SUMMARY:
Linda Pastan’s poem, “Marks,” highlights the idea that when we care what others think, we are the ones who are left stressed and feeling worthless. Pastan describes the grades each member of the family gives her, based on her tasks of being a mother and a wife. She states that he could do better if she really wants to impress her family. However, at the end, she explains that she is quitting. It’s understandable to stop caring what others think when you are constantly put down by them and are under-appreciated. Although she tries to win her family’s approval, her work never pays off. With her family constantly being unsatisfied with her, Pastan decides to let go of her responsibilities. Thus, Pastan teaches her us to appreciate others …show more content…
She describes that her husband gives her “an A for last night’s supper” (Pastan 883). The grade symbolizes how well her husband believe she has executed daily task. Moreover, the use of grades to evaluate her on how is as a mother and wife allows for her audience to understand how great of emotional stress she is under. She explains, “My son say I am average, an average mother” (Pastan 883). Like describing a student to be average, Pastan explains that her son describes her to be an average mother. Although Pastan works hard, she is seen as an “average mother” (Pastan 883). She goes onto write, “My daughter believes in Pass/Fail and tells me I pass” (Pastan 883). With the different methods of grading, Pastan shows how different members of the family evaluate her as a wife or mother. Like a student, Pastan works hard to get a ‘good grade’, or each family member’s approval. A student that believes he or she cannot show his or her true potential, might consider dropping out of school. Likewise, unable to show her true potential to her family, Pastan has decided that she is “dropping out” (Pastan 883). In other words, she is quitting her responsibilities. The “marks” that her family has given her have become useless to her (Pastan 883). She no longer cares what they think of her and will carry out her life the way she believes she
Linda Pastan’s poem, “Marks,” highlights the idea that when we care what others think, we are the ones who are left stressed and feeling worthless. Pastan describes the grades each member of the family gives her, based on her tasks of being a mother and a wife. She states that he could do better if she really wants to impress her family. However, at the end, she explains that she is quitting. It’s understandable to stop caring what others think when you are constantly put down by them and are under-appreciated. Although she tries to win her family’s approval, her work never pays off. With her family constantly being unsatisfied with her, Pastan decides to let go of her responsibilities. Thus, Pastan teaches her us to appreciate others …show more content…
She describes that her husband gives her “an A for last night’s supper” (Pastan 883). The grade symbolizes how well her husband believe she has executed daily task. Moreover, the use of grades to evaluate her on how is as a mother and wife allows for her audience to understand how great of emotional stress she is under. She explains, “My son say I am average, an average mother” (Pastan 883). Like describing a student to be average, Pastan explains that her son describes her to be an average mother. Although Pastan works hard, she is seen as an “average mother” (Pastan 883). She goes onto write, “My daughter believes in Pass/Fail and tells me I pass” (Pastan 883). With the different methods of grading, Pastan shows how different members of the family evaluate her as a wife or mother. Like a student, Pastan works hard to get a ‘good grade’, or each family member’s approval. A student that believes he or she cannot show his or her true potential, might consider dropping out of school. Likewise, unable to show her true potential to her family, Pastan has decided that she is “dropping out” (Pastan 883). In other words, she is quitting her responsibilities. The “marks” that her family has given her have become useless to her (Pastan 883). She no longer cares what they think of her and will carry out her life the way she believes she