The Plot Revolves Around a Man Who Thinks Highly of Himself

The Plot Revolves Around a Man Who Thinks Highly of Himself
1 Provide a brief plot summary of the story in no more than five sentences.
The plot revolves around a man who thinks highly of himself. His life appears perfect on the outside, but in reality, his life and personality are a total wreck. He encounters a woman whom he suspects is insane. He takes advantage of the woman’s vulnerability but does not know that this woman will pose a significant danger in his life. When the woman got her vengeance, she vanished, and the man walked home as if nothing had happened to them (Cheever, 1954).
2 Who is telling the story? Does their point of view affect the characterization in any way or are they an impartial participant?
The story is told from the omniscient third-person point of view. The narrator understands how the characters feel and think. As a result, the characterization has been influenced by the narrator’s point of view. The narrator has revealed Blake’s personality through his actions. On the other hand, because of Miss Dent’s situation, the narrator also attempted to elicit sympathy from readers. Furthermore, the narrator reveals the minor characters’ characteristics and connections to Blake. Thus, Blake’s personality comes to the fore (Cheever, 1954).
3 Does the story progress in chronological order, or is the plot cyclical? Does the story include foreshadow?
The plot unfolds in chronological order. It began when Blake left work, followed by the events in which Miss Dent pursued and hunted him. The story does, however, contain flashbacks. For example, the narrator recounted the night Blake and Miss Dent had to work late. Blake had sex with Miss Dent and tried everything he could to get rid of her after that. The narrator has also told the story of Blake and his wife, Louise. The narrator mentioned a time when they argued, and Blake decided not to speak to his wife (Cheever, 1954).
Moreover, the story includes foreshadowing. When Miss Dent is hired as Blake’s secretary, he knows something is off with her. She was timid; she told him he had been in the hospital for months and was grateful for the job opportunity, and she had terrible handwriting. These events signal that this woman may cause danger, but Blake does not consider those details (Cheever, 1954).
4 What is the setting (time and place) of the story? Is the setting symbolic in any way? Does the setting impact the action of the characters in any way?
The story happened one afternoon in the 1950s, in New York, specifically in Manhattan, Shady Hill, and on the five-forty-eight train. The setting is symbolic since it reveals a lot about the characters. For instance, in Manhattan, where Blake’s office was located, he was expected to act professionally, and this was also the place that built his confidence because of his job. However, this place was also where his fear grew. When he knew someone was following him, he started acting strangely and tried to escape. Shady Hill has also symbolized the Whites who are in the middle class. Miss Dent thought of this place as somewhere where happy families live and well-off and wealthy people live. Miss Dent, on the contrary, lived in a small room in the city...