“The Unexpected” by Kate Chopin was also set in the 19th century but the class is different to the previous story, “Tony Kytes the Arch Deceiver”. This is because it is set in the middle classes and it is written in Standard English. The class of the characters in the story is emphasised by the ability to travel.
“Strike Pay “ by D.H Lawrence was written in the early 20th century and is based on the industrial community of miners. As in “Tony kytes”, the dialect is used to emphasise class. The two characters do not have their own home; this shows low financial status. There is a very dull repetition of life. This is shown when the horses have their day of freedom; they do not know what to do with it. Lawrence uses horses as a metaphor fore the miners’ lives. This perhaps helps us to feel sympathy for Ephram and to understand Mauds actions at the end of the story.
Another story written in the 20th century is “Turned” by C.P Gilman. In this story, the class is shown by use of Standard English as in “The Unexpected”. It is also clear that Mrs Marroner can afford to dismiss her husband due to her likely financial resources. Because it is set in the 20th century, the reader is less surprised to see the wife leave, as, although women were less educated than nowadays, a woman in her position can afford to reject unwanted marriage.
The characters and stereotypes in these four stories are plain to see. In the title “Tony Kytes the Arch Deceiver” by Thomas Hardy, Tony is already portrayed as an Arch Deceiver”. As we read the story, we see that he is trying to deceive three women but he is deceiving himself.
In “The Unexpected” Dorothea is stereotyped as selfish because she will not marry Randall. “This was not the man she promised to marry. What a hideous transformation had undergone.” This quote shows that se did not want to marry him because of his looks. It is also likely from reading the story that she will find another partner but is unlikely to find love again.
In the story, “Turned” Gerta is characterised as being a child-like. “She is a tall rosy cheeked baby.” shows this point. At the beginning Gerta is reefed to as naive but at the end of the story she is decried as “like a tall Madonna” suggesting she is strong and majestic.
There are some strong contrasts between the nature of the relationships at the beginning of the stories. In “ Tony kytes” Tony’s relationships are a joke and are told in a jovial way. He is not faithful to any of the women. This is contrasted by “the unexpected” where the relationship is intense and passionate. ”She had sat daily for hours gazing upon his portrait”. They both also have strong expectations about the relationships.
In the stories third parties and other forces in the relationship, make the relationships change. In “Tony Kytes” Tony is influenced by his father, which makes him like Hannah? If they were left to themselves Tony would have ended up with Hannah. In “The Unexpected” the third party is not a person but a disease that changes Randall from the person Dorothea loved into someone she loathes. ”This was not the man she promised to love and marry”.
In “Turned” Greta is obviously the third party in the relationship. Gertas’ baby is also another influencing factor in the relationship. I think if Gerta did not have a baby Mrs Marriner would have turned Gerta away.
I found “Tony Kytes the Arch Aeceiver” was my favourite story because it uses local dialect and I find some parts humorous.
