Essay on Characterization in “The Boarding House” - 891 Words

In Joyce Jones’s short story, â€Å"The Boarding House,† characterization is a key factor. Mrs. Mooney, a divorced wife, was considered to be a woman who was very determined by the author. As the protagonist of this short story, Mrs. Mooney firmly takes control of her own life, as well as her daughter Polly’s. She successfully planned to secure her daughter in a comfortable marriage in which shows her character is a bit ambiguous. It seems as though she demands equality between men and women but also manipulates relationships to rid herself of her daughter. The short story reveals Mrs. Mooney’s character is justified throughout her actions in the plot. After a bad marriage with a drunk, Mrs. Mooney opens a boarding house to make a living. In†¦show more content†¦Joyce Jones depicts a very convincing character in, â€Å"The Boarding House.† It seems to be quite simple for the readers to make quick judgments of, Mrs. Mooney. Virginia Woolf st ated in her essay â€Å"Mr. Bennett and Mrs. Brown†: â€Å"My first assertion is one that I think you will grant, that everyone in this room is a judge of character. Indeed it would be impossible to live for a year without disaster unless one practiced character-reading and had some skill in the art. Our marriages, our friendships depend on it; our business largely depends on it; every day questions arise which can only be solved by its help. And now I will hazard a second assertion, which is more disputable perhaps, to the effect that in or about December, 1910, human character changed.† (2) The text suggests that the author made Mrs. Mooney such am ambiguous character because everyone is always judged on their own character. Including such protagonists cause depth within the story and allows the reader to make their own judgments of Mrs. Mooney. According to the authors, Louis Parascandola and Maria McGarrity , Joyce presents a woman who challenges the rigid class and gender bounds imposed on them by their societies in the story. While Mrs. Moody yearns to become an upstanding member of the middle class, her actions which includes prostituting her very own daughter, goes against the rulesShow MoreRelatedKnowledge Is Power In William. Scott Westerfelds The Uglies1190 Words   |  5 Pagesis power.† Throughout the novel â€Å"The Uglies† by Scott Westerfeld, the reader learns the value of knowledge in the well-being of people when they are making interactions with the environment. The development of thematic events through the usage characterization helps show the more one knows, the better off they are. Scott Westerfeld and the authors of the two used ancillary texts incorporate personification to allow the reader to realize the importance of knowing your surroundings. 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