•Characters: 1. Narrator •*passive/lazy • – from the beginning, he showed no interest about the issue • – he keeps on sitting on his lounging chair which suggest that he don’t • want to involve him to any conversation as what was observable • at the start of story • *low educational attainment • – he used an old paper for his formal letter instead of clean and new one. • he tore the paper half when he found out that his note just occupied • half of the paper. He didn’t put any date nor sign his name. he showed • unpleasant attitude and not respectful manners. Upon the confrontation of two men, he shouted at him which noted that he lacked of good manners. •He had had most probably a low-income job which reflected that he attained a low educational background only. • *low social rank • – on the story, it stated that his clothes were wet and soggy. Going through • logical analysis, only those people who have job that requires extensive •muscular effort could make their clothes wet and soggy. He might be a construction worker or farmer or anything that requires much manpower. •-also stated when he got home, he was very tired.
It means that he have gone a very hard work as associated In the first explanation. • *Hospitable •-despite the fact that the person standing on his porch was his adversary, he still managed to invite that person to enter his house. • • *Easy to be influence •-He was forced to do something whenever his wife one. Just like when his wife almost went out to confront their neighbors, he decided to write a note instead. •-The Music made him relax and the same time missed her wife’s arguments. But when the music stopped, he came back to the reality. 2. Belle Aggressive -She forced her husband to act regarding on the issue as soon as possible. When her husband about to play a range disc for music, she suddenly snapped the player shut. That behavior directly to describing aggressiveness. -She said denunciatory words against their neighbors. She said, “unkind, inconsiderate, not neighborly and not nice”. -It showed in the latter part of the story when she summoned her own fury and then it consumed her and shouted their neighbor. *Emotional -She acted beyond normal about the setting of line for a fence-to-be. In a very first place, building a fence it’s not a big deal. -She was “crying out loud” trying to convince his husband to stop building the adobe blocks. Alpha female -She ruled over her husband. She can control her husband by just showing dominant feelings. She put her husband into a conversation which her husband was not interested of her role. 3. Mathematician *Calm -During the confrontation of two men, he remained calm despite of raising tension of their arguments. He did not let his emotion take over his actions. *High Educational Attainment -His behavior is pure and define not harsh. This tantamount not he has a good manners thus, aware educated person. -He was believed doctor of mathematics. This proves he had already finished college and even got his masteral degree. High social rank -Since he had finished college, this yields to higher social rank. -He had his own car which reflect that he belong to higher society than of their neighbors. -He even to afford lot of adobe bricks which may cost him thousands. *Friendly -He still considered the concept of respect although his adversary did not. -He gave Belle flowers and helped her in finding cottage. 4. Spouse of Mathematician *Seducer -She wear very short shorts while puttering of her flower garden knowing that her male neighbors could notice her. *Snobby -This showed when Belle gave her cheese and she gave her back a blank face. . Nata -Probably child of the narrator and Belle. – The one who deliver the note to their neighbors. •Summary Belle started it all. She opened the issue of setting down a line of adobe blocks. Her husband agreed upon on her and stood at the window. He was changing his wet clothes while they were talking. After that, he sat on his lounging chair while listen to Belle. Meanwhile, Belle threw denunciatory words against their neighbors. The piano music threaded through the words and this made him to relax for he was so tired. Belle insisted that their neighbors should have informed them about the fence.
Her husband seemed to have no interest about it after all. Their conversation became more serious and intense when the music already gone. He tried to turn on his range disc player but Belle shut it. He was annoyed with her. Belle told him that she had given things to her but it seemed to have they didn’t like it. Then she asked him about the demonstrativeness of their neighbor. He gave contrasting answer and told her why they were always together when searching of a good spot of their cottage and choosing a cottage right up next to theirs. The Belle raised another issue which is the unfair decision of their lawn.
He was commenting that if the guy of the opposite house was a doctor of mathematics, why he couldn’t divide their lawn equally. Belle wanted him to do something as soon as possible about it. But her husband seemed to be not interested so she decided to do it by herself. She almost open their door when he gave her an idea. He decided to give them a note regarding the issue. So it happened. He used an old legal sized paper and started typing letters. He didn’t put date on it nor sign it. When he found out that his note didn’t reach or occupy the whole paper, he folded it and tore it in halves.
He gave it to Belle and she seemed to be contented. The accused guy received it immediately. He went out from his house and requested to have a word with Belle’s husband. He invited the guy standing on his porch to come in but he refused. Instead they walked together along Finchshafen road. The accused guy made the first move after a long dead air. He asked whether he and Belle had some sort of misunderstanding and his note wasn’t neighborly. The defendant, who is Belle’s husband, defensively answered his questions. Their conversation arrived at the point where each of them commenting about their life.
Suddenly, the defendant raised his voice which caught attention of their other neighbor. Out of nowhere, Belle appeared. Her whole body was consumed by fury. She was standing beside the defendant and before the accused and started shouting on his face. Her husband tried to calm her but it was no use. He keep on telling that it was man’s work. It was his fight not her. The enemy was his’. But Belle didn’t listen. Her fury made her deaf. The story ended when the defendant pulled at her wife and dragged her bodily away. •Problem • Based on the contextual review, the problem evolved from one form to another.
