short essay1
6/15/06
Jenna Hensley
English 1302 TTh 6
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Analysis
“The Girls In Their Summer Dresses By: Irwin Shaw”
The versatile writer, Irwin Shaw has penned many plays, novels, and screenplays. Born in Brooklyn to Russian immigrants, he made his debut as a playwright and screenwriter in 1936 and continued writing scripts alone or in collaboration until the early '60s. In Irwin Shaw’s “The Girls in Their Summer Dresses,” a married couple attempts to have a pleasant Sunday afternoon until the conversation keeps turning to the husband's habit of looking at other women. Frances, the wife of Michael, complains: “You always look at other women. At every damn woman in the city of New York." It turns out that it isn't only summer dresses that attract the husband's wandering eye, but it's not hard not sympathize, at first, with his interest in New York's tableaux of warm-weather display.
Michael and Frances Loomis seem to be the typical modern-day married couple that has no future, and should never have gotten together in the first place. They constantly bicker over his, to her, annoying habit of ogling every pretty girl he sees. Michael’s character may be somewhat questioned by the reader for being unfaithful for fantasizing about women other than his wife. But, as the bickering continues and the tale proceeds, the glumly couple heads towards a bar, where they eventually reach a relaxation of tensions or hostility between themselves. Yet, the ending is not the expected, that a lesser writer would give you. There is no sudden making up between them, nor is their unsettled bitterness. Seeing as Michael, as expressed in the story, has never cheated on her, it is safe to assume one day he will, as he states: “Yes, I know…” in response to Frances telling him one day she also knows he will make a move.
Shaw’s attempt to capture harsh realities is shown in the end when resolution is made by Frances asking him to simply stop talking about other women. Although, as a reader we know that his thoughts will still continue and Frances is doomed for betrayal. The portrait of the story, timeless in its essence, displays all things beautiful, all things desired, and all passions shown through the eyes of one man. His faithful wife knows since the beginning it was love, yet recognizes the fallacies of his manly ways. We are left to assume they will either happily carry about, or dramatically break apart due to Michael’s desire to be with other women. Overall, I very much enjoyed reading about something that like millions of other women, is very bothersome- wandering eyes (and cheating guys!)
Jenna Hensley
English 1302 TTh 6
Click
Analysis
“The Girls In Their Summer Dresses By: Irwin Shaw”
The versatile writer, Irwin Shaw has penned many plays, novels, and screenplays. Born in Brooklyn to Russian immigrants, he made his debut as a playwright and screenwriter in 1936 and continued writing scripts alone or in collaboration until the early '60s. In Irwin Shaw’s “The Girls in Their Summer Dresses,” a married couple attempts to have a pleasant Sunday afternoon until the conversation keeps turning to the husband's habit of looking at other women. Frances, the wife of Michael, complains: “You always look at other women. At every damn woman in the city of New York." It turns out that it isn't only summer dresses that attract the husband's wandering eye, but it's not hard not sympathize, at first, with his interest in New York's tableaux of warm-weather display.
Michael and Frances Loomis seem to be the typical modern-day married couple that has no future, and should never have gotten together in the first place. They constantly bicker over his, to her, annoying habit of ogling every pretty girl he sees. Michael’s character may be somewhat questioned by the reader for being unfaithful for fantasizing about women other than his wife. But, as the bickering continues and the tale proceeds, the glumly couple heads towards a bar, where they eventually reach a relaxation of tensions or hostility between themselves. Yet, the ending is not the expected, that a lesser writer would give you. There is no sudden making up between them, nor is their unsettled bitterness. Seeing as Michael, as expressed in the story, has never cheated on her, it is safe to assume one day he will, as he states: “Yes, I know…” in response to Frances telling him one day she also knows he will make a move.
Shaw’s attempt to capture harsh realities is shown in the end when resolution is made by Frances asking him to simply stop talking about other women. Although, as a reader we know that his thoughts will still continue and Frances is doomed for betrayal. The portrait of the story, timeless in its essence, displays all things beautiful, all things desired, and all passions shown through the eyes of one man. His faithful wife knows since the beginning it was love, yet recognizes the fallacies of his manly ways. We are left to assume they will either happily carry about, or dramatically break apart due to Michael’s desire to be with other women. Overall, I very much enjoyed reading about something that like millions of other women, is very bothersome- wandering eyes (and cheating guys!)