Analysis Of Pastoralla By George Saunders

In Pastoralla, George Saunders talks about a story that takes place in a theme park or a museum were an unnamed man and his coworker Janet work and live in a cave-like place where they both play their roles as a caveman and a cavewoman. The two actors have to live at their work place and work full-time job following strict rules to live like cave people. While the caveman lived and followed every rule to keep his job, Janet was unable to play her part on a continuous, consistent basis. Throughout the story, the caveman helps Janet in every way he can by covering her mistakes at work and refusing giving her up to the boss. However, a conflict rises between the protagonist and Janet after his job was threatened. This forces the caveman to choose …show more content…
The rules were so over their lives that makes them live literally like old cave people. Since the caveman and Janet are acting and living in a cave-like place in a museum for the entertaining of people, they cannot wear street clothes. Also, speaking in English and swearing were prohibited by the company even if they were alone and no one was watching. However, Janet is not really committed with this rule and the caveman shows his frustration from Janet because she speaks with him in English by saying, “She thinks I’m a goody-goody and that her speaking English makes me uncomfortable. And she’s right. It does” (Saunders 1). Moreover, the caveman and Janet can communicate with each other only by using gestures and sounds. The caveman is always following the rules therefore when Janet tells him she wishes if he talks to her, the caveman gestures to her “I wave good night and give her a grunt” (Saunders 5). Also, they cannot express their feelings or thoughts about any part of their job but they should be grateful and thankful that the company provides them their jobs. In addition, because the caveman and Janet need their jobs and they are not willing to lose it, the company disrespect them and humiliates them. For instance, the company leaves them days hungry living on crackers and instead of apologizing for their acts they humiliates them more by sending notes saying, “The goat’s coming, for crissake. Don’t get all snooty” (Saunders 2). Following the company’s rules and living in such environment make the caveman and Janet live a hard life which increases their isolation from the outside world and make their relationship as coworkers