Live Life to the Fullest
By
Eric Sissom
English Composition II
Paper 5
28 November 2006
Outline
Thesis statement: The story “Neighbors” by Raymond Carver and the poem “I Cannot Live with You” by Emily Dickinson are about a man who wishes he had another life.
Live Life to the Fullest
People who are unsatisfied with their lives think about ways they could change their current livelihood. The story “Neighbors” by Raymond Carver and the poem “I Cannot Live with You” by Emily Dickinson are about a man who wishes he had another life. The man in both the story and poem often fantasies about the life he wants to live, and wonders how he could possibly succeed in his current living situation.
In Carver’s story, Bill Miller and his wife, Arlene, often went their separate ways during the day with their own tasks. The author writes, “But now and then they felt they [are] alone among their circle [between each other] had been passed by somehow, leaving Bill to attend to his bookkeeping duties and Arlene occupied with secretarial chores” (1). In Dickinson’s poem, the man does not like living with his wife and claims his life should be in another place. Dickinson writes
I cannot live with you –
It would be Life –
And Life is over there –
Behind the Shelf – (1-4)
This passage reveals that he is not happy with his marriage.
In Carver’s story, the Millers would occasionally compare themselves to their neighbors, Harriet and Jim Stone. The Millers would often stay at home most nights, and rarely went on any trips. The author writes, “It seemed to the Millers that the Stones lived a fuller and brighter life. The Stones were always going out for dinner, or entertaining at home, or traveling . . .” (1). That made Bill wish he would be more active in his life, somewhat like the Stones. As the Millers were seeing the Stones leaving on another vacation, Bill said, “’Well I wish it was us’” (12). Arlene responded, “’God knows we could use a vacation’” (13). The Millers felt sorry for their boring lives. Dickinson’s poem describes a man who feels sorry for his life with his wife as in the following passage:
The Sexton keeps the Key to –
Putting up
Our Life – His Porcelain –
Like a Cup – (5-8)
This passage seems to indicate his life is empty.
In Carver’s story, if the Stones were out-of-town, “the Millers would [always] look after the Stones’ apartment, feed [their cat] Kitty, and water the plants” (2). When Bill would go over there after dinner, he would often snoop around their neighbors’ apartment while wondering how his life would be if he was like Mr. Stone. While in his neighbors’ bathroom, “He looked at himself in the mirror and then closed his eyes and then looked again” (16). He was picturing himself in his current living situation, and wonders what direction his life is going from this point on until the day he dies. In Dickinson’s poem, the man often wonders how his life would be like if he was living without his wife. Dickinson writes
Discarded of the Housewife –
Quaint – or Broke –
A newer Sevres pleases –
Old Ones crack – (9-12)
This passage explains that he rather live without his wife because his wife is a lot older.
In Carver’s story, Arlene Miller went across the hall one day to check on their neighbors’ apartment instead of Bill. She told Bill, “’Make yourself comfortable while I go across the hall’” (48). Bill tried to pass the time while she was gone, but after a long time, he went to check on her across the hall. Since their neighbors’ door was locked, he knocked and she answered and then they returned to their own apartment. After returning, she realized she forgot to feed the cat, “Kitty” (59), and they both attempted to return to their neighbors’ apartment. After leaving their own apartment, and shutting the door, she realized she forgot the keys. They then discovered they were locked out of their apartment. He said, “’Don’t worry,’ . . . ‘For God’s sake, don’t worry’” (76) while hugging his wife. The author writes, “They stayed there. They held each other. They leaned into the door as if against a wind, and braced themselves” (77). The man in Dickinson’s poem admits that he needs to be apart from his wife as Dickinson writes
So We must meet apart –
You there – I – here –
With just the Door ajar
That Oceans are – and Prayer –
And that White Sustenance –
Despair – (45-50)
This passage describes a man that wants to departure from his wife.
Both the story and the poem seem to affect someone who wishes to take a different turn in life. The story is about a man who is obviously jealous of their neighbors’ lives while the poem is about a man who wants to depart ways from his wife. Bill Miller in the story “Neighbors” wishes to have a more active live, like his neighbor friend. The man in the poem “I Cannot Live with You” wishes to live alone, or with another companion. While Bill Miller loves his wife, the man in the poem hates his wife. Both men realize that it is time for a change, and start to live a happier life.
Works Cited
Carver, Raymond. “Neighbors.” Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs, eds. 65-68.
Dickinson, Emily. “I Cannot Live with You.” Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs, eds. 1115-1116.
Roberts, Edgar V. and Henry E. Jacobs, eds. Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. 8th ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2007.
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Grade: 170/200 | This essay was written by Eric Sissom, autism@ericsissom.com