There are various close-reading techniques within John Updike’s "Separating" but none is more fruitful than an exploration of imagery. The narrator employs imagery within "Separating" in an attempt to subvert the narrative and conflict the true significance of what is presented. The narrative often utilizes imagery to foreshadow later developments. Imagery introduces ambiguity that forces the reader to dissect the scene to construct a unified meaning. In short, imagery is ambiguous so that the reader must toil over the written word.
The imagery of the Maple’s marriage collapsing illustrates with the coming of summer. The narrator 's use of sunshine is to "mock the internal misery" of the Maple 's marriage. The narrator introduces nature as …show more content…
When Richard comes back into the dining room “the others had opened some white wine, the champagne being drunk, and still sat at the table, the three females, gossiping” (804). This line shows Richard’s nihilistic nature of his position within the family. So, Richard has implemented his emotions to proliferate his status within the family. Richard cries in front of the children so that Joan bears the burden of telling the children. Richard notices that their lives have continued within his absence. Richard has held the position of head of the house but “where Joan sat had become the head” (804). Thus, declaring that Richard has fallen from grace. Within this scene, reality confronts Richards false narrative of the self. In Richard 's absence, he has fallen from the leader of the family. Richard has become the guest that arrives after dessert. The family has moved to less festive drinking. The imagery of power positions is representative through the table seating. One can see that Joan now holds the power and has overthrown Richard from his position of …show more content…
After Richard has told Dickie about the separating, Richard describes the sense of relief as “[having] dumped the mountain on the boy” (807). Through this scene one is provided a glance into the inner working of Richard 's mind. He allows himself to pass agony upon his child because it is convenient. Since Dickie’s real name is Richard Jr., one could argue that the process of dumping the metaphorical mountain upon the boy is Richard accepting the ramifications of his actions. Although Joan has claimed the power position within the house, Richard tells Dickie about the separation in a manner that retains a morsel of power over the house even in his absence. One can see Richard’s joy in compiling his grief upon Dickie as Richard states “He felt immensely lighter, saying this” (807). Richard is not telling Dickie about the separation in a manner to console, but as a conduit for the senseless agony that Richard has created. Richard treats human emotions as though they are objects to be pawned off to the lowest
The imagery of the Maple’s marriage collapsing illustrates with the coming of summer. The narrator 's use of sunshine is to "mock the internal misery" of the Maple 's marriage. The narrator introduces nature as …show more content…
When Richard comes back into the dining room “the others had opened some white wine, the champagne being drunk, and still sat at the table, the three females, gossiping” (804). This line shows Richard’s nihilistic nature of his position within the family. So, Richard has implemented his emotions to proliferate his status within the family. Richard cries in front of the children so that Joan bears the burden of telling the children. Richard notices that their lives have continued within his absence. Richard has held the position of head of the house but “where Joan sat had become the head” (804). Thus, declaring that Richard has fallen from grace. Within this scene, reality confronts Richards false narrative of the self. In Richard 's absence, he has fallen from the leader of the family. Richard has become the guest that arrives after dessert. The family has moved to less festive drinking. The imagery of power positions is representative through the table seating. One can see that Joan now holds the power and has overthrown Richard from his position of …show more content…
After Richard has told Dickie about the separating, Richard describes the sense of relief as “[having] dumped the mountain on the boy” (807). Through this scene one is provided a glance into the inner working of Richard 's mind. He allows himself to pass agony upon his child because it is convenient. Since Dickie’s real name is Richard Jr., one could argue that the process of dumping the metaphorical mountain upon the boy is Richard accepting the ramifications of his actions. Although Joan has claimed the power position within the house, Richard tells Dickie about the separation in a manner that retains a morsel of power over the house even in his absence. One can see Richard’s joy in compiling his grief upon Dickie as Richard states “He felt immensely lighter, saying this” (807). Richard is not telling Dickie about the separation in a manner to console, but as a conduit for the senseless agony that Richard has created. Richard treats human emotions as though they are objects to be pawned off to the lowest