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Analyzing The Story 'The Intricate Weave Of Horseman'

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Josh Sung Joon Park Professor Wallace Literature Core April 24 2015 The Intricate Weave of ‘Horseman’ In the story “Horseman,” by Richard Russo, a young English professor, Janet Moore, explores the complexities of her marriage, academic, and social life. The plot of the story, which jumps around the presence and the past memory, may seem diverse and confusing. However, in the end, Russo deliberately combines those layers, illustrates the interrelations of Janet’s experiences and relationships, and efficiently delivers Janet’s thoughts and her self-evaluation. Two days before Thanksgiving, Janet confronted James Cox, one of her students, who was caught plagiarizing. Because Janet was already feeling sexist attitudes from her students, James’ …show more content…

She was surprised that he was telling his personal story to them, so had a debate about the importance of ‘person’ against Tony. Unlike tony, she strongly took a stance that the literature professor would never should give irrelevant personal anecdote to her students and considered a waste of time to do so. When they were having arguments, Tom Newhouse, professor emeritus, stepped into the Hub Pub. Although Janet did not wanted obnoxious Newhouse to disrupt them, Newhouse did actually recognized her and came up to their table. In the middle of conversation, he brought up James Cox and how he deliberately wrote the paper. However, Janet’s question whether James, who was caught for plagiarism in her class, actually wrote the essay or not, upset Newhouse and made him leave the …show more content…

Their son Marcus forbid any physical contacts and did not have any emotions other than fear and anger. Also, Janet believed that he chose Robbie, her husband, over her. After Marcus and Robbie went to get pizzas, Janet kept recalling the incident with Bellamy when they had helped the blind boy, William, and dropped him at the Newman Center. Janet had tried to avoid having conversation with Bellamy; his kindness had stolen the anger that rose after his criticism and just left her hollowed. The flashback struck her hard; she started sobbing and drove to Hub Pub without any thought. In the pub, Newhouse was still drinking by himself. Janet came up to him and invited cranky, old man to Thanksgiving dinner. They talked about James Cox again with relieved emotions. She did not accuse James like she did before, but carefully told Newhouse the possibility. This time, Newhouse accepted the possibility and thanked Janet. As she was coming back to her home, she thought of Bellamy and about what he said at a bar where everyone recited a greatest lyrical poem. When asked for explanation, he replied, “Because when I speak those words aloud, my father is alive again." Janet finally understood what he tried to teach her; literature gives the chance to see what it’s like to be someone else. “What it feels like. Literature.

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