What Comparisons and/or Contrasts can be made between the two short stories, ''Horse Sense'' and ''The Three Sisters''?

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Rubarani Balasothy 10A

What Comparisons and/or Contrasts can be made between the two short stories, ''Horse Sense'' and ''The Three Sisters''?

        Although ''Horse Sense'' written by Deborah Moggach, and ''The Three Sisters'' written by Jane Austen are both short stories, many comparisons and differences can be seen, one being that the stories were written at different times. ''The Three Sisters'' was written in the late nineteenth century and ''Horse Sense'' was written in the late twentieth century. Time has an immense influence on both stories. The reason for some of the similarities or differences is because of the period in which the stories were written.

        It can be seen that time is passing in both stories. In ''Horse Sense'' time has passed and this is shown when Eric's neck is ''getting browner'' because the summer is getting even hotter. Time is passing when each of the letters are being written. The day on which the letter is written is shown above the letter therefore, the reader can see how many days have passed between the time when the previous letter was written and the one that is being read.

        Mary is presented to be very self-centred by Jane Austen. In the first letter from Mary, ''I'' is used repeatedly throughout the letter showing how she is constantly talking about her life to Fanny. Mary does not ask any questions about how Fanny is in her letters. In contrast the narrator in ''Horse Sense'' is not really self-centred, but she is just very insecure and blames herself for everything.

The topic of marriage seems to be a natural concept for the characters in both ''The Three Sisters'' and ''Horse Sense'' to discuss. In ''The Three Sisters'' marriage was very important to a girl and her mother. Marriage was the goal of a young lady's life and being provided for. Mary was the ''the happiest creature in the world'' because she had received an offer of marriage from Mr Watts. Jane Austen uses the superlative to emphasise on the happiness Mary supposedly feels. When Jane Austen writes about how happy Mary feels she is using irony. Mary does not really feel the happiest creature, more like the unhappiest creature because she only wants to marry Mr Watts to be triumphant over her sisters and receive lots of money and have more status in society. Mary has no affection towards Mr Watts and she does not realise her marriage will not be very successful if she dislikes him so much. Although for her it was essential to marry into the right family, and have a high status in society. The husband whom she should marry ought to be very rich and good-looking. The women of that time should marry a man who is of equal status or of higher status. Once the girl is married she will receive a 'title' and acquire more independence and money. It was vital for a woman to marry because otherwise she would probably become a governess. The woman's father would not be able to financially afford to look after his daughter so she would have to go to work. A governess would have to look after the children of the family who she belonged to. She would be treated as a servant, and would not be able to find a husband, as she would be with the children most of the time. A governess would have no status because she would not be associated with the family as she would be too lower class and she would not be identified with the servants because, she would not spend time with them in the kitchen or around the house. Mary does not see her mother asking about marriage surprising, as Mary knows what her life could be, as a married woman or a governess. In ''Horse Sense,'' marriage also seems a natural concept for the family to think. Ranjit had been a ''bachelor for years and his family started to despair.'' Ranjit's family were worried he may not get married as he was getting old. They did not want their son to remain unmarried and have to live alone.

The way in which the bridegroom and bride meet seem to be quite similar. In ''The Three Sisters'' the couples meet at balls in front of their families and where there are lots of people surrounding them. During most arranged marriages, as with the one in ''Horse Sense,'' the couples meet in front of their families and everyone gives their blessings.

In ''Horse Sense'' Ranjit seems to have been forced into marrying the narrator from family pressure. Ranjit and the narrator have an arranged marriage. Deborah Moggach writes how Ranjit's 'family had started to despair' because he was unable to find himself a wife so the family had to organise a wedding for him. Mary and Mr Watts' marriage is slightly arranged. Mary's parents have to agree for Mary to marry Mr Watts and they have to accept whether he is good enough for their daughter. Parents have a large role in who their children marry in both stories.

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I think marriage was quite important to the families because in ''Horse Sense'' his family begins to ''despair'' when they realise he is getting old. Marriage is important to the narrator as well, because she longs for a baby. The narrator watched Ranjit and could ''see the small boy he once was'' and she ''burst into tears'' when she saw the young boy getting slapped in the shop. Deborah Moggach shows the narrator's desire to have a child by comparing Ranjit to a young child and the need to have a child. When the narrator bursts into tears, this shows ...

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