Create a post that answers the following questions. I'm not giving you a word-count requirement, but your answers will reflect that you read the story carefully, as will your grade. (See #4 below) Your grade also depends on your doing this.
- Consider the following repetition:
I used to think that we were very special, the best boatwomen in the world, but Viola says no, we are only vessels ourselves: something wants to be born. Perhaps there are many others like us around the bays of New Florida and elsewhere. Women who know enough to be silent about what is developing inside their bodies (200).
He thinks my home is a cemetery, and I want him to hear how wrong he is before we part company. The end of his life is not the end of all life. Something wants to be born (222).
What do you think it is that wants to be born? What is Russell implying or symbolizing?
- Do you feel any pity for the man that Blister transports to the wall? Is Russell trying to represent something through him?
- What do you think happens at the end of the story? Does Blister die or something else?
- Write one question you have about the story for class discussion. Yes, this is required.
Full Answer Section
2. The Man Blister Transports:
There's no clear reason to feel immediate pity for the man. He embodies the destructive nature of the "old world," clinging to memories of a lost paradise and unable to accept the changes. His focus on the "end of life" contrasts with Blister's belief in something new being born. However, he might also represent the fear and uncertainty of the unknown that many would feel in such a situation.
Russell might be using him to symbolize the past that needs to be let go of for humanity to move forward into this new and uncertain future.
3. Blister's Fate:
The ending is open to interpretation. Blister's disappearance after touching the wall could signify:
- Death: The most straightforward interpretation is that Blister dies upon touching the wall. This could be a sacrifice, a natural consequence of her journey, or a symbolic representation of the death of the "old" to make way for the "new."
- Transformation: Alternatively, Blister could have undergone a transformation, becoming part of the wall or the "something" that wants to be born. This aligns with the recurring theme of transformation and suggests Blister plays a crucial role in ushering in the new era.
Without a definitive answer, the ending allows the reader to consider the various possibilities and the story's deeper meaning.
4. Question for Class Discussion:
Do the societal and environmental changes depicted in the story offer a hopeful or bleak outlook for humanity? How does the concept of "something wanting to be born" influence your interpretation?
This question invites critical analysis of the story's world-building and its implications for the future of humanity. It encourages discussion about the themes of hope, resilience, and the potential for adaptation in the face of immense challenges.
Sample Answer
Blister: Unraveling the Mystery and Symbolism
1. The "Something" that Wants to be Born:
The repeated phrase "something wants to be born" throughout the story is ambiguous and open to interpretation. Here's what it could potentially symbolize:
- New Life: The most literal interpretation is the birth of a new species. Blister and other women like her might be carrying the next evolutionary step in human development, a new race born from the mutated environment.
- Hope and Resilience: Despite the harsh and bleak setting, the phrase suggests a sense of hope and resilience. Even amidst death and destruction, there is a force pushing towards creation and renewal.
- Transformation: The "something" could represent a transformation that goes beyond the physical. The women carrying it could be undergoing a mental or spiritual change, adapting to the new world and finding a new purpose.
Russell keeps the nature of "something" deliberately vague, leaving room for the reader to ponder its significance and draw their own conclusions.