The Chilled Coffee--A characteristic analysis on
One image that can best sum up the sentiment of the heroine in Theft± occurs in the last paragraph, that is, the cup of chilled coffee±. Chilled coffee tastes bitter and cold, and has a strong aftertaste for you to to think about what you have drunk, just like the psychological state the heroine of Theft± was in. In the story, the heroine suffered a strong sense of loss that made her life gloomy and cold, and she was haunted by a sentiment of being spiritually isolated from and materially impoverished by the environment in which she lived. Where does this frame of mind of hers come from? Obviously, the heroine of Theft± has always lived in economic straits. Throughout the story, we can feel the great pressure caused by the economic problems on her. When she wanted to take the Elevated, she naturally± looked into her purse to make certain she had the fare, and was pleased± to find forty cents in the coin envelope. During her conversation with Bill, she kept thinking about her empty purse and that she could not possibly expect a check for her latest review for another three days, and her arrangement with the basement restaurant could not last much longer if she did not pay something on account.± From this we can see clearly that she
This principle underlies all her behaviors and provides an excuse for her escapism in life. The economic problems that weighed on her mind made her live in a forlorn state and adopt a passive attitude toward life instead of a positive and vigorous one, which can be seen from her giving up her due rights again and again in dealing with other people, such as Bill and the janitress. At the end of the story, she herself also came to realize it and determined to change. The fixed principle of rejection in her kept her from adopting any positive attitude in safeguarding her own material and spiritual interests. She just held an attitude of let go± in everything. When sipping the cup of chilled coffee, she thought: I was right not to be afraid of any thief but myself, who will end by leaving me nothing. This kind of attitude of hers in return caused more material losses in her life and caused a strong sense of loss and made her life gloomier and lack vigor. Her feelings having lost the heat and steam, were just like a cup of chilled coffee, and her passive attitude in love directly causes the failure of her love and reflects in some degree her indifference and fatigue in life. Her escapism in life is here once again felt in dealing with love. This is another important cause of the heroine's gloomy and desolate frame of mind. The man obviously loved her deeply, but was also deeply hurt by her rejection of this love, so he in hurt feelings sent her the letter, trying to cause great pain in her with many acid words in return. ± When she found her purse missing, she once again made up her mind to let it go±, though it obviously carried some more important spiritual meanings than merely being a present of material value to her. No wonder she felt that she had been robbed of an enormous number of valuable things, whether material or intangible. Fundamentally speaking, aside from the economic and emotional elements, her character is the decisive element in forming of this kind of frame of mind, which results in a bitter and cold emotional experience just like a cup of chilled coffee.
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Acceptance Essays
