Living with Strangers is a non-fictional essay which discusses the many ways of behaving in different societies. Siri Hustvedt, the author of the short story, discusses the different rules and behaviors in the society of both a simple countryside and the big city of New York. Furthermore she confesses her opinions and use examples from her life to explain and substantiate the opinions.
Hustvedt starts off the story by telling the reader about the place she grew up, Minnesota.
Ground rules in Minnesota is: it is important always to greet one another even if you don’t know each other – otherwise you’re just being rude or a snob. The reader is also informed that one of the worst things you can be in Minnesota is in fact, a snob1.
Hustvedt moved to New York in 1978, where she from the very beginning, is mind blown by the difference of social behavior. She refers to the typical way of behaving in New York, as the “PRETEND IT ISN’T HAPPENING”´ behavior2.
Greeting everyone in New York will not make you popular or socially accepted – it will make you a freak. Besides - it isn’t possible to greet everyone you meet, because New York is full of people, every single minute of the day.
Hustvedt describes a subway trip in New York as an experience of intimate contact with her “body pressed so tightly against them, I could smell their hair oils, perfumes and sweet”3.
An intimacy she would only experience with her boyfriend or family back in Minnesota.
As mentioned before, the “PRETEND IT ISN’T HAPPENING” behavior is floating like a thick cloud over the New Yorkers. It’s a way of coping with the strange behaviors some people occasionally perform at public places. The thing is to simply ignore the fact that it happened. Several examples a...
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... To convince the reader, Siri Hustvedt uses examples from her own life, and furthermore she explains her feelings in the certain situations. This is the one of the three forms of appeal, the one called pathos. Pathos is used so the reader can relate to what’s being mediated.
“Living with Strangers” isn’t a comparison between villages and big cities, but more a discussion of ways to adapt in the society around you. Therefore it’s also very easy to discover the fact that symbolism and whimsical words aren’t used - the language is down-to-earth and simple.
Although the urban life can be a bit “snobbish” and overwhelming in every way, it doesn’t seem like Siri Hustvedt has any regrets of moving to the big city.
The fact that you’re allowed to behave in many different ways, and that you are not forced to greet every bypassing stranger, seems to please Siri Hustvedt.
In his essay, “ Brooklyn Bridge,” the author explores the “appetite” of a particular New Yorker. This woman is described as staring,full of awe,at the New York Skyline from another borough. She is ambitious and sees New York as full of endless possibilities. Throughout the collection he portrays New York transplants or prospective residents as being driven by the longing to grab a piece of the city for themselves.This drive is a pattern that is repeated in these works of Whitehead. In his essay “Port Authority instead of focusing on the New York ideal of one individual Whitehead focuses on a body of people about to move to New York. Througout the collection Whitehead switches back and forth between focusing on an individual and focusing on a crowd. In this essay Whitehead also highlights the sameness within the people hustling and bustling in and out of Port Authority. He implies that the same quality of brokenness has led them all here, “They’re all broken somehow… Otherwise they would have come here differently,”(15). Even though they are all from different places and all have different destinations the essence of New York has drawn them all here. Colson’s account of the passengers shows that they are all feeling the same feelings of hope in regards to coming to New York. Although they all hope for different things the theme regarding the passengers is
Sorrells, Helen. "From a Correct Address in a Suburb of a Major City." Literature: TheHuman Experience. Ed. Richard Abcarian and Marvin Klotz. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1996. 301-302.
Pathos is a quality of an experience in life or a work of art that stirs up emotions of pity, sympathy, and sorrow. She uses this to connect to the people by bringing up her personal experiences in life. As shown in the speech, “My friends, we’ve come to Philadelphia- the birthplace of our nation- because what happened in this city 240 years ago still has something to teach us today” (Line 35-36).. Hillary says “my friends” as referring to the American people, she considers everyone as important and this causes people to feel good about themselves. Also, she uses allusion to show how the past still impacts our world today. Another device uses is point of view, “Teachers who change lives. Entrepreneurs who see possibilities in every problem. Mothers who lost children to violence and are building a movement to keep other kids safe” (Lines 104-106). The point of view is used in third person, and emphasizes her point that she is trying to make. This quotes is also pathos, she is connecting to real people and what they go through in everyday life. Pathos is one appeal that touches the heart of general people.
