Amy Bloom’s short story “Silver Water” takes the reader on a ride through the effects that mental illness has on entire family. In another short story “The Bear Came Over The Mountain” Alice Munro leads the reader through a similar story showing the pains that Alzheimer’s disease has not only on the patient, but her husband as well. “Silver Water” and “The Bear Came Over The Mountain” share similar plots, both showing that when one family member becomes ill everyone is affected by it. The stories also share similar points of view, theme, and style, but the reader will find that there are contrasting elements within those areas as well, this creates two very similar, yet completely different stories. The plots in both “Silver Water” and “The
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The love in Munro’s story is a romantic one between husband and wife, but the validity and strength of that love is questioned. The reader discovers that Grant has had affairs with several women during their marriage, some of the women were married and others were his students (Munro). While the affairs ended when Grant retired his wondering eye has not gone. Munro makes this clear to the reader after Grant meets Marian, as he returns her call thinking of her cleavage and “the practical sensuality of her cat’s tongue. Her gemstone eyes” (Munro). While Grant does struggle with taking Fiona to the hospital and leaving her there he does not put up a huge fight. When they are in the car he only briefly thinks of turning the car around (Munro). Grant visits Fiona only two days a week and struggles to both hold on to her and let go, not knowing how to handle her memory loss. In the end he does try to let Fiona go and brings Aubrey to see her, but as soon as he realizes that Fiona remembers he once again clings tight (Munro).On the other hand, the love Bloom portrays in “Silver Water” is a familial one and is a love that is obvious and strong throughout the story. In the first two paragraphs Bloom conveys the love and admiration Violet has for Rose, she wants the doctors treating her sister to know who she was before she became sick (Bloom). Bloom also shows the concern and love of Rose’s parents, her mother refuses to leave her in a hospital that has no windows (Bloom). It is obvious that the family wants what is best for Rose, they search desperately for a doctor that can help her (Bloom). This also conveys how much her family wants her to get better, but at the same time they go with the flow of her illness, loving her and attempting to accept her regardless (Bloom). They all struggle to hang on to Rose and to help Rose hang onto her sanity, but in the end Violet realizes she has to
The love in Munro’s story is a romantic one between husband and wife, but the validity and strength of that love is questioned. The reader discovers that Grant has had affairs with several women during their marriage, some of the women were married and others were his students (Munro). While the affairs ended when Grant retired his wondering eye has not gone. Munro makes this clear to the reader after Grant meets Marian, as he returns her call thinking of her cleavage and “the practical sensuality of her cat’s tongue. Her gemstone eyes” (Munro). While Grant does struggle with taking Fiona to the hospital and leaving her there he does not put up a huge fight. When they are in the car he only briefly thinks of turning the car around (Munro). Grant visits Fiona only two days a week and struggles to both hold on to her and let go, not knowing how to handle her memory loss. In the end he does try to let Fiona go and brings Aubrey to see her, but as soon as he realizes that Fiona remembers he once again clings tight (Munro).On the other hand, the love Bloom portrays in “Silver Water” is a familial one and is a love that is obvious and strong throughout the story. In the first two paragraphs Bloom conveys the love and admiration Violet has for Rose, she wants the doctors treating her sister to know who she was before she became sick (Bloom). Bloom also shows the concern and love of Rose’s parents, her mother refuses to leave her in a hospital that has no windows (Bloom). It is obvious that the family wants what is best for Rose, they search desperately for a doctor that can help her (Bloom). This also conveys how much her family wants her to get better, but at the same time they go with the flow of her illness, loving her and attempting to accept her regardless (Bloom). They all struggle to hang on to Rose and to help Rose hang onto her sanity, but in the end Violet realizes she has to