Romance in “Vaulting the Sea”

The bittersweet love story from “Vaulting the Sea” shows a friendship and romance between Taoyu and Hai, from Taoyu’s point of view. The Romance Writers of America define the genre of romance as “a central love story and an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending.” Even though this short story is a part of our love story unit, it does not completely match up with the traditional definition of a love story. 

While romance is an important part of  “Vaulting the Sea,” the story also follows Taoyu and Hai’s diving careers and other parts of Taoyu’s life. As for the emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending, that is open to interpretation, but in regards to their romantic storyline, the ending does not follow this trope. The two do not end up together, and the story ends with Taoyu accepting Hai will never feel the same way about him and leaving Hai on the diving board alone. However, there are many sections of the short story which fit into the genre of romance wonderfully well, encapsulating the “love story” aspect of “Vaulting the Sea.”

Taoyu and Hai’s love story begins with them meeting at a very young age. Merriam-Webster defines the term “meet-cute” as “a cute, charming, or amusing first encounter between romantic partners.” The meet-cute is significant because it plays into the genre of romance, and it sets up the love story. The start of the relationship can set the tone, and many stories utilize this to help create an attachment to the love interests and their story. In this case, their meet-cute happens on the bus ride to their training center as kids. The two boys sit next to each other and become fast friends. Hai proclaims himself Taoyu’s big brother, and says “I can still teach you stuff you don’t know, you should stick with me” (270).

Later on, Taoyu’s romantic thoughts about Hai are expressed, and he struggles with his feelings. Taoyu is confused by his desires, and it is expressed “Taoyu knew only what he was feeling was wrong” (273). Their deeply rooted friendship further complicates feelings, and as Hai’s relationship with his girlfriend grows, the jealousy and heartbreak Taoyu internalizes only continues. In addition to hiding his feelings from himself, he wonders, “How long could he hide it from his best friend?” The devastatingly bittersweet ending of “Vaulting the Sea” is set up as an unrequited-love story, and it follows through in that way.

Sources:
https://www.rwa.org/Online/Romance_Genre/About_Romance_Genre.aspx 
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meet-cute 

Wrong End of the Telescope

 “So these two ladies visualized each other, each through the wrong end of her little telescope” (Wharton 301).

The short story “Roman Fever” follows a conversation between two long-time friends, Alida Slade and Grace Ansley. The pair grew up living across each other and share many of their childhood memories. They are both widows now, but each has a daughter: Barbara Ansley, and Jenny Slade. It is written in a third-person omniscient point of view, and the narrator remains neutral while showing the biased perspectives of each woman. The voice throughout the story remains calm even as major twists are revealed, adding to the mystery behind each sentence. Despite the storytelling being seemingly docile, the narrative is full of phrases with tension and passive aggression.

Although remaining unspoken for many years, there is a lot of antagonism between the two, since Mrs. Ansley was in love with Mrs. Slade’s husband many years ago. Mrs. Slade also secretly envies her friend’s child, Barbara, thinking that she is brilliant and wonderful– the ideal daughter. She compares Barbara to her own child constantly and is clearly jealous even though she refuses to admit it. Otherwise, Mrs. Slade looks down on her friend, noting that “Grace Ansley was always old-fashioned,” and sees her as boring and pitiful. Similarly, Mrs. Ansley views Mrs. Slade in a negative light, thinking “Alida Slade's awfully brilliant; but not as brilliant as she thinks.” 

Prior to their talk, both of the women have very different versions in their heads of each other, as well as what happened the one fateful night when Mrs. Ansley went to the colosseum. Mrs. Ansley holds this piece of information over Mrs. Slade: the fact that she slept with Mr. Slade that night and that Barbara is their love child. Mrs. Slade on the other hand, believes she holds all the power, knowing that she forged the invitation from her then fiance and sent it to Mrs. Ansley. However, she believes that Mr. Slade stood Mrs. Ansley up, leaving her in the amphitheater alone in the cold. Beneath it all still lies the fact that the two traitors have supposedly been friends all their lives and behave as such.

The sentence chosen perfectly encapsulates the relationship between Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansley, the calm before the storm. The false calm which has lasted for many, many years: perhaps the entirety of their friendship. The tranquility only remains because of the wrong ends of the telescope through which the women view each other. They are both trapped inside their own minds, clueless. Both women avoid true communication due to their mutual betrayals, but the tension between them could be cut with a knife. As the story ends with their great reveals, the relationship is changed forever. Free from the bliss of ignorance, the women finally see each other clearly for who they are, with no more telescopes to mask the imperfections of their friendship. 

