Analysis for "Paul's Case"
Angela Heysel
Muttoo, Ian. Theatre Royal Panorama, Brighton, UK. Digital image. Fotopedia. N.p., 28
Nov. 2007. Web. 9 Feb. 2013.
Point of View
The theatre represents the short story's point of view because as an audience member, one is able to see everything that is going on in the play. A theatergoer is not limited to only viewing the external conflicts because actors may express their internal thoughts and emotions through soliloquies and asides. The narrator is telling Paul's story just as an audience member watches a play.
Xurble. S Is for Superman. Digital image. Fotopedia. N.p., 30 Mar. 2009. Web. 9 Feb. 2013
Characterization
Paul's confidence in himself mirrors a superhero. Just like Superman, Paul believes he is indestructible. Rather than saving the world, Paul is rescuing himself from his dull future of becoming the young man on the stoop whom his father "[hoped] that he world pattern" (pg. 240, par. 25). Paul's impulsive lying to his classmates and dreams of the theatre are just as impractical as Superman's perfect world where good always trumps evil. Every superhero has their kryptonite. Paul's kryptonite is the fact that he is just a boy who isn't ready to take on the real world. He would rather live in the life of luxury that he believes he deserves than work his way up to the top. Unfortunately, his kryptonite finally got the best of him.
Kangotraveler. Jail Cell- Alcatraz. Digital image. Flickr. N.p., 5 Oct. 2007. Web. 9 Feb. 2013.
Setting
The picture of the jail cell demonstrates Paul's feelings of being trapped in the Cordelia Street prison. Similar to an inmate, Paul envisions the magnificence of the outside world; however, once he escapes, staying on track and starting a new life isn't as easy as it seems. Once on their own, many free inmates struggle with staying out of jail. Paul was suffering these same feelings when he discovered his father was coming for him, but rather than returning to prison, he ended it all.
Dvortygirl. Greenhouse. Digital image. Fotopedia. N.p., 14 Sept. 2009. Web. 9 Feb. 2013.
Symbolism
The picture of the greenhouse effectively portrays the symbolism because just like Paul, these flowers are protected from the dangers of the outside world. As soon as they are exposed to the elements, the flowers will die because they are not accustomed to life outside the greenhouse.
RezzanAtakol. The Street. Digital image. Deviantart. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2013.
Theme
The idea of floating on a cloud is similar to day dreaming. Clouds protect one from the real world because they are so high in the sky; however, they are made up of tiny droplets of water. There is always a risk of falling through a cloud back down to the real world, and it is not gentle. Paul was floating on a cloud way above the miseries of Cordelia Street and was unable to handle the downfall.