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When a Woman's Had Enough

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Submitted By jalyons08
Words 1117
Pages 5
Jamie Lyons
November 2, 2015
Profess A. Berlin
English 201-06

When A Woman’s Had Enough

Walking away from a dysfunctional relationship, whether it is romantic or otherwise, instills a sense of power and brings control back into our lives. We tend to become powerless because we’re insecure and too trusting of our partner. Although being insecure isn’t a terrible thing, when we are in love and insecure with ourselves, we’re more likely to be in a vulnerable state. Frequently, we miss the flawed character of our lover and give them undue credit. As a result, we can easily be manipulated and be seen as weak or invaluable, just like a pawn in the game of chess. In the story Mauser, by Louise Erdrich, we learn the only thing left for a woman with a broken heart is revenge, and we witness bravery in the face of danger; even death and strong-will are traits that are sought out on the ones who wronged her. When one’s insecurities and state of vulnerability is combined, being manipulated is an easy task. As a contender for heartbreak and continuous failed relationships, the narrator falls victim to Travis, a charming, but vain construction worker she works with at Mauser’s company. Although she knows Travis likes to play games, and thinks he can get anything he wants because of his smooth character and charming looks, the narrator still gives in to his manipulating ways. Sadly, Travis is not only known for manipulating women, but also manipulating his controlling boss Mauser, who is also his brother-in-law. As a way to get under Mauser’s skin, he used the narrator like a prop, causing her to jeopardize her integrity and employment.
In keeping with Travis’ charm, he buys the narrator a charm bracelet as a gift. It is quite cheap in value, a rich representation of who he really is. The charm is a “silver” bird. The metal is cheap which symbolizes how much he thinks of her. In Travis’ mind, she’s just like the rest of the women who falls for him, despite her wanting to be different and feel special. The fake silver also signifies Travis’ personality; he glitters externally, but internally he’s shallow. When the narrator realizes the truth about Travis and the gift, she states, “This thing was stamped like a million other from a piece of tin.” Travis may have made his mark on the narrator as he did others, but after realizing she was no different than the others, she began to feel as cheap as the bracelet and worthless –like a blow-up doll. Birds are meant to be free, so, it’s interesting that Travis thought this bird charm would keep the narrator connected to him. When she came to the realization that Travis’ relationship wasn’t with her or other women, but with Mauser, things became clearer.
After being fired and leaving the company, the narrator notices Travis’ large truck. Unlike Travis, the narrator has a small, compact car. Filled with anger and emotion, she decides to challenge Travis, with a game of chicken. Louise Erdrich, makes this a vital point in Mauser. The narrator is past the emotional limit, and wants revenge for being used. It’s her anger and desire for revenge that make her brave in the face of disaster: She says, “You can drive me past a limit too. This feeling had been building in me for the past two days, a wild fever … Now everything felt right. This was the moment, I decided.” By compacting her feelings and conforming to how others treated her, she lost sight of herself. The narrator is enraged and hurt by a man she was in love with. To her, it no longer mattered that he didn’t deserve this love, and her heart’s wish is to make him suffer as much as she can, even if it means potential danger of death. The “wild fever” that holds her allows her to disregard fear and the danger of her actions. She began to regain control after Travis gave in to their game of chicken, by driving into a ditch. Although, Travis had a bigger and more powerful vehicle, the tables have turned. He is now stuck and ironically needs help. Even though the narrator wants Travis to suffer, she is nevertheless concerned about him not being hurt physically. After Mauser is finished with Travis, she asks Mauser if Travis is ok. In part, her concern stems from her fear of Mauser’s rage – she probably thinks that Mauser, in his anger would beat Travis to death.
The narrator also bravely endures Mauser’s rage. Although this rage is not directed at her but at Travis, it is still a trial for her because she thinks: “You see a thunderhead building in the sky … You see boot-camp sergeants in bad movies. Mauser’s rage was a combination … It was dangerous” She is obviously terrified, but determined to see what will happen to Travis in the end. On the other hand, Travis is terrified of Mauser, because despite being a man, he is a coward and always was. Only cowards use women to reach their own goals in life. The narrator doesn’t regret her actions in the least. She is committed to be strong and unforgiving of. In the dialogue between Mauser and the narrator, Travis is no more than a “mistake” for her, as much as she was no more than a prop, a plastic blow-up companion for him. “You feel sorry for him? Think I should go back?” “No,” – I said. “Of course not. He was a mistake.” As confirmation of her growth and independence, he narrator leaves Mauser at a seafood quick-stop. Louise Erdrich, ends Mauser with optimism as the narrator states, “I just drove off. I was beginning to like this new habit of leaving men in odd positions.” She is free and speeding on into the bright future, free of Travis and bad memories. Her heart is light, though broken.
Some men manipulate other people to their advantage; that love blinds a woman so she doesn’t see the worst traits of her lover. In a man’s world, women are often treated as thing to be protected or a thing to be used, but not a person. Because of their emotional nature and vulnerability, women can be easily deceived by dishonest men who are used to having everything in their lives at the expense of another. By seeking revenge, being brave, and strong-willed, a woman is more likely to stay away from those men, who would otherwise use her as a tool for their own gain, with intentions to break the woman’s heart.

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