English Essay Rough Draft-The Best of Two Worsts
It is believed by many that mutual love is one of the most cherished sensations known to us. But how do you know when you have truly found it? What defines love between two people in a relationship and how do you know if what you have is healthy? That seems to be a concern seldom addressed between neither Liam and Gabriella (from the short story, “Bluffing” by Gail Helgason) nor Ann and John (from the short story, “The Painted Door” by Sinclair Ross) throughout the course of their relationships. That is why determining who of the two couples has the healthiest relationship is unquestionably a challenge. Although if a decision is necessary, when comparing using the factors; communication, loyalty …show more content…
From traveling the world together to settling down and having children, no matter how much you connect to someone on a personal level or enjoy doing the same things, if you don’t have similar goals for life, it will most definitely be a challenge to make a relationship work with that person. For example, John wants “…a mortgage-free farm; then a new house and pretty clothes for [Ann]…[and] to him it only seemed right that he…should slave away fifteen hours a day to give them to her.”(Ross 229). While Ann, “…she wanted…something of John, not pretty clothes when she would be too old to wear them.”(229). Although they have these differences, they are both on the same level of wanting a marriage and home together. It is clear that Liam and Gabriella also have problems relating their goals. Liam mentions he’s “…gonna head down south…for three months over the winter” (Helgason 3), while Gabriella wants him to stay with her so she can plan with him about “…the subject of the lease [because]… the landlord said he’d have to know by October 31st if they would sign for a year.” (1), and that’s exactly what she wants, for him to stay with her. But, that isn’t what he has planned for this stage in his life. Therefore, we can see that Liam and Gabriella are at different stages in life, while John and Ann are at similar stages with wanting to be married with a home …show more content…
When you lack communication, you lack a huge portion of how the other person feels, what they're thinking and what they want and need. Ann constantly thinks about how she “…wanted something of John” (Ross 229) but rather than telling John how she really feels, she is sarcastic and tells him to “Pay no attention to [her]” because “[she’s] not really afraid” (228) when in reality, she is afraid. Not of the storm or being alone in the house but of the fact that the love she feels for John is dying and if he goes, she doesn't know what she might do. Especially with Steven coming over. But, she refuses to address these fears and concerns with John. And so, the tension builds up when Steven arrives, which drives her further and further from her connection with John until she finally gives in to her desires, and betrays him. While comparing these situations with those of Liam and Gabriella, it is clear that Ann & John’s communication skills are much worse. Though Gabriella holds off to “…bring up the subject of the lease” (Helgason 1), she at least had planned to. Additionally, the lack of communication is much greater between John and Ann, especially considering they have been married for 7 years and have not yet attempted to resolve these issues healthily, and now it is too
It is believed by many that mutual love is one of the most cherished sensations known to us. But how do you know when you have truly found it? What defines love between two people in a relationship and how do you know if what you have is healthy? That seems to be a concern seldom addressed between neither Liam and Gabriella (from the short story, “Bluffing” by Gail Helgason) nor Ann and John (from the short story, “The Painted Door” by Sinclair Ross) throughout the course of their relationships. That is why determining who of the two couples has the healthiest relationship is unquestionably a challenge. Although if a decision is necessary, when comparing using the factors; communication, loyalty …show more content…
From traveling the world together to settling down and having children, no matter how much you connect to someone on a personal level or enjoy doing the same things, if you don’t have similar goals for life, it will most definitely be a challenge to make a relationship work with that person. For example, John wants “…a mortgage-free farm; then a new house and pretty clothes for [Ann]…[and] to him it only seemed right that he…should slave away fifteen hours a day to give them to her.”(Ross 229). While Ann, “…she wanted…something of John, not pretty clothes when she would be too old to wear them.”(229). Although they have these differences, they are both on the same level of wanting a marriage and home together. It is clear that Liam and Gabriella also have problems relating their goals. Liam mentions he’s “…gonna head down south…for three months over the winter” (Helgason 3), while Gabriella wants him to stay with her so she can plan with him about “…the subject of the lease [because]… the landlord said he’d have to know by October 31st if they would sign for a year.” (1), and that’s exactly what she wants, for him to stay with her. But, that isn’t what he has planned for this stage in his life. Therefore, we can see that Liam and Gabriella are at different stages in life, while John and Ann are at similar stages with wanting to be married with a home …show more content…
When you lack communication, you lack a huge portion of how the other person feels, what they're thinking and what they want and need. Ann constantly thinks about how she “…wanted something of John” (Ross 229) but rather than telling John how she really feels, she is sarcastic and tells him to “Pay no attention to [her]” because “[she’s] not really afraid” (228) when in reality, she is afraid. Not of the storm or being alone in the house but of the fact that the love she feels for John is dying and if he goes, she doesn't know what she might do. Especially with Steven coming over. But, she refuses to address these fears and concerns with John. And so, the tension builds up when Steven arrives, which drives her further and further from her connection with John until she finally gives in to her desires, and betrays him. While comparing these situations with those of Liam and Gabriella, it is clear that Ann & John’s communication skills are much worse. Though Gabriella holds off to “…bring up the subject of the lease” (Helgason 1), she at least had planned to. Additionally, the lack of communication is much greater between John and Ann, especially considering they have been married for 7 years and have not yet attempted to resolve these issues healthily, and now it is too