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Separating, In Separating by John Updik confusion, conflict,, oe ), acceptance and separation. Taken from his The Early Stories collection the story is Sl, —— narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the ston <, — pi y g 9 y —, —— —, — the reader realises that Updike may be exploring not only the theme of separation but the =], = —, = theme of conflict and struggle too. Richard and Joan disagree with each other when it \, (/ comes to how they should tell their children that they plan on separating. Richard wants, Po eZ ~e, — to tell the children when the family are sitting down for dinner while Joan would prefer if —=, _ os, Fe each child was told individually. By telling the reader that Joan’s ‘plan turned one hurdle a, , for him (Richard) into four—four knife-sharp walls, each with a sheer blind drop on the, other side’ Updike also manages to highlight to the reader the difficulty or struggle that, Richard feels when it comes to telling the children that he is separating from Joan. It may, also be important that though the reader is aware (or at least suspects) that Richard and, Joan are separating due to Richard having had an affair, none of the children are aware of, this. By keeping the children in the dark about why Richard and Joan are separating, , Updike succeeds in adding confusion (particularly for John and Dickie) into the story., , Updike also appears to be exploring the theme of acceptance. Apart from John, who, seems to be confused as to why his parents may be separating, each of Richard and, Joan’s children appear to accept the fact that their parents are planning on separating., How accepting Judith is of her parents planned separation is noticeable when on, , discovering that Richard and Joan plan to separate, just for the summer, she tells Joan ‘I, , , , + &@ . ee . oO «®

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think it’s silly. You should either'li y be important, , , , , as not only does it suggest tha er parents separating, , (and divorcing) but Updike m Iso be highlighting the independence that may have, existed among young women at the time the story was written (1974). Just as Judith felt, a sense of freedom while she was in England similarly it is possible that Updike is, suggesting that Judith may be of a generation who no longer see the necessity in, remaining in a marriage should either person be unhappy. Joan also seems to fully, accept that her marriage to Richard is over. However it is interesting that when Richard, and Joan are in their bedroom, Joan does tell Richard that it is up to him to tell Dickie that, they are separating, with it being implied ‘that’s one piece of your dirty work | won't do for, you.’ This line may also be important as though it would appear that Joan accepts the, separation she still remains unwilling to make life any easier for Richard, ensuring that it, , is him and not her who tells Dickie that they are separating. If anything it would appear, , that Joan is attempting to make sure that Richard takes responsibility. It is after all as a, , result of his actions (of having the affair) that Richard and Joan have decided to separate., , It is also noticeable that throughout the story Richard is struggling. Not only does he find, it difficult to tell the children about the separation (and ends up crying) but as he is, working on the lock on the screen porch he also seems to be struggling. It is possible, that Updike is also using the lock as symbolism. Locks as the reader would be aware are, used to secure something. By having Richard change the lock Updike may be (at least, , symbolically) suggesting that Richard and Joan's marriage is no longer as secure as it, , es

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previously had been. There is, , , , The tennis court which has fall i i i: and Joan's, marriage. Just as the tennis cor as once perfect likewise Richard and Joan’s marriage, may also have been perfect (at the beginning). However just as the tennis court has, , fallen into disrepair so too has Richard and Joan's marriage., , It is also posSeparating, , In Separating by John Updike we have the theme of struggle, confusion, conflict,, acceptance and separation. Taken from his The Early Stories collection the story is, narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story, the reader realises that Updike may be exploring not only the theme of separation but the, theme of conflict and struggle too. Richard and Joan disagree with each other when it, comes to how they should tell their children that they plan on separating. Richard wants, to tell the children when the family are sitting down for dinner while Joan would prefer if, each child was told individually. By telling the reader that Joan’s ‘plan turned one hurdle, for him (Richard) into four—four knife-sharp walls, each with a sheer blind drop on the, other side’ Updike also manages to highlight to the reader the difficulty or struggle that, Richard feels when it comes to telling the children that he is separating from Joan. It may, also be important that though the reader is aware (or at least suspects) that Richard and, Joan are separating due to Richard having had an affair, none of the children are aware of, this. By keeping the children in the dark about why Richard and Joan are separating, , Updike succeeds in adding confusion (particularly for John and Dickie) into the story., , es

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Updike also appears to be ex John, who, seems to be confused as to why his parents may be separating, each of Richard and, Joan’s children appear to accept the fact that their parents are planning on separating., How accepting Judith is of her parents planned separation is noticeable when on, discovering that Richard and Joan plan to separate, just for the summer, she tells Joan ‘I, think it’s silly. You should either live together or get divorced.’ This line may be important, as not only does it suggest that Judith accepts the possibility of her parents separating, (and divorcing) but Updike may also be highlighting the independence that may have, existed among young women at the time the story was written (1974). Just as Judith felt, a sense of freedom while she was in England similarly it is possible that Updike is, suggesting that Judith may be of a generation who no longer see the necessity in, remaining in a marriage should either person be unhappy. Joan also seems to fully, accept that her marriage to Richard is over. However it is interesting that when Richard, and Joan are in their bedroom, Joan does tell Richard that it is up to him to tell Dickie that, they are separating, with it being implied ‘that’s one piece of your dirty work | won't do for, you.’ This line may also be important as though it would appear that Joan accepts the, separation she still remains unwilling to make life any easier for Richard, ensuring that it, is him and not her who tells Dickie that they are separating. If anything it would appear, , that Joan is attempting to make sure that Richard takes responsibility. It is after all as a, , result of his actions (of having the affair) that Richard and Joan have decided to separate.

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It is also noticeable that througho! e i dis : . N e find, it difficult to tell the children 4 i ing) but as he is, working on the lock on the scréen porch he also seems to be struggling. It is possible, that Updike is also using the lock as symbolism. Locks as the reader would be aware are, used to secure something. By having Richard change the lock Updike may be (at least, , symbolically) suggesting that Richard and Joan’s marriage is no longer as secure as it, , previously had been. There is also further symbolism in the story which may be important., , The tennis court which has fallen into disrepair may symbolize Richard and Joan's, marriage. Just as the tennis court was once perfect likewise Richard and Joan's marriage, , may also have been perfect (at the beginning). However just as the tennis court has, , fallen into disrepair so too has Richard and Joan’s marriage., , ), , —, —, 2, , Y, —