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A Birthday Remembered

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Submitted By hassenkam
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11-11-2013
A Birthday Remembered
Homosexuality is not always looked at nicely most men thinks that it is wrong and they don´t know why they just think it is gross and when a woman leaves a man for another woman he thinks that it is wrong and that they are insane. But we are all just people and we have the right to choose who we love. These themes can be seen in the text “A Birthday Remembered” by Ann Allen Shockley from 1980.
The story takes place in Ellen´s home over an afternoon until late afternoon, she is in the upper middle class because of her work as an editor for the food section. There isn´t much description of the house, we only read about the living room the kitchen which is spacious and the cellphone. It is where the story begins and ends.
Ellen is a strong confident woman who has raised a child “Tobie” with Jackie. She is sad for the loss of Jackie, she is the only mother figurer for Tobie who have lost her mother “Jackie” (“ may I come over?” why shouldn´t she? Then again, why should she really want to? Tobie no longer belonged to her- them. When Jackie died a year ago, Tobie had to go to her father.)ll 7-9. She is a caring woman who is full of love for Tobie. Tobie is like a daughter to her, she is happy that Tobie remembers her birthday and that Tobie is coming over to her place.
Her relationship with Jackie is good they love each other and have raised a child together “Tobie” she gets sad when her and Tobie talks about Jackie because she has died of an illness (“yes-“ she replied softly. “But we have to get used to living without loved ones” she turned away, pretending to search the refrigerator so Tobie couldn´t see her face.)ll 89-90. The relationship between Ellen and Roger is not so good because of the way Roger sees homosexuality he think it is wrong especially sins his wife “Jackie” left him so that she could be with Ellen. Roger had tried to declare Jackie temporarily insane.ll 14-15.
Ellen´s relationship to Tobie is very good she is like a mother to her, she takes care of her. Tobie ask her for her opinion on warrick because if she likes him her mother would to. Ellen gets all happy and warm within when Tobie calls to congratulate her on her birthday.(“Happy birthday!” “Thank you-“Ellen felt a rush of warmth, pleased that Tobie had remembered. But hadn´t Tobie always. Besides, her birthday wasn´t difficult to remember, falling on Valentine’s Day.)ll 5-6.
There is not much about how Ellen feels about love she thinks that you are free to choose whoever you want to love, but she is relived that Tobie´s boyfriend is a boy because it is easier for her to liv like that because of how the world is at this point in time.
The theme of this story is sexuality and how it can affect the lives of those around them to the better and worse. The conflict is how hard it is to be homosexual will being a mother at the same time as having a carrier. 544 words.

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