"Eskimo"

Paper Summary:

By reviewing this short story, the writer establishes what the theme of the story is, and how the author gets that theme across using specific literary elements' setting, symbol, and contrast. "Eskimo" is the story of a terribly unhappy woman, unwilling to face her unhappiness until she is forced to by her circumstances.

From the Paper:

"Munro uses realistic detail to explain the setting of this story from almost the first line. She mentions, "swilling free champagne" and "first class," to show the two characters, Dr. Streeter and Mary Jo, are on an airplane (Munro 189). From the first, the reader understands someone is on a trip, and quite rapidly, the reader discovers it is Mary Jo, alone on her way to Tahiti. Immediately, the author has introduced the two main characters, the setting, and a question. Who is Mary Jo, and why is she traveling to Tahiti alone? The question is answered shortly. Mary Jo and her employer, Dr. Streeter, are having an affair, and have been for a very long time. The setting here is extremely important, because first, Mary Jo is a captive on the plane, and so a captive of herself. What she discovers on the long journey is not good, and only this setting would have allowed her to discover her unhappiness."

More papers on "Eskimo":

• Term Paper # 112138 : "The Alaskan Eskimo Culture"
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• Descriptive Essay # 147966 : "Eskimo Society"

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