear way but it gives a clear understanding for the story. The younger generation in the community are well adapt to deal with the constant change around them and Mrs. Fullerton is adapting her life in a different way, she is coping well with the two husbands and rises her own children in the house. The “clouds” are not just clouds in the sky; it is the negative thoughts exist in people’s mind. Mary is understood on both side of the community, her thought seems to break the cycling of the “clouds.”
4. Journal Response I enjoyed reading this story; it is probably one of my favourite this year. My favourite character in the story is Mary and Mrs. Fullerton. There are a lot