The Shining Houses On a Rainy River

This isn’t my best essay because I worked extremely hard prepping then found that today I had to work from 5 to 12:30 tonight, so I didn’t have enough time to actually do the essay. Apologies because it’s not a great piece.

The conflicts between “The Shining Houses” and “On the Rainy River” are incredibly similar. Both short stories include conflicts between the protagonist and themselves, and strong societal conflicts. Although the characters respond differently, the stories give a parallel deeper meaning; the changes in society and the forced pressures placed on individuals by the general public can be overwhelming and difficult to fight.

In “The Shining Houses” by Alice Munro, societal conflicting pressure Mary into embarrassment, and try to pressure Mrs. Fullerton into changing her life. The neighbourhood which is used to represent society creates a petition to oust Mrs. Fullerton from her own home simply for the reason that it doesn’t fit in. The difference between Mrs. Fullerton’s house and the other homes is stupendous, “bringing down the resale value of every house on this street”. The rude comments from people and negative attitudes becomes a social pressure for Mary to vote against Mrs. Fullerton, although she stands up against the bullying with her opinion; “we haven’t got a right”. These issues quickly lead to personal conflicts through Mary, who is told to vote against Mrs. Fullerton. “Her face flushed up, at once, her voice was trembling.” She battled herself to bring out her opinion, although it brought herself embarrassment. Mrs. Fullerton also goes through a personal struggle when her husband walked out on her and never came back. The house almost symbolizes her life in a way; not only does she not want to leave it, but she believes her husband will return to her if she stays.

During “On the Rainy River”, the protagonist (Tim) is given a draft notice. Tim finds himself in a conflict with society, being forced to war. He is unwilling and unhappy about the war. He also battles society when unable to ditch and ignore the war, as the police would come after him. His battle with society also leads to a personal struggle in himself. Tim finds he will not be able to be the person he wants since he cannot go to college as he wanted to. The shame he would bring his family if he ran away from the war would be devastating, although he was terrified of war. Tim didn’t want to become a “patriotic ridicule”. He tore himself up inside, calling himself names embarrassing himself, telling himself that he “couldn’t make himself be brave” and leave the war by runing to Canada. After finally giving in and going to the war he felt ashamed for breaking down and cowering.

These two stories compliment each other; both authors feel the same way toward society and pressures which causes self deterioration. Alice Munro finds a more subtle societal pressure in “The Shining Houses” when writing of an older woman being petitioned against. This is less subtle than the draft notice Tim receives in his autobiographical piece “On the Rainy River”. Both stories have a feeling to them that societal pressures will overcome, although this may not be the authors intention. Would you sign the petition? Would you run to Canada?