Colson Whitehead explores this grand and complex city in his collection of essays The Colossus of New York. Whitehead writes about essential elements to New York life. His essays depict the city limits and everyday moments such as the morning and the subway, where “it is hard to escape the suspicion that your train just left... and if you had acted differently everything would be better” (“Subway” 49). Other essays are about more once in a while moments such as going to Central Park or the Port Authority. These divisions are subjective to each person. Some people come to New York and “after the long ride and the tiny brutalities... they enter the Port Authority,” but for others the Port Authority is a stop in their daily commute (“The Port Authority” 22).Nonetheless, each moment is a part of everyone’s life at some point. Many people live these moments together, experiencing similar situations. We have all been in the middle of that “where ...
1991 and “Goodbye To All That” written in 1968, the idea that New York is a trap that will lure people in with false promises of an easy life, and once their here, miserable or
The movie Crash examines the interpersonal communications that exists between different groups’ of people. In this film, characters are highlighted by the contact that occurs when disparate people are thrown together in large urban settings. Crash displays extreme instances of racism and shows how the thought, feeling, and behavior of individuals are influenced by actual, imagined, or implied presence of other human beings. My analysis will focus on Social Cognition and how people process, and apply information about other people and social situations.
...arding their personal experience with loneliness. In the end, the novel comes to say that humans are most happy when they are able to confide in others for protection and advice.
In New York, however, Cocoa finds herself amongst a group of people who seem distant and interested in only themselves. Stemming from many different backgrounds, the people of New York are always in a rush and "moving, moving, moving ---and to where?" (19). No one knows for sure. Just like the subways, racism in New York moved underground, and Cocoa experiences it as she desperately searches for a job. After having lived in New York for seven years, Cocoa still has not found a suitable mate. Only when she meets George does she start believing again in the goodness and sincerity possessed by some. George is t...
"Were born alone we live alone die alone. Only through love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that were not alone” Orson Welles. In this novel, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck focuses on the loneliness of California ranch life in the 1930’s. One of the most important things in the life is to have a friend, without friends people will suffer from loneliness like in this novel, not everyone in the novel has the same connection and special friendship like George and Lennie’s. Of Mice and Men is the story about lonely men who travel from ranch to ranch not really communicating with other ranch hands. Candy, Crooks and Curley’s wife all were lonely and dealt with their loneliness in different ways.
It's usual to greet others when walking into a waiting room, small business or train compartment. A simple Guten Tag or, in southern Germany, Gruess Gott, is in order.
When Americans greet one another a handshake and smile will do, this is similar in Italian culture, when meeting a stranger or business acquaintance. However, when family and friends greet each other, a hug and kiss is usually in order. In American culture, it is very rare to see two gentleman hug, even if they are related; in Italian culture, that is the customary greeting between male family members and friends. Air kissing is another tradition in Italy, in America, no one air kisses, and most kissing is only done in intimate relationships (Reavis, 2014). It is also a part of the Italian culture for many households to take a nap between the hours of 1 PM and 3 PM. The Italian culture is also laid back, and most Italians are not in a hurry. It is the Italian way to slow down and enjoy life (Miller, 2015). This is definitely not the American lifestyle, maybe we should slow down and pay attention to the
Formal greeting calls for a prolonged handshake with the left hand to support the right arm and direct eye contact to show respect
In the novel Of Mice and Men, written during the Great Depression, loneliness is a very important theme. Albert Schweitzer said, “We are all so much together, but we are all dying of loneliness.” Throughout the story loneliness has impacted the lives of many migrant workers during
Cain, Susan. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. New York: Crown Publishers, 2012. 10. Print.
To greet the other, people greet each other by bowing only! A bow can range from a small nod of the head to a deep bend at the