Appearance Versus Reality
In Joyce Carol Oates’ short story, “Three Girls”, the author uses different literary devices to portray the theme that appearance is different than reality. The story focuses on two female NYU poets that witness Marilyn Monroe while she is out of her typical habitat. Oates uses symbolism, setting, and point of view to illustrate the theme that one’s demeanor can contrast the person’s actual personality.
Oates uses a literary device of a mystical setting to contrast Marilyn Monroe’s true personality. In Three Girls, the setting takes place in New York, in a popular bookstore named the Strand. The short story begins with a feeling of enchantment as the girls walk down Broadway and Twelfth on a perfectly snowy night. They walk into the Strand, and the narrator in awe, describes the bookstore as a “warehouse of treasures as through …show more content…
Furthermore, Three Girls, was written in a time where Marilyn Monroe was at the height of her fame, which is why she was used as a main character. She was a flawless woman and also displayed as extremely confident. Next, when the girls see her dressed in average clothing and reading, they are shocked. They expect from her Hollywood appearance that is a powerful woman that loves to stand out, and is not one to hide from others in public. Also, she is seen without a leading man, which is odd coming from such a renowned actress. The narrator describes this character by telling the reader “no man joined Marilyn Monroe in her disguise as one of us” (79). The student is in awe at the idea that such a famous star was just as common as she and her friend were. Seeing Monroe’s character in this state is a true eye opener, that what one looks like on the big screen can be much different than in
In Joyce Carol Oates’ short story, “Three Girls”, the author uses different literary devices to portray the theme that appearance is different than reality. The story focuses on two female NYU poets that witness Marilyn Monroe while she is out of her typical habitat. Oates uses symbolism, setting, and point of view to illustrate the theme that one’s demeanor can contrast the person’s actual personality.
Oates uses a literary device of a mystical setting to contrast Marilyn Monroe’s true personality. In Three Girls, the setting takes place in New York, in a popular bookstore named the Strand. The short story begins with a feeling of enchantment as the girls walk down Broadway and Twelfth on a perfectly snowy night. They walk into the Strand, and the narrator in awe, describes the bookstore as a “warehouse of treasures as through …show more content…
Furthermore, Three Girls, was written in a time where Marilyn Monroe was at the height of her fame, which is why she was used as a main character. She was a flawless woman and also displayed as extremely confident. Next, when the girls see her dressed in average clothing and reading, they are shocked. They expect from her Hollywood appearance that is a powerful woman that loves to stand out, and is not one to hide from others in public. Also, she is seen without a leading man, which is odd coming from such a renowned actress. The narrator describes this character by telling the reader “no man joined Marilyn Monroe in her disguise as one of us” (79). The student is in awe at the idea that such a famous star was just as common as she and her friend were. Seeing Monroe’s character in this state is a true eye opener, that what one looks like on the big screen can be much different than in