Dương Hoàng Phương Anh
MSSV: [Link]
Class: Wednesday - Group 4
REFLECTION - ADVENTURE
When I first read this story, I did not understand why Alice could not let go of her past.
However, after attending Group 1’s presentation and teacher’s sharing, I could find out the
reasons for my questions.
When Alice was 16 years old, her lover Ned planned to go to Cleveland, she did not hesitate
to ask to go with him. Her decision shows the breakthrough in the thinking of a girl at that
time. What a woman should have done was stay home and wait for her man to return. Is Alice
afraid of society judging her? She did have. An illustration for this is that when they went to a
new place, no one knew her and pointed fingers for her actions. However, she didn't want to
become a burden for Ned, she could sustain life by herself and not require Ned to marry her
right now. All she wants is to be with the person she loves. The year Alice turned 27 was the
time when she was engulfed by loneliness, isolation and emptiness. When Alice was 22 years
old, she started attaching to inanimate objects. That she didn't want others to touch her
furniture symbolizes she didn't want others to have a relationship with her. She rejects her
connection to society, and it seems that only Ned is her fragile connection to humans. When
she was 25 years old, her mother remarried, adding to her already existing loneliness.
Because she always pursued a loyal love, she always turned to one direction - that is Ned, and
her mother's remarriage is something contrast with her belief. Loneliness is the most terrible
thing, Alice cannot bear it anymore and external catalysts push her to embark on an adventure
to wash away all prejudices and her old self. She wanted to reconnect with society, find
freedom for herself, she wanted to hug someone in the same situation as her. Alice is a girl
more pitiful than blameworthy.
1. Alice is characterized as 'damaged goods'. Do you agree? Explain.
No, I do not think so. Because:
First, she is not a product, she is a very normal woman in society, not a product for anyone to
buy including Ned. She has the right to be free and do what she wants, not depending on
anyone. Second, she was not damaged, and it did not become a stain on her in particular or
women in general. In society at that time, the belief that a single woman should remain
faithful to her first love and not explore any type of relationship with another man. That is an
extremely strict society standard for women. For men, the specific example in the story is
Ned, he found a new interest with other women when he immigrated to Chicago. He couldn't
resist the attraction and novelty of the girls in the new land - that was accepted and forgiven
by society. From there, libertine and infidelity are formed in the male personality. In contrast
to women, because of the harsh standards that society imposes on them, things are formed
that are deeply ingrained in the subconscious. They cannot change their hearts towards their
men. Alice is a very vivid and realistic example. She accepts living in loneliness and social
isolation. Every time she wanted to overcome the barrier; social norms pulled her back to
reality. She is always cautious and reminds herself "Oh Ned, I am waiting". She never did
anything against social norms. Therefore, it was social norms that damaged her, forcing her
onto a lonely path.
2. Alice is the one to be blamed for her tragedy. Do you agree? Explain.
No, I do not agree. Because:
First, Alice is clear-sighted to realize that Ned would not come back with her. However, she
accepted to wait in loneliness and hopelessness. The reason is that women were placed in a
passive position in love affairs in the 19th century. She had no choice except to wait for Ned.
Alice wasted 11 years and possibly her whole life waiting in vain, she lost her youth and
vitality. She once wanted and acted to escape loneliness, but because there was no official
farewell to Ned, she felt guilty about her actions. She always reminded and warned herself to
wait for Ned until he returned. Therefore, we could say that social norms are deeply ingrained
in Alice's personality. Society cruelly trampled on Alice's desires with indifferent eyes. After
the "adventure", Alice once again closed the door tightly, perhaps the door will never open
again. Second, it was Ned's selfishness and indifference that brought Alice into tragedy. There
was no offical break-up. He broke his promise to Alice by not returning to her. He was just
immersed in pleasing himself with new and exciting things in the new land. He did not
realize that in his hometown there was still a girl waiting for him in extreme loneliness. How
pitiful for a girl who always had her heart set on him.
3. What does Anderson mean by the ending line 'to face BRAVELY the fact that many
people must live and die alone, even in Winesburg'?
He wanted to reflect the truth of society. He wanted to express his disappointment and
sadness when he saw that the society where he was born and grew up, where he was
connected like blood and flesh, was a place that brought loneliness and loss to the souls of so
many people, including him. They had no choice in how they lived and enjoyed life, they had
almost no opportunity to do those things. They must have lived according to the wishes of
society, must have accepted it as a matter of course. People were lonely in their souls, in their
own homes and in the society where they were living in.
4. Explain the significance of the title 'Adventure' by Anderson.
"Adventure" represents mainly through the three stages of Alice's life. First, when she was 16
and had a love affair with Ned. This is Alice's first adventure full of vitality and enthusiasm.
