Miss Dent’s Closure in John Cheever’s “The Five-Forty-Eight”
“A mentally unstable secretary finally catches up to her cruel former boss and makes him listen to what she has to say, at gunpoint” (Armstrong 1).
Closure means the ending to all problems resolved. Equally, Miss Dent in John Cheever’s “Five-Forty-Eight” puts closure to all the humiliation that Mr. Blake causes her; however, Miss Dent regains her self-respect. In the “The Five-Forty-Eight,” Mr. Blake seduces Miss Dent, who is a secretary who works for him and who is a former mental patient. Subsequently, Mr. Blake abandons Miss Dent. While Miss Dent is out for lunch, Mr. Blake calls his company’s personnel department to ask them to fire Miss Dent. The written letter and holding …show more content…
Blake. However, Mr. Blake felt the muzzle against his belly. Since he remembered the unburied dead that he had seen in the war, the memory came in a rush: entrails, eyes, shattered bone, ordure, and other filth. Miss Dent states, “All I’ve ever wanted in life is a little love” (Cheever). She lightened the pressure of the gun. As a result, she follows Mr. Blake to Shady Hill and forces him at gunpoint. When the train passed the bridge the noise grew distant and Mr. Blake heard Miss Dent screaming at him, “Kneel down! Kneed down! Do what I say. Kneel down!” (Cheever). Mr. Blake got on his knees and bent his face in the dirt. Still, Miss Dent says, “Now I can wash my hands of you, I can was my hands of all this, because you see there is some kindness, some saneness in me that I can find again and use. I can wash my hands” (Cheever). Thus, Miss Dent accomplished her task. Likewise, Miss Dent gains self-esteem and self-respect and walks off a more gracious person. Consequently, Mr. Blake thought Miss Dent was going to kill him, but she just startled him, regained her power, and she walked away. When Miss Dent stated she washed her hands with Mr. Blake, she will not have to worry about being in his presence ever again, and she never has to worry about him taking advantage of
“A mentally unstable secretary finally catches up to her cruel former boss and makes him listen to what she has to say, at gunpoint” (Armstrong 1).
Closure means the ending to all problems resolved. Equally, Miss Dent in John Cheever’s “Five-Forty-Eight” puts closure to all the humiliation that Mr. Blake causes her; however, Miss Dent regains her self-respect. In the “The Five-Forty-Eight,” Mr. Blake seduces Miss Dent, who is a secretary who works for him and who is a former mental patient. Subsequently, Mr. Blake abandons Miss Dent. While Miss Dent is out for lunch, Mr. Blake calls his company’s personnel department to ask them to fire Miss Dent. The written letter and holding …show more content…
Blake. However, Mr. Blake felt the muzzle against his belly. Since he remembered the unburied dead that he had seen in the war, the memory came in a rush: entrails, eyes, shattered bone, ordure, and other filth. Miss Dent states, “All I’ve ever wanted in life is a little love” (Cheever). She lightened the pressure of the gun. As a result, she follows Mr. Blake to Shady Hill and forces him at gunpoint. When the train passed the bridge the noise grew distant and Mr. Blake heard Miss Dent screaming at him, “Kneel down! Kneed down! Do what I say. Kneel down!” (Cheever). Mr. Blake got on his knees and bent his face in the dirt. Still, Miss Dent says, “Now I can wash my hands of you, I can was my hands of all this, because you see there is some kindness, some saneness in me that I can find again and use. I can wash my hands” (Cheever). Thus, Miss Dent accomplished her task. Likewise, Miss Dent gains self-esteem and self-respect and walks off a more gracious person. Consequently, Mr. Blake thought Miss Dent was going to kill him, but she just startled him, regained her power, and she walked away. When Miss Dent stated she washed her hands with Mr. Blake, she will not have to worry about being in his presence ever again, and she never has to worry about him taking advantage of