The Dancing Girl By Aimee Bender Analysis

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Short story novelist Aimee Bender, creates a twisting series of events through metaphoric language, narrated by a young girl explaining her dysfunctional family and her relationship with her sick father. The short story constantly keeps you on your toes guessing and questioning every move that’s made. The end of the story explains one of the most powerful messages about her desire when Bender describes the dancing girl whose skirt caught on fire. The close reading argues in depth how all the sections of the story tie together to create a meaningful and strong piece of writing. Each event contributes to the fact that the female narrator is constantly being weighed down by her father’s burdens whilst trying to find her own desire in life. Through …show more content…
The girl eagerly wants to take the backpack away from him so that his life will be easier. While the girl is carrying the backpack she realizes that she cannot possible stand the weight that it is weighing her down. Through the author’s metaphoric language, it is evident that this is not realistic, that there is no stone back pack. However, she suggests that it is impossible to take on another person’s burdens, to make it easier for them. Despite how much the little girl tries, each individual must carry their own …show more content…
The narrator talks in depth about how she longs to find something that she is passionate about just like the girl in the flammable skirt. This last paragraph really wraps up the story on the whole meaning. The narrator questions, did the girl even for a second know that she had found her desire in life. Showing that what the girl really longs for is direction and a sense of freedom but she is constantly being weighed down by her father’s burdens. Despite the story jumping from event to event with little flow, it is evident with Benders metaphoric language all the vignettes are connected in a way that makes perfect

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