Blackberries comparison
Notes-
I have read both of these stories, about 3 times now.
Initial thoughts on comparison-
Hunnicutts's Blackberries features a married couple.
Norris' focuses on a family comprised of parents and one child.
In Hunnicutts- a married couple is on a camping vacation. The husband seems to be enjoying it, the wife seems to be disinterested and wishing for another scenario.
In Norris'- Money problems and the ruining of a new cap create family tensions and reveal truths.
A summary of Hunnicutt's-
A married couple are camping. The husband has picked blackberries and returned with them the camp. The wife is complaining or reiterating over and over that they are out of milk as the husband eats his blackberries, and she leaves hers. She talks about a play that is happening in town. The husband deflects her pursuit of a trip to town. She seems uncomfortable camping, he seems hell bent on it. She eventually eats a blackberry, then more. The conversation shifts to the time of year, she says it is almost September, he returns that it isn't, and that it is barely noon- and they have plenty of time. They seem to have been married for a long time, but the mention of time at the end of the story seems like a comment about aging, and having plenty of time to do the things they want to do.
A summary of Norris'- A mother takes her son for a haircut, and to purchase a cap. There is not any loving interaction. The child seems to be in loving awe of his father. They make plans to go for a walk in the woods, where they end up picking blackberries, and carrying them home in the son's new cap. This causes an argument between the mother and father, as the new cap is ruined. Money seems to be an issue in the family. The son realizes he is not a part of his parents, exactly. That they are all different, and he would have to learn to be alone.
In both, the blackberries signify the time of year and either the cause of an argument or the resolution of one. In the book, an example paper relates the stories to expected gender roles, I like the idea of the blackberries being a catalyst, or being used to symbolize youth.
I have read both of these stories, about 3 times now.
Initial thoughts on comparison-
Hunnicutts's Blackberries features a married couple.
Norris' focuses on a family comprised of parents and one child.
In Hunnicutts- a married couple is on a camping vacation. The husband seems to be enjoying it, the wife seems to be disinterested and wishing for another scenario.
In Norris'- Money problems and the ruining of a new cap create family tensions and reveal truths.
A summary of Hunnicutt's-
A married couple are camping. The husband has picked blackberries and returned with them the camp. The wife is complaining or reiterating over and over that they are out of milk as the husband eats his blackberries, and she leaves hers. She talks about a play that is happening in town. The husband deflects her pursuit of a trip to town. She seems uncomfortable camping, he seems hell bent on it. She eventually eats a blackberry, then more. The conversation shifts to the time of year, she says it is almost September, he returns that it isn't, and that it is barely noon- and they have plenty of time. They seem to have been married for a long time, but the mention of time at the end of the story seems like a comment about aging, and having plenty of time to do the things they want to do.
A summary of Norris'- A mother takes her son for a haircut, and to purchase a cap. There is not any loving interaction. The child seems to be in loving awe of his father. They make plans to go for a walk in the woods, where they end up picking blackberries, and carrying them home in the son's new cap. This causes an argument between the mother and father, as the new cap is ruined. Money seems to be an issue in the family. The son realizes he is not a part of his parents, exactly. That they are all different, and he would have to learn to be alone.
In both, the blackberries signify the time of year and either the cause of an argument or the resolution of one. In the book, an example paper relates the stories to expected gender roles, I like the idea of the blackberries being a catalyst, or being used to symbolize youth.
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