Teresa Bateman's Short Story 'Two Sides Of The Fence'

Sarah Dylewski
Mrs.Hedberg
Language and Literature 8th Hour
November 28, 2017
(Hook) In Teresa Bateman’s short story, “Both Sides of the Fence,” the protagonist, Alberto, is a selfish man who owns a gorgeous apple tree, that he wants all to himself. Alberto’s neighbor, Juan, is a happy, grateful man who is beyond thankful for all he receives. When a branch of Alberto’s tree goes onto Juan’s side of the fence, He decides that it would be a great idea to use the tree’s profits to bake a cake for his kind neighbor Alberto. Alberto is left angry and annoyed with Juan and his doings because the tree was his. Throughout the course of a few days, Alberto goes to Juan, and is shocked by his kindness. Alberto’s selfishness and anger fades away when he meets Juan and considers a new of looking at a situation and really learns how to

understand what he is thankful for.

In the short story, Alberto, modifies himself as a person to finally grasp the skill of seeing through other points of view. In the beginning, he discovered that a piece of his tree traveled along into Juan’s yard. Alberto angrily said to himself, “‘To damage so fine a tree would be wrong. Still why should Juan receive any benefit from a tree that is clearly mine?”’ (Bateman, 107). Alberto’s infuriating discovery supports the idea that he is selfish because he believes that it is unfair that Juan should enjoy the luxury of the tree, that is on his property. This action emphasizes a narcissistic, egocentric side of Alberto, because why would any grown adult anger themselves over a piece of nature, being shared? Closer to the climax of the story, our protagonist, decides to visit the mayor to voice his grievance on the problem. He grows quite irritable and bursts. “‘It doesn’t matter,’ Alberto fumed, ‘My father planted that tree on property that’s been in my family for years. The land and the tree

are mine. The apples are mine as well.”’ (Bateman, 107). When Alberto went to meet with the mayor, his actions hint toward the idea the he is selfish. He thought that his point was indefinitely right so he ranted his beliefs, and desperately wanted the mayor to side with him. This once again exemplifies the idea that our protagonist is narrow minded, because he refused to see out of Juan’s eyes. Alberto can be proved as selfish because of these point outs. As the story came to a close, Alberto makes a remarkable action. After he met with Juan and saw how little he had, Alberto finally learned to understand what he is thankful for. This important moment denies the idea that Alberto remains selfish. It clearly insists that Alberto has finally became a generous kind person. This closing action declares that Alberto has changed and can finally see what he is thankful for.
Tracing Alberto’s personality from the beginning of the story to the end, we can accept the fact the Alberto has made a remarkable transformation as not only a character, but as a person.