Critics often say that Chekhov’s short stories show “slices of life” rather than complete story arcs. How do the endings of "Star Food," "Everything That Rises Must Converge," and "The Bet" reflect what might be considered incomplete story arcs?
I'll be happy to read over what you write. Make sure you have read all three stories more than once before you try to draft your answer.
To understand how the endings of "Star Food," "Everything That Rises Must Converge," and "The Bet" reflect incomplete story arcs, we first need to read and analyze these short stories. Once we have done that, we can examine the characteristics of their endings.
1. "Star Food" by Ethan Canin:
In "Star Food," the main character, Dun, dreams of escaping his family's working-class life and becoming a star basketball player. However, his dreams are shattered when he realizes he lacks the height and talent necessary to achieve his goal. The story ends with Dun realizing the limitations of his aspirations and settling for a more realistic path. This ending reflects an incomplete story arc because although Dun's dreams are dashed, we do not see his journey towards accepting his new reality and finding contentment.
2. "Everything That Rises Must Converge" by Flannery O'Connor:
In this story, the main character, Julian, accompanies his mother on a bus ride, intending to teach her a lesson about racial equality. However, his plan backfires, and his mother suffers a stroke on the bus. The story ends ambiguously, with Julian experiencing conflicting emotions of guilt, regret, and relief. This incomplete story arc showcases Julian's failure to learn the intended lesson and leaves the reader with unanswered questions about his future actions and personal growth.
3. "The Bet" by Anton Chekhov:
"The Bet" revolves around a bet made between a lawyer and a banker. The lawyer agrees to live in solitary confinement for fifteen years in exchange for a vast sum of money. However, on the night before the term ends, the banker, fearing financial ruin, plans to secretly kill the lawyer. Just moments before he carries out his plan, the banker finds a note from the lawyer renouncing the money and the bet. The story abruptly ends, leaving the reader wondering about the fate of both characters. This incomplete story arc raises questions about the lawyer's motivations for renouncing the bet and the banker's reaction to it.
In all three of these stories, the absence of a definitive resolution or closure characterizes the incomplete story arcs. The reader is left with unanswered questions, uncertain character development, and a lack of closure. This typifies Chekhov's style of presenting "slices of life" rather than neatly tied-up narratives. The endings allow readers to reflect on the characters' unresolved journeys and contemplate the broader themes presented in the stories.