Comparison Of Symbols In Alice Walker's 'Separating'

Updike and Walkers short stories are culturally different but universal in the understanding of an American family and their heritage. Updike’s “Separating” you see an upper class white family dealing with separation and potential divorce of a marriage from infidelity. The husband is struggling to make the choice to leave his marriage and family behind for another woman. The husband and wife are trying to figure out a way to break the news to their children. Whereas in Alice Walker’s short story, about a low income African American family that have separation among deep rooted heritage and culture. Between family members a conflict grows from an opinion on some old quilts. Symbolic metaphors are richly placed in both stories and spoken first

Not only does he find it difficult to tell the children about the separation, but as he is working on finishing tasks around the home such as the lock on the screen porch seems to be struggling with. The author is using the lock as symbolism. Locks are used to secure things and he was trying to secure everything; “a Houdini making things snug before his escape” (1427). By having Richard change the lock the author may be symbolically representing that Richard and Joan’s marriage is no longer as secure as it once was. He now can’t wait to escape to his new life. Another symbolic example; the tennis court which has fallen into disrepair “an environment congruous with his mood of purposeful desolation” (1426). The reference could symbolize Richard and Joan’s marriage. The tennis court has fallen into disrepair Richard and Joan’s marriage has fallen into disorder. After telling the children at dinner, each person has a self-absorbed response to the news. Towards the end of the story after the character natures are perceived; the author reveals the reason for the separation is Richard’s infidelity with another woman. Through the story Richard’s decisions and emotions of leaving become a heavier burden than originally planned, especially when having to come face to face and give his children the truth. This is a relatable all American

Dee has left behind her connection to her rural background and instead reclaimed her African heritage. Though as a child Dee was scornful of her mother’s way of life, see now appreciates the quaint house she grew up in, and asks to take a quilt made by her grandmother and planned for her sister to have. The narrator explains Dee as wanting the finer things in life “determined to stare down any disaster in her efforts” (1532). The mother and her church raise money for Dee to go to a better school, and seems to do anything in her power to help her daughter succeed and would give her what she could. Yet with all the mother has done Dee has shoved her raising to the side instead of opportunities made available for by her mother. The quilts symbolize the “heritage” of this family, so when Dee wants them for a decorative purpose but no other need, the mother finally sees one how ungrateful or bling Dee has become, looking down on her mother and sister. Maggie unselfishly was willing to give Dee the quilts and their mother finally sees through that of who they truly belong to,