Blythe’s “The Contortionist” ended with an image that portrayed a girl, whose occupation was a contortionist, to be happy and proud. Maria, who went through several emotional conflicts, was never truly happy or satisfied with her life. She was always trying to find that magical moment that changed everything, but she never found it. Likewise, Maria transformed as events occurred in her life; however, these changes did not benefit her as she was emotionally unstable at the end.
Maria’s failure to resolve her emotional issues is caused by events in her childhood. For example, “since her father drank (they always do), she probably folded herself away from him and his words” (lines 6-8). This statement implies that Maria never felt comfortable …show more content…
At the end of her routine, “she stood in applause, upright and one, the proud straight pylon of loss” (lines 40-41). The meaning of pylon in this context proposes that Maria stood above any other performer that night. In other words, she was the best performer of the night. In addition, she stood there proud of her act. However, she stood alone and was at a loss. Maria was broken, although she received a standing ovation. Additionally, standing upright and one represents the end of Maria’s performance because her body position resembles an l. This is the last letter of Raoul’s name and it signifies the end for Maria; not only the end of the performance, but the end of Maria’s happiness because Raoul was the most important thing in her life. The only thing that mattered at that time was to complete her routine and that is what she had done. As a result, the emotional battles of hiding from her father, leaving home to join an academy, and missing Raoul were too much for Maria to …show more content…
This career would most certainly cause emotional issues for the individual. For example, “she felt herself hefted like an angular suitcase—by one man, another, then Raoul” (lines 23-25). Maria felt that she was being passed around from one man to another. She did not think she was worthy of love because she thought she was baggage. Furthermore, “taken to the next strange hotel” (line 27) suggests that Maria went to various hotels with numerous men. This is an assumption that is associated with a woman that is a prostitute. People assume that a woman in this type of profession sleeps in different hotels every night. Also, “swords of different sizes” (line 29) can be interpreted in a sexual way referring to a man’s body part. If Maria did participate in this type of career, she would have dealt with several different sizes of this particular body
Maria’s failure to resolve her emotional issues is caused by events in her childhood. For example, “since her father drank (they always do), she probably folded herself away from him and his words” (lines 6-8). This statement implies that Maria never felt comfortable …show more content…
At the end of her routine, “she stood in applause, upright and one, the proud straight pylon of loss” (lines 40-41). The meaning of pylon in this context proposes that Maria stood above any other performer that night. In other words, she was the best performer of the night. In addition, she stood there proud of her act. However, she stood alone and was at a loss. Maria was broken, although she received a standing ovation. Additionally, standing upright and one represents the end of Maria’s performance because her body position resembles an l. This is the last letter of Raoul’s name and it signifies the end for Maria; not only the end of the performance, but the end of Maria’s happiness because Raoul was the most important thing in her life. The only thing that mattered at that time was to complete her routine and that is what she had done. As a result, the emotional battles of hiding from her father, leaving home to join an academy, and missing Raoul were too much for Maria to …show more content…
This career would most certainly cause emotional issues for the individual. For example, “she felt herself hefted like an angular suitcase—by one man, another, then Raoul” (lines 23-25). Maria felt that she was being passed around from one man to another. She did not think she was worthy of love because she thought she was baggage. Furthermore, “taken to the next strange hotel” (line 27) suggests that Maria went to various hotels with numerous men. This is an assumption that is associated with a woman that is a prostitute. People assume that a woman in this type of profession sleeps in different hotels every night. Also, “swords of different sizes” (line 29) can be interpreted in a sexual way referring to a man’s body part. If Maria did participate in this type of career, she would have dealt with several different sizes of this particular body