final conclusions

As we finish up w/ The Delicate Prey, I'd like us to make some final conclusions about what these stories are like:

• How would you characterize a Paul Bowles story? What are they like? Reference a specific story or scene (w/ p. #) to illustrate your point(s).
• Name your favorite 1-3 stories from the collection. Why these stories? What made them most compelling for you?
• Is this the first single-author story collection you've read? If not, what are some others that you've enjoyed? Any that you would recommend for ENGL 220 (and why)?

Paul Bowles works to set a tone to make his point but in a very indirect way. At times you find yourself asking why? Why did they do that? Why did they say that? Than after you have at ahhhh moment where some scene makes sense and the story comes together and his point made.  

The story I enjoyed the most from Bowles collection was " You are not I". It really made you think. The way he it was written from the characters point of view reminded me of the movie 6th sense. I'm not sure if you've ever had the chance to watch it. In the movie there is a character who plays the part of a psychologist to a young child. He is trying to make sense of what he is seeing. At the end we realize that the story was being told through the eyes of the psychologist instead who he believed to be his patient. " you are not I" was like that for me. The story we read was from the point of view of the sister who managed to escape from the hospital. All the details given and the picture painted was from her view point. 

The other story that I enjoyed was the scorpion. I believe that the purpose behind it was to make a point, at least that's what I gathered from it. The point being that this old woman once raised her children in this cave. Then one day they grew up and decided to leave. They left and went their separate ways. No one looked back to check on her, they didn't consider her safety or her well being. which is what happens most of the time. Parents dedicate they're lives to their children only to be left alone after they've gone from home. Her sons return is after many years of being on her own. She is angry and does not want to go but doesn't want to die alone in the cave. The presence of the man on the rock reminds me of the strangers who tend to look after elders who have no one else to do so. Although they may not interact with them directly they are always keeping a watchful eye. 

This is the first single-author collection that I've read. It's interesting to see the style of the author in terms of their writing. how they choose to express themselves and the picture(s) they prefer to paint.