Ronnie and Mother

Q: Why is Ronnie affected so severely by Mother, and why was she possessed at the end?

A: “Mothers, Lock Up Your Daughters Because They Are Terrifying” is a chilling yet relatable short story, telling the story of Ronnie and her two best friends. All of these teenage girls are Korean, adopted into white families. Slowly throughout the narrative, their issues with their family situations are revealed. The girls feel disconnected from their heritage/birth parents and are unsatisfied with their adoptive parents. Although a seemingly typical conflict, these sentiments prove to create serious complications within the girls’ lives. The story follows the girls as they interact with the spirit they have summoned, their “Mother,” who eventually possesses Ronnie completely. 

From the very beginning, Ronnie and her friends feel disconnected from their parents. There are complaints of them being too controlling or not understanding, and there is a feeling of overall detachment. Their only real family members are each other. This sets the groundwork for Mother to enter their lives– they all crave parental connection and validation, so when someone appears with everything they want, they eat it up. Except for Ronnie, who has reservations about their new Mother. Ronnie’s problems are compounded by her secret romance with her adoptive brother. 

Ronnie’s relationship with her brother affects many other aspects of her life. It affects her feeling of belonging in her family. Knowing that incest is wrong, Ronnie makes an effort to convince herself of the rift between her and her brother, noting that they look nothing alike and are not blood-related. However, this in turn leads to her separation from her family to become deeper rooted. She removes herself from her family to preserve her moral integrity, trying to convince herself that her romance is OK. When Mother finds out about her situation, she completely breaks Ronnie down, shaming her, yelling at her, and confirming every feeling of disgust and self-hatred within herself that Ronnie had worked so hard to bury. 

Ronnie loses herself shortly after, completely overtaken by Mother. She becomes the person Mother wants her to be, completely giving in. Although there is much build-up and many reasons as to why Ronnie is so affected by Mother, there are two main reasons: Ronnie hates herself, and Ronnie loves her friends. Her friends have become her true family, and after being hurt so deeply by Mother she strives to protect her friends. She has no problem sacrificing herself in order to do this, because of how much she has come to hate herself. A part of Ronnie believed the same things that Mother said about her. Mother worsens her internal conflict, eventually taking complete control over Ronnie. The ending of this short story is a sad one, one where Ronnie ends the story consumed, a victim.

A Rose from Emily: Emily’s POV

I set out into the town and ignored the curious looks. I had made up my mind. Of course, I had known what the people would say, “She’s going to kill herself,” or “Barron will be the one she marries,” but I did not care, for I was quite beyond that point. I kept my head high and looked straight ahead of myself. I had stopped caring many years ago, being the spectacle of the town. I was truly alone once they had taken my father’s body from me. This time they could not take it away from me, for I had found my perfect companion. He was the same build as my father with a similar complexion as well, he would do. I would get a good night of sleep tonight.

I entered the near-empty drugstore and found the druggist. “I want some poison,” I told him, yet I was met with a blank stare. “I want some poison,” I repeated.

“Yes, Miss Emily. What kind? For rats and such? I’d recom—”

“I want the best you have. I don’t care what kind,” I said, as I had begun to grow impatient. It was at this point I resolved that every person living in this town was incompetent. The man continued to dawdle nervously until I remembered the name. My father had mentioned it before. “Arsenic.”

Upon receiving my poison, I went straight to work. I had already set up his things, I was sure he would appreciate it. I prepared a nice meal, such as a proper woman does. This was going to be my companion’s last meal, it had to be splendid. After cooking for many hours, it was ready. Pot roast with a side of mashed potatoes, topped with arsenic-gravy. I invited my Barron over for dinner and served him the well-prepared meal. He loved the mashed potatoes. He was dead before dessert. I ate my pudding quietly, then got up to prepare for bedtime.

I dragged the man up the stairs as best I could, holding his head so as not to bump it on the steps. Once I got him into the room, I retrieved my father’s old nightclothes. The ones he wore every night. Before they took him away from me. I gently dressed the body in these clothes and lay him to rest on the bed. I tucked him into bed making sure not to disturb my man and got ready for bed.

“The arsenic man was insufferable,” I told him as I changed into my nightclothes, “It seems this entire town wishes to see me alone.” I had a companion once again, no longer the old maid of the town. I had done for myself what no one else ever would. I washed my face, sighing in contentment. I shut the lights and climbed into bed with my lover. 

“I love you,” I said, burying my face in his chest. We embraced, and I fell asleep with him stroking my hair.