Appearance Versus Reality in Katharine Anne Porters He :: Katharine Anne Porter He Essays

Appearance Versus Reality in Katharine Anne Porters He So many memories came to my mind while reading this myth I grew up in a family (or at least one side of that family) who always cared and worried nigh what other people thought closely obviously, the short story, He, by Katharine Anne Porter is just about appearance vs. reality and living with a disabled child. But I also retrieve the story is about life, the hardships of life, poverty, the innocence of children, the trust children put into their parents, the gossip of small towns, the resentment and bitterness of the hardships of life, being a mother, rural life, denial, guilt, and compassion. Most importantly, however, I believe the story is by and large about the resentment of the hardships of life and appearance vs. reality. Edgar Allan Poe once said in his Twice Told Tales that a writer must give her single effect, or thesis, in the stolon sentence of a story or they have made a mistake. So, I always look at the first sentence of a story when I read it to see what themes it provokes. The first sentence in He is Life was very hard for the Whipples (324). Throughout the story, we get a create up of just how hard life was for the Whipples. Through all these hardships, Mrs. Whipple seems to be resentful of every problem the family must overcome. Instead of supporting her husband and her children she complains about everything and seems to worry only about herself. For example, one of the first instances of Mrs. Whipples true feelings of resentment of having a disabled child (and the burden that creates) comes when she butchers the pig. After she slits its throat, He runs away and Mrs. Whipple thinks to herself with a stiff face Hed eat it all if I didnt stop him. Hed eat up every mouthful from the other two if Id let him (327). Here, I believe Mrs. Whipples tone is very resentful that she has a disabled child that cannot think for or take care of himself. Mrs. Whipple must always tak e care of Him first before anyone else since he cannot fend for himself. She gets tired trying to keep Him decent (327). This scene also shows how resentful Mrs.