Literary Critique - an Ounce of Cure by Alice Munro
Reader Response Paper – Point of View, An Ounce of Cure by Alice Munro
The short story An Ounce of Cure is narrated in the first person. The author uses foreshadowing in the first two paragraphs. The narrator, who is also the unnamed main character, paints a picture of herself as stable adult woman briefly describing her families’ view of alcohol consumption and how it was generally frowned upon. I would call the descriptions of her mother in these paragraphs as astute, proper, and strict. The mother has high hopes for her child as an adult but would not be shocked if these hopes were not met based on the wild personality of her daughter. Once past the introduction the narrator is clearly a naïve narrator. She is a teenaged girl who has fallen hopelessly in love with a classmate. The facts that the character is female, teenaged, and in love gives a clear view of her ignorance. Teenaged girls tend to lose their intelligence with the first taste of love.
The narrator definitely participates in the action. She pretty much is the action. Her story begins with her undying love for Martin Collingwood, a high school senior, who ultimately leaves her scorned and heartbroken. I refer to her as a naïve narrator because she lacks responsibility in her actions at the Berryman home. Her point of view does, however, change during the course of the story. She goes from a hopelessly lost teen trying to drown her sorrows (naïve) to an adult who can look back on her foolish actions on behalf of Martin Collingwood (more reliable and objective).
If this story were told from a different point of view it would definitely change my response. For instance, if the story were told from the mothers’ point of view I would see the narrator as much more reliable and trust-worthy. Even if it were told from the Berryman’s point of view it would change the whole dynamic of what the author was attempting to convey. The entire plot of the would change. It would carry a new meaning.
The short story An Ounce of Cure is narrated in the first person. The author uses foreshadowing in the first two paragraphs. The narrator, who is also the unnamed main character, paints a picture of herself as stable adult woman briefly describing her families’ view of alcohol consumption and how it was generally frowned upon. I would call the descriptions of her mother in these paragraphs as astute, proper, and strict. The mother has high hopes for her child as an adult but would not be shocked if these hopes were not met based on the wild personality of her daughter. Once past the introduction the narrator is clearly a naïve narrator. She is a teenaged girl who has fallen hopelessly in love with a classmate. The facts that the character is female, teenaged, and in love gives a clear view of her ignorance. Teenaged girls tend to lose their intelligence with the first taste of love.
The narrator definitely participates in the action. She pretty much is the action. Her story begins with her undying love for Martin Collingwood, a high school senior, who ultimately leaves her scorned and heartbroken. I refer to her as a naïve narrator because she lacks responsibility in her actions at the Berryman home. Her point of view does, however, change during the course of the story. She goes from a hopelessly lost teen trying to drown her sorrows (naïve) to an adult who can look back on her foolish actions on behalf of Martin Collingwood (more reliable and objective).
If this story were told from a different point of view it would definitely change my response. For instance, if the story were told from the mothers’ point of view I would see the narrator as much more reliable and trust-worthy. Even if it were told from the Berryman’s point of view it would change the whole dynamic of what the author was attempting to convey. The entire plot of the would change. It would carry a new meaning.
Cited: Munro, Alice. “An Ounce of Cure.” Literature to Go. Ed. Michael Meyer. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2011. 168-177. Print.