As I continue to read, Life Class the author’s style of writing becomes more obvious. It is very similar to In the Time of the Butterflies in that the author chooses to pick certain characters for chapters. So far the novel has been focusing on the character of Paul, an artist at Slade art school. Paul Tarrant has demonstrated to the readers how relationships can be deceiving and often full of pain. At this point in the novel, Paul has befriended a model named Teresa, as their relationship thickens Paul finds out about her abusive husband. Listening to her talk about how much pain he causes her has gotten Paul side tracked. He has become more focused on Teresa’s relationships rather than his schooling. In the following chapters we have the chance to meet Teresa’s “ex” Jack. He proves himself to be as abuse as Teresa explained him to be, shown when he abuses both Paul and Teresa. Paul receives cracked ribs and Teresa a bloodied up face. Meeting at her house, Paul gets the first-hand look at what jack has done to her:
Her face was in the shadows. He caught her arm and pulled her across the lamp. She had a bruise on her cheekbone and a cut on her lower lip. “Jack?"
“Who else?” She laughed (94).
The sad thing about this confrontation is that Jack is the only one who would do something like that to her. An even worse thing is that she is laughing about it. In Teresa’s situation with Jack also brings up another important issue; fighting back. Due to the fact this took place during the early twentieth century, women did not have a large say in their marriage. Divorces were not often herd of; it would also be hard for Teresa to convict her husband of anything, as she has said in previous chapters. Instead of waiting for another death threat Teresa decides to run away from her problems leaving, even the people she loves, behind. Paul stands and watches her leave: “ the cab turned to corner. He went and stood in the empty living room, looking around him at the bare spaces” (97). This description creates a perfect image of Paul and how he must feel. The words bare and empty specifically make him appear more alone and isolated than he really is. The drama of this book is definitely the most interesting aspect; I look forward to see how Paul and Teresa end up, whether it be together or apart.
1 comment:
Good analyzation but when do different characters speak throughout the book? I think the book was all from Paul's perspective until Lewis speaks a tiny bit near the end. I like what you said about Teresa laughing but I think it was more of a defense mechanism as she fought to keep control but also a reaction with a bit of bordonm in it, showing it has happended before adn it is just a part of her life.
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