User:Dwperrotti/sandbox

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What I plan to contribute to the Wikipedia article, The-Five-Forty-Eight, is to add depth to the article in many ways. Firstly, add may more detail to the summary that it desperately needs. Also, the summary seems to have a little opinion based within it too. But, I would also like to add a critic section to the article as well. Overall, I would like to make this article much stronger and maybe raise the rating of the article too!

Critical Response (Five-Forty-Eight)

Magill Book Reviews reviewed "The Five-Forty-Eight" in February of 1990. In this review, he/she talks about the plot and about the character Blake. The reviewer describes Blake's confidence being based off of his own "Self-Importance" and to be nothing more substantial than acting upon the "sumptuary laws" of the upper/middle class. He/she then goes on to explain Miss Dent's need to reclaim some of that self-respect she had lost sleeping with Blake. Also, by accomplishing her task of flowing Blake home to Shady Hill she had taught him a lesson, and more dignified and merciful than Blake. He/she finishes the review by talking about the ending and questioning whether Blake learned his lesson at the end of the story. He/she also explains that Blake might as well be Cheever's most unlikable character, and is remarkable for his callous attitude towards others. Along with confusing the sumptuary laws, moral obligations, and human responsibilities he lives by.

Critical Response (Image Making Cheever)

Quentin Martin writes about the images within the Five-Forty-Eight. He explores multiple examples of imagery within the story. First he writes about when Blake was walking in downtown Manhattan and turns to see a plate of glass. Inside that was a domestic model that contained cups of coffee, magazines, and flowers in vases. But, the cups were empty of coffee, the flowers were dead in the vase, and the guests had not come. But, Blake saw his own reflection in the plate glass. Martin explains that this illustrates a "false-front emptiness" where Miss Dent thinks Blake's life is full of friendships, money, and a large and loving family but in reality sleeps in a room by himself, torments his wife, and all but abandoned his son to a neighbor. Martin also states that his domestic woes and ego dived behavior which is fueled by what he perceives as people wronged him. However, this all accumulates to his behavior being as open as the store-front window according to Martin. He then introduces another image theory about the ride home on the train. Martin explains that the first and third ad, that depict a women and man toasting wine and a Hawaiian Dancer; show visual manifestations of Blake's and Miss Dents emotional desolation and psychological dysfunction according to Martin. One final image that Martin explores is the Cat's Paw ad. Where a once popular rubber heel placed on the bottom of a shoe to prevent slipping and falling is actually a metaphor for Blake and Miss Dent. Martin explains when Miss Dent states, "you’re the only obstacle between me and my happiness" that the first and more literal meaning is that Blake is between her and the station ads that represent the relationship she seeks. But also Blake is the heel between Miss Dent and her happiness.

Small Summary of The Five-Forty-Eight in the article, The Stories of John Cheever.

The Five-Forty-Eight is a short story that follows actions of Blake, whom is the main character. And his escape from a women following him through the streets of Manhattan. This woman's name is Miss Dent and was fired by the encouragement of Blake after they had a one night stand together. Eventually Miss Dent catches up with Blake on the Five-Forty-Eight train back to Shady-Hill. During this train ride back Miss Dent has a gun pushed into the side of Blake and threatens to kill him if he tries to escape. After getting to the last stop Miss Dent brings Blake to a freight house were she teaches Blake a lesson. After pushing Blake into the dirt, Miss Dent walks away and Blake continues his way home.