The color of life at this time is very vivid for Alice, expressed through the details of her and
Ned talking about what they would do in life in the future. Her love was innocent, and, at that
time, she had already planted the passion to pursue freedom when she wanted to follow Ned
and have a new life with him in a new place. Second, when she was 25 years old, her second
adventure began. She realized the depth and poignancy of the loneliness and loss during the
days waiting for Ned to return. She gradually wanted to connect with people, she wanted to
be loved. She sought freedom and tried to escape the overwhelming loneliness and isolation
that gripped her. Finally, the "adventure" came with freedom, leaving all shackles of society
beginning when she was 27. The chase to find herself in society, to be comforted and shared
by people in the same situation "find some other lonely human and embrace him". Alice
chose the time for her journey on a rainy evening. The empty house was also the catalyst for
her journey. She was empty. She was naked - she was exposing all her weakness, loneliness
and loneliness, without hiding it. She rushed into the rain to cleanse herself of all social
prejudices and her own subconscious. "Adventure" shows the breakthrough of Alice, a person
who is extremely careful in her behavior and relationships with others but does something
unexpected.
Mine
While the story might not involve physical exploration, it delves into the inner world of
Alice, revealing her emotional landscape. Her quest for love and companionship becomes an
adventure within her own mind, fraught with longing, disappointment, and ultimately, a
breakdown. The story's climax, where Alice embraces a stranger in the rain, is a moment of
emotional release and self-discovery. This "adventure" is a psychological journey that
culminates in a realization of her own vulnerability and the need for human connection.
"Adventure" shows the breakthrough of Alice, a person who is extremely careful in her
behavior and relationships with others but does something unexpected.
When I first read this story, I did not understand why Alice could not let go of her past.
However, after attending Group 1’s presentation and teacher’s sharing, I could find out the
reasons for my questions. The belief of the 19th century that women need to be loyal and
faithful to their man, to their love deepened Alice into loneliness and stuck her in the past.
She rejects her connection to society, and it seems that only Ned is her fragile connection to
humans. When she was 25 years old, her mother remarried, adding to her already existing
loneliness. Because she always pursued a loyal love, she always turned to one direction - that
is Ned, and her mother's remarriage is something contrast with her belief. Loneliness is the
most terrible thing, Alice cannot bear it anymore and external catalysts push her to embark on
an adventure to wash away all prejudices and her old self. She wanted to reconnect with
society, find freedom for herself, she wanted to hug someone in the same situation as her.
Alice is a girl more pitiful than blameworthy.
1. Alice is characterized as 'damaged goods'. Do you agree? Explain.
No, I do not think so. Because:
First, she is not a product, she is a very normal woman in society, not a product for anyone to
buy including Ned. She has the right to be free and do what she wants, not depending on
anyone. Second, she was not damaged, and it did not become a stain on her in particular or
women in general. In society at that time, the belief that a single woman should remain
faithful to her first love and not explore any type of relationship with another man. That is an
extremely strict society standard for women. Because of the harsh standards that society
imposes on women, things are formed that are deeply ingrained in the subconscious. They
cannot change their hearts towards their men. Alice is a very vivid and realistic example. She
accepts living in loneliness and social isolation. Every time she wanted to overcome the
barrier; social norms pulled her back to reality. She is always cautious and reminds herself
"Oh Ned, I am waiting". She never did anything against social norms. Therefore, it was social
norms that damaged her, forcing her onto a lonely path.
2. Alice is the one to be blamed for her tragedy. Do you agree? Explain.
No, I do not agree. Because:
First, Alice is clear-sighted to realize that Ned would not come back with her. However, she
accepted to wait in loneliness and hopelessness. The reason is that women were placed in a
passive position in love affairs in the 19th century. She had no choice except to wait for Ned.
Alice wasted 11 years and possibly her whole life waiting in vain, she lost her youth and
vitality. She once wanted and acted to escape loneliness, but because there was no official
farewell to Ned, she felt guilty about her actions. She always reminded and warned herself to
wait for Ned until he returned. Therefore, we could say that social norms are deeply ingrained
in Alice's personality. Society cruelly trampled on Alice's desires with indifferent eyes. After
the "adventure", Alice once again closed the door tightly, perhaps the door will never open
again. Second, it was Ned's selfishness and indifference that brought Alice into tragedy. There
was no official break-up. He broke his promise to Alice by not returning to her. He was just
immersed in pleasing himself with new and exciting things in the new land. He did not
realize that in his hometown there was still a girl waiting for him in extreme loneliness. How
pitiful for a girl who always had her heart set on him.
3. What does Anderson mean by the ending line 'to face BRAVELY the fact that many people
must live and die alone, even in Winesburg'?
He wanted to reflect the truth of society. He wanted to express his disappointment and
sadness when he saw that the society where he was born and grew up, where he was
connected like blood and flesh, was a place that brought loneliness and loss to the souls of so
many people, including him. They had no choice in how they lived and enjoyed life, they had
almost no opportunity to do those things. They must have lived according to the wishes of
society, must have accepted it as a matter of course. People were lonely in their souls, in their
own homes and in the society where they were living in.
4. Explain the significance of the title 'Adventure' by Anderson.
While the story might not involve physical exploration, it delves into the inner world of
Alice, revealing her emotional landscape. Her quest for love and companionship becomes an
adventure within her own mind, fraught with longing, disappointment, and ultimately, a
breakdown. The story's climax, where Alice embraces a stranger in the rain, is a moment of
emotional release and self-discovery. This "adventure" is a psychological journey that
culminates in a realization of her own vulnerability and the need for human connection.
"Adventure" shows the breakthrough of Alice, a person who is extremely careful in her
behavior and relationships with others but does something unexpected.