Michael+Barrow+&+Christian+Storm

From Juliet to Sidney 28th January 1946

Dear Sidney, Yes, dinner with pleasure, I'll wear my new dress and eat like a pig.

I am so glad I didn't embarrass S&S about Gilly and the teapot ~ I was worried. Susan suggested I make a 'dignified statement' to the press too, about Rob Dartry and why we didn't marry, I couldn't possibly do that, 1 honestly don't think I'd mind looking a fool, if it didn't make Rob look a worse one. But it would ~ and of course, he wasn't a fool at all. But he'd sound like it. I'd much prefer to say nothing and look like a feckless, flighty, cold-hearted bitch.

But I'd like you to know why - I'd have told you before, but you were in the Navy in 1942, and you never met Rob. Even Sophie never met him - she was up at Bedford that autumn and 1 swore her to secrecy afterwards. The longer I put off saying anything, the less important it became for you to know, especially in the light of how it made me look - witless and foolish for getting engaged in the first place.

I thought I was in love (that's the pathetic part - my idea of being in love). In preparation for sharing my home with a husband, \ made room for him so he wouldn't feel like a visiting aunt. 1 cleared out half my drawers, half my cupboard, half my bathroom cabinet, half my desk. I gave away my padded hangers and brought in those heavy wooden ones. I took my teddy bear off the bed and put her in the attic. Now my flat was meant for two, instead of one.

On the afternoon before our wedding, Rob was moving in the last of his clothes and belongings while I delivered my Izzy article to the Spectator, Then I tore home, flew up the stairs and threw open the door to find Rob sitting on the low stool in front, of my bookcase, surrounded by cardboard boxes, He was sealing the last one up with tape and string. There were eight boxes - eight boxes of my books bound up and ready for the basement!

He looked up and said 'Hello, darling. Don't mind the mess, the caretaker said he'd help me carry these down to the basement" He nodded towards my bookshelves and said, 'Don't they look wonderful?'

Well, there were no words! I was too appalled to speak, Sidney, every single shelf- where my books had stood - was filled with athletic trophies: silver cups, gold cups, blue rosettes, red ribbons. There were awards for every game that could possibly be played with a wooden object: cricket bats, squash racquets, tennis racquets, oars, golf clubs, ping-pong bats. bows and arrows, snooker cues, lacrosse sticks, hockey sticks and polo mallets. There were Statues for everything a man could jump over, either by himself or on a horse. Next came the framed certificates - for shooting the most birds on such and such a date, for First Place in running races, for Last Man Standing in some filthy tug of war against Scotland.

All I could do was scream, 'How dare you! What have you DONE?! Put my books back!'

Well, that's how it started. Eventually, I said something to the effect that I could never marry a man whose idea of bliss was to strike out at little balls and little birds, Rob countered with remarks about damned bluestockings and shrews. And it all degenerated from there – the only thought we probably had in common was. What the hell have we talked about for the last four months? What, indeed? He huffed and puffed and snorted - and left. And 1 unpacked my books,

Remember the night last year when you met my train to tell me my home had been bombed flat? You thought I was laughing in hysteria? I wasn't - it was in irony - if I'd let Rob store all my books in the basement, I'd still have them, every one.

1. How is the personality of Juliet conveyed? 2. How does the story told in the letter reveal the character of Rob? 3. Comment on the use of the listing of details in this passage. 4. In what ways does the fact that this passage is a letter affect its style? 5. Note anything else in the passage that you find distinctive.

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Christian's answers:

1. How is the personality of Juliet conveyed?

Juliet seems to be a kind, caring, and intelligent person. The largest indicator concerning her caring nature is her decision to "look like a feckless, flighty, cold-hearted bitch" rather than embarrass Rob. I felt this was somewhat unexpected and thought that since she obviously cares about her ex-fiancé enough to protect him in a sense, she's bound to be a generally kind person. I really wouldn't have expected almost newlyweds to care for each other after their wedding was cancelled. Her books obviously represent her intelligence and education, and the fact that she likes her books also suggests that she's a curious person. I'm not sure about this, but I feel that she might be some form of celebrity, because her friend suggests that she should make a "'dignified statement' to the press" about breaking up with Rob. Now, I don't thinkthat any ordinary person would ever go to the press to report that their wedding was cancelled, which is why I figured she might relatively well-known or famous.

2. How does the story told in the letter reveal the character of Rob?

From what we learn about Rob, he seems to be a generally nice guy, but really arrogant and self-absorbed. He's obviously very successful in athletics, and I suppose that his success and skills have gone to his head. Since he's prepared to throw out Juliet's books I feel like he's pretty inconsiderate, in contrast to Juliet who clears out half her stuff in preparation for Rob to move in. I'd like to say he's somewhat naive too, or maybe he's just ignorant. Anyhow, I think that he's ultimately a good-natured man who's gotten carried away by his own accomplishments to the point where he's just arrogant and narcissistic.

3. Comment on the use of the listing of details in this passage.

I didn't really know what to write for this one, but I think that details serve to make the story more vivid, and turns it into an imaginable scenario. I've no idea in which context this passage is, but if it's at the beginning of the short story/novel or whatever it is, the details could serve as an introduction of the characters and sum up the situation at the start of the story. Otherwise I guess it's just to enable the reader to relate to the characters more by giving them human attributes and flaws.

4. In what ways does the fact that this passage is a letter affect its style?

The reader feels directly addressed since the passage's point of view is that of the letter's recipient. It makes the message more personal, further enhancing the reader's ability to relate to the characters. Also, since it's a communication between friends, the language is fairly colloquial. The first line hints at previous contact between the two, and it really feels like this letter is more of response than a letter sent to (re)initiate contact.

5. Note anything else in the passage that you find distinctive.

The letter's date gives information concerning the context of the event, namely shortly after the end of WWII. The characters, Juliet at least, lives in England, which at this point was very much in ruins, financially and practically. Apparently the relationship between Juliet and Rob began immediately after the war ended. I don't know if Rob is a soldier. I feel like he could be since most young men were involved in the war, but we get no reference to that in the text. Also, I really don't understand the last paragraph.

[|Michael's Answers]