Horseman

In Horseman by Richard Russo, the overall tone is resonate. The way that Monroe is haunted by her past is much like that of any other human being. The constant footsteps per-say of the song pulls together her fear of the: wild blind man, Bellamy's accusations of her shortcomings, Bellamy's admittance of tapping out a tune that keeps his father alive, and the tapping of the rain. The haunting that reminded Bellamy of his father- is what keeps Bellamy alive in her memory.

The constant what if's of Monroe's ventures show how caught up she is in the past, making me want to shout, "if you're dunna dit in, dit in." The way Russo ended the short story made me wonder (if not aloud) "what gives, where's the ending?" Although, leaving the story on a note where there is complete uncertainty is in itself a parallel of Monroe's life.

If I had to, I don't think I would read this story again. It was somber, morose, and the ending left me feeling gipped just like Of Mice and Men. On the other hand, the story had something to gain- where there is a general relation point because most if not all people have someone or something in their past that haunts them.

My Year of Meats; Its not very funny, or was he?

In a world where economics and humanity as a whole depends on the stereotypes which define them; meat describes more than one aspect of life. Ironically the women in My year of meats are characterized like pieces of meet being torn apart by the eyes of hungry people, the hunger coming from visceral men, needy housewives, and corporate snobs. The hunger affords opportunity for growth but also its parallel; demoralization.

Setting up a show of meats with the "Stepford Wives" to further the American image of perfection is in itself ironic. In needing to "weed out" specific attributes of a majority of thepopulation- the documentary show in which the women star is a paradox in itself. For years, American women strove to live up to the American dream, and in having and wanting to portray the country as anything other than the troubled place it is ( Which Edwin would surely agree makes people human ) contradicts the message the show is sending foreign nations.

In a manner of itself, the extreme of women as meats to sell a corporate message defines a metaphor of history. As far back as economics go, it has been the exploitation of specific groups, objects, food, or any number of things that led to up-selling that item. Exploiting the uprise in the need for technology has allowed for the majority of the human population to have cellphones, access to bank accounts on the fly, and PDA's. The exploitation of the women is in itself raw- but real. How else did the women riveters during WWI help gather moral for men and numbers for troops. The same goes for My Year of Meats , despite the vulgar and visceral nature of the exploitation; it is as real as tomorrow. 

Ozeki could very well be on to something for authors like Upton Sinclair ( auothor of The Jungle ) compare the likeness of the lives of the human race to that of a jungle- fighting for survival. 

Happiness (Alt. Ending)

The smog that rendered the city so vile prior to "What I learned on the Mountain" was published now had a tranquil quality. Oh the people, were nonetheless as busy and automated as before, but the air in which people carried themselves was different.

At this, Edwin stopped. He stopped at the same place he always has, and with the same feeling he has had since the world was saved, "I love this place."

Edwin's life hadn't changed very much. In fact the only thing that really changed was his life with May. Their lives were less than glamorous, and Edwin was no less the jerk of the office. All things considered, Edwin was happy, as happy as he could be coming home to awkward dirty sex with his wife May, and always going to work in a hell-hole of an office. Everything was right.

There was no book, every copy had been returned, or so Edwin thought.

Happiness

Edwin's views of the world are tragically depressing. Ironically, he finds that when the world he hates ends he misses it. I found that Edwin's circumstances were much like an adolescent who feigns knowing everything; only to realize that when they are in trouble- they actually do need their parents. Satirically speaking Will Ferguson did a tremendous job. The ultimate world of never ending happiness was scary enough to bring to light what being human is about.

I recall sitting through a monotonous sixth grade class, bored out of my mind, when my teacher presented a quote by Alexander Pope, "To err is human; to forgive is divine." For the wonderfully "fake" world Edwin lives in, the very existence of humanity depends on the need for the population to want and need. It seems that Ferguson's objective is not only to write an interesting piece of literature (of course) but to also ensure that each person understands the importance of being oneself.

Ultimately, Edwin is a metaphor for life itself. Life is more than just one person, it is the people we touch in each of our lives, the children we have, the parents who care for us, and the person in the coffee shop you pass each morning. Life, as depicted by Happiness, is more than happiness itself.