Thus creating more complex situation. •Is it right for them (mathematician) to set down marks for fence without even confronting their neighbors? •Why should Belle over-react upon knowing this? •Is it good for Belle’s relationship with the narrator when she received flower from the guy of their neighbor? •Does the guy have any intention when he gave flowers to Belle? •Is it morally right for Belle to be with the mathematician especially when they both looking a good cottages? •Does demonstrativeness affects Belle’s husband so much? •Why do you think the mathematician refused when the narrator requested him to enter his house? Upon the confrontation, is there any reason for them why they should walk a little farther from their house? •What was the reason of Belle’s sudden outburst? •What was the true message of the story? •Symbolism • The story contains many symbolisms. It is important to understand the messages beneath those symbolisms so that it will be easy to know the real message of the whole story. •1) lounging chair – lazy/don’t want to involve into something •2) foot stool – fixed ideas, direct to the point •3) marker for fences – defining limits/block communication •4) piano music – relaxation 5) 3x 2 fences out of adobe blocks – total block of communication of the outside word •6) cheese – dislike •7) flower – sexual/appearance desire •8) “he was only being friendly”- as if Belle was hiding something •9) Marriage of Figaro – jealousy, mistrust and disloyalty •10) “plague on our houses” – a disaster/ big and serious problem •11) Turkish March – an incidental song •lll. Point of View •a. Objective Third Person Observer •Since this story belonged to the fiction genre (though the series of events looked like real), it is already categorized as objective third person observer.
It relates what happens in an objective manner without giving any comments. •b. First Person Participant •The author was one of the characters in the story. He used the pronoun “I” which suggest that he was actually and participating in the story. •lV. Conflict •The conflict of the story started when Belle begun to complaining about their neighbors that they had laid a marker for a fence. •V. Complication •It started from the markers then more problems aroused. Belle complained that the lady didn’t like her. The issue of demonstrativeness between their neighbors was also raised.
Finally, the issue about the reason why she chose the spot right up next to their. • Vl. Climax •The guy confronted the author. They talked about their lives and also about the unfriendly note. It came to the point that the author yelled at him. The scenario became more intense when Belle appeared and started shouting at the guy. •Vll. Key Moment •The key moment of the story directly referred to the author. When he said, “This is my fight, not yours. The enemy is mine. This is my fight and the adversary is mine. ” It showed that the author finally realized that he must do something regarding with the issue. Vlll. Resolution •The author changed his perspectives towards the situation. He gained courage to face the problem in their relationship. He faced it as a man and as a husband of Belle. •lX. Inevitability •As he said that the enemy was only his, he pulled Belle away. The end does not satisfy the means. It did not directly implied what do really happen in the end. •X. Plot •a. Exposition. • The story took place, probably in a quite small village, along the Finchshafen road at around 8:00PM onwards. The characters were the Author, who was the husband of Belle and the dynamic character in the story.
Belle, was the wife of the author in the story and a person who sees small things to bigger one. The Guy, He was calm minded person and one of Belle’s neighbor who laid markers for building a fence. The Lady, she was the wife of the guy and the person whom Belle dislikes. Finally, Nata, The child of Belle and the Author and the one who delivered the message to their neighbor. •b. Conflict •The conflict of the story started when Belle begun to complaining about their neighbors that they had laid a marker for a fence. •It started from the markers then more problems aroused. Belle complained that the lady didn’t like her.
The issue of demonstrativeness between their neighbors was also raised. Finally, the issue about the reason why she chose the spot right up next to their. •c. Climax • The guy confronted the author. They talked about their lives and also about the unfriendly note. It came to the point that the author yelled at him. The scenario became more intense when Belle appeared and started shouting at the guy •d. Resolution •The author changed his perspectives towards the situation. He gained courage to face the problem in their relationship. He faced it as a man and as a husband of Belle. •XI. Theme The story showed how destructive jealousy was. The possible outcome of extreme anger, the strength of their faith and shadows of love. Jealousy is the parameter of love. It is not a hindrance rather a measurement to test how strong their love is. But if jealousy wins over a lover, it might become a double-edge sword slashing not only your love at each other but also trust and everything will follow. • Anger can blind someone’s eyes. You can do things that you never expected. It is destructive because it can possibly harm others. •Faith tantamount to trust. If you have faith, you have trust with him or her.
During dark days, faith will the sole surviving guide. • No matter what the situation, be kind. Do not let your emotion overcome you. Respect people though their were your enemies. • XII. Tone • The author put dominance factor over Belle. He made several dialogue which reflect Belle’s dominance over her husband. But as a whole, the story was serious. It covers wider prospects of today’s human lives. • XIII. Style • The author used chronology sequence in this story. Every events happened one step at a time. He also used symbolic words to hide and at the same time to expose his ideas in an artistic manner.
