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Relationships In The Painted Door

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One in three people will be in an unhealthy relationship. There are many aspects that can lead to an unhealthy relationship. These short stories demonstrate two couples, Gabriella and Liam from “Bluffing” by Gail Helgason and John and Ann from “The Painted Door” by Sinclair Ross who show many characteristics of an unsound relationship. However, Gabriella and Liam have a better demeanor towards each other by exerting their mutual interests, co-operativeness, and imagining a future together whereas John and Anne’s relationship lacks such effectiveness.

In any relationship, it is important to have mutual interests with each other. Gabriella and Liam exhibit strong mutual interests towards each other. Both of them very much enjoy the outdoors …show more content…
With Gabriella and Liam, they are both very co-operative, and are in sync. For example, while they are at the lake, both of them are out “looking for wildlife upon Pyramid Beach” (Helgason, 3). They are able to work well and be cooperative with each other because they go on expeditions to the lake and other locations together, and both enjoy observing wildlife. Furthermore, at the lake Liam pulls out a scrumptious meal from his backpack causing “[Gabriella to feel] a small rush of pleasure. He never lost the ability to surprise her” (3). Liam shows co-operativeness by providing a delicious lunch in exchange for Gabriella taking the time to plan a day for them to spend time with one and other at the lake. Another point to note is when Liam is in the hospital, Gabriella “[has] been there every day for the last three weeks” (5). Gabriella is able to co-operate with Liam being hospitalized and does not stop visiting him because she has realized that she must be adaptive to him. In contrast, in John and Ann’s relationship, co-operativeness is meagerly shown throughout the story. While John is away with his father, Ann reminisces to herself about how she can never explain her true thoughts to John because, “why sit trying to talk with a man who never talked?” (Ross, 230). Ann’s inability to tell John her true feelings prevents them from being able to co-operate with each other. Also, in John and Ann’s relationship “John never talks. He’s stronger-he doesn’t understand” (228). Without John learning to understand Ann and what she fancies, they will never be able to co-operate with each

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