T. Coraghessan Boyle is one of my favorite short story writers. His ability to discuss (through prose) the relationship between men and women is why I've chosen to explore one of his stories. From "Greasy Lake" to "Admiral" and beyond, Boyle illustrates the innate connection that radiates between the sexes. Today we will explore how he uses this finely tuned gift in "She Wasn't Soft".
The story takes place in California in the early nineties and focuses on two characters: Paula and Jason. Paula is a strong-minded, disciplined woman who refuses to allow a man to reduce her to mediocrity. "...she was nobody's little woman and never would be. That had been her mother's role, and look at the sad sack of neuroses and alcoholic dysfunction she'd become."
Jason, Paula's boyfriend of nine months, is a sheltered surfer-type who's rage against his straight and narrow doctor parents has crippled him into mediocrity. He runs a surf shop (which his parents started up for him, and which has become progressively less profitable in his hands), hangs out at a local sports bar, and subconsciously tries to keep Paula from her own focused goals.
Where Boyle plays with gender stereotypes is where I find him most interesting. Paula is described as hard, not having an ounce of fat on her and Jason is described as soft with a paunch in his belly. Paula is shown as independent, focused, and logical: wanting to be alone before her big marathon to load up on carbohydrates, and Jason is the emotional one: lying about it being his birthday and trying anything to get Paula to break her strict regimen. You start reading and think, "Oh, I get it. Jason is the girl and Paula is the guy", but to reduce this artist's work to that simplistic (and lazy) analysis would be to miss the tell-all signs of Jason's macho acrobatics and Paula's ineluctable femininity.
For instance, Jason's testosteronic (not a real word) tendencies are displayed in an argument he instigates with a waitperson while allegedly helping Paula load up on carbs; the habits are further shown when he picks a fight with his girlfriend's nemesis and her trainer. Paula may not be soft, but she is all woman and her estrogen has everything to do with why she allows her pity and emotional connection to Jason compromise everything she's worked for.
This story is a sixteen-page lesson on why you can't live a life without balance. Man and Woman. Yin and Yang. Work and Play. All is needed to be an unabridged human being. Plus, there's a smidgen of scandal (i.e. rape and the implication of murder), so please, get your hands on a copy of T. C. Boyle's "She Wasn't Soft", enjoy it, and discuss!
blip blam bloggo,
~sondria!
P.S. Read more about T.C. Boyle and his works here.
I really enjoyed your summary of the story. It definitely made me want to read it for myself. Keep up the great work. I look forward to the next blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I read the story in an anthology called Doubletakes which was acutally edited by T.C. Boyle. A lot of my WHAT I READ WEDNESDAY stories will be pulled from that book so stay tuned! :)
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