The Essay’s Border Genre - The Realist Short Story
First Person Narration and the Power of Subjectivity
(about 1.5 pages)
Andre Dubus, “A Father’s Story” (1983)
- Why does Dubus devote so much space to the development of Luke Ripley as a narrator and the description of his daily rituals? Consider this sentence: “I have come to believe that my life can be seen in miniature in that struggle in the dark of morning.” How does Dubus create Luke Ripley’s character through physical and setting description? Choose a few quotes.
- How does Luke Ripley contrast his life at the time of the story with his past life? (I now/I then)
- What role does his daughter Jennifer play in Luke’s life? How does he decide to react when she is involved in an auto accident? Given his character, do you expect his reaction? As a reader, what was your attitude toward his decision?
- Why do you think Dubus chose this title?
Tillie Olson, “I Stand Here Ironing” (1956)
- Why does Olsen choose to tell this story as interior monologue, a response of a mother to a note of concern from her daughter Emily’s teacher?
- How does the metaphor of ironing infuse the story?
- How does the narrator integrate the history of the period into her monologue? Choose a few quotes from the story.
- In what ways is this monologue engaging with societal ideals of the perfect mother? Select a few quotes from the story.
- How does the narrator deal with her own feelings of guilt?
- What is the meaning of the ending?
Attribution of Quote:
“A Father’s Story.” © Andre Dubus. In NarrativeMagazine.com. All rights reserved. This content is excluded from our Creative Commons license. For more information, see https://ocw.mit.edu/help/faq-fair-use/.
