Decisions In Merna Summers's The Skating Party Summer

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Imagine having to choose which of two people you love more and in the end your decision leading to one of their deaths. The Skating Party is a short story written by Merna Summers. When a young man can’t decide which lady he is truly in love with, a situation arises where he needs to choose between forced love and true love. Uncle Nathan has many decisions that he has to make, but time is running out and he has to choose which sister he will save. The Skating Party uses components such as rabbit fur, a farm and an ancient stone man to symbolize important decisions that Nathan needs to make. The rabbit fur on Eunice’s dress uncovers what uncle Nathan was hiding this whole time and symbolizes truth. The farm represents Nathan’s laid back decisions …show more content…

It is peaceful and beautiful there, life is laid back and simple. The farm symbolises tranquility and reflects uncle Nathan’s character. In The Skating Party Summer writes, “ You’ve got no worries on a load of hay, ‘she said.’... take in the clouds in the sky and the bees buzzing in the air and the red topped grasses string in the wind ” (Summers 195). The farm life is much more simpler and relaxing. It is similar to Nathan’s lifestyle and that is why he prefers it over the city. The farm life symbolizes tranquility and reflects uncle Nathan’s character. Uncle Nathan is calm and he makes laid back decisions. For example, when he is faced with choosing between wheat or stone, he prefers not to make the tough decision and says he wants both instead. Another example of when uncle Nathan made a laid back decision is when he sends off Delia and Eunice to go skate in the darkness. He did not think of the consequences he would face when making this decision. Nathan just tried to find the quickest way possible to get them to stop arguing. The farm life is simpler and calmer, it mirrors Uncle Nathan’s desired lifestyle and his decision process in the

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