7/24/07

I think the texts take up the questions of romantic love in certain aspects. The romantic parts are more subtle than noticeable in the passages. In “Men in Your Life” I didn’t feel like I saw the romantic narrative until the very end. It’s kind of typical and reminds me a bit of the scene shown from the movie When Harry Met Sally. Like Harry, the main character and her man, Eddie, find love through their unique traits. The author and main character had went out on a date with a man who seemed perfect on paper, very consistent, and financially stable on paper. But Eddie was kind of like a breath of fresh air and completely opposite of the main she went on a date with. He is inconsistent, spontaneous, easy-going, and I got that he was kind of quirky. It goes back to the narrative that everyone has their own perfect person and you can’t plan who that will be or try and force it.
In “Seventeen Syllables,” I felt like the romance narrative was basically with Rosie and Jesus. In the middle of the story, Jesus stereotypically tries to sweep Rosie off her feet and unexpectedly kissed her. I feel like this happens in half of the “chick flicks” and love stories I watch. Half of the time, you know the first kiss between lovers is coming and it’s completely obvious. Or, it’s the opposite. I figured when he said, “I have a secret to tell you,” it was that he was going to do something. But for her, it was unexpected. It plays on the older boy and younger girl theme that happens in a lot of love stories. People just seem to be more comfortable and accepting of men being older in love situations. However, after Jesus kissed Rosie, she ran away. Although it does mention that she thought about the way Jesus’ hand touched her face, I got the impression that she wasn’t necessarily turned on by that. I think maybe she was too young to feel or know what love was and if she felt it for Jesus. So that seems to go against the stereotypical romance narrative. However, if the story would have gone on longer, it would have been interesting to see if they got together in the end. So many love stories in the movies are like that.
I think both stories hint at a romance that is didn’t from the stereotypical romance narratives. They both look at a harsher and more realistic kind of love. “Men in Your Life” gives the bad side of having someone. The author and her friend rant about the imperfections of men. The author (speaking as the main character) talks about her friend Tessie’s husband Clarence and all his annoying habits. “Seventeen Syllables” talks about regretful love. Rosie’s mom makes her promise “never to marry” because her own husband stifles and is jealous of her dreams. Basically, they aren’t in love at all.