The “I’m a Fool” Short Story by Sherwood Anderson Essay

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Introduction

I’m a fool is a story about an individual who is uneducated and dishonest. The short story revolved around an incident where the narrator lies to Lucy Wesson, a lady she had just met. The narrative moved from events that happened before the incident to events that happened afterward. The storyteller was unable to understand why he had to tell a lie to impress the young woman. The individual blamed the foolishness on being drunk, which further enhanced the plot. The character description of the events using a monologue creates an emotional tone that helps build the theme of the consequences of deceit.

Style and Tone

The author used a dramatic monologue as a style to provide a compelling explanation of the events that occurred before and after meeting the lady. This is because the narrative is presented by a narrator who provides all the details to the reader. The story is told based on the point of view of the speaker. The author tells the story in first person, which is another indicator of a monologue. For example, Sherwood states, “But after all I had to work, and there was no other work to be got (4). The tone used in the story was emotional as the author revealed feelings of inferiority in both his social and love life. This is essential as it helped enhance the story and provide the reader with insight into the different themes in the narrative. The narrator’s emotions were revealed when meeting the lady and when the train leaves at the end of the story.

Consequences of Deceit

The author used soliloquy, repetition, simile, and dramatic irony to explain the theme of the consequences of deceit. The speaker met a young woman and was impressed by her beauty to the point of lying. Sherwood states “I suppose it was their having such swell names that got me off my trolley.” (12). Soliloquy is represented in the way the narrator explains the incident. The speaker used a dramatic monologue to provide details of what happened during and after the meeting.

Repetition is also used to add more details and put emphasis on what the speaker is saying. For example, the author indicates that they sat there talking like they had known each other for years and years (Sherwood 13). The author also applied dramatic irony as a way of going beyond his thoughts. This can be seen when the narrator indicates that stealing, getting drunk, and bandaging horses was more important than getting a degree (Sherwood 5). A reader can understand that the statement was ironic as most of the skills possessed by the speaker may not be important in modern society. Another literary element that is applied to enhance the theme is the simile. The author describes a moment they were left alone with Lucy Wessen as like being on a desert island (Sherwood 15). The information is essential as it provides the reader with insight into the feelings of guilt that the speaker was experiencing.

Marxist Theory

The theory emphasizes class, socioeconomic situations, and power relations among different aspects of society. The story was written in a period when black people were not fully assimilated into American society. The author notes that while walking down a street in Sandusky, the children saw them and ran away (Sherwood 6). The author speculates that they had not seen a black person before. The writer also describes himself as being from a poor background, which influences the way the reader perceives the whole narration. In the narration, the interaction between poor people and the rich can be used to understand the society on which the book is based. This is because the less wealthy individuals depend on the affluent to make a living. As a black person, the narrator is uneducated and despises people who are educated. Therefore, Marxist theory is essential in understanding the reasons why the author holds certain views about society and its people.

Argument on the Text

The narrator was unable to deal with emotions in a mature way, which led to him lying. As a result of the lies to Lucy Wesson, the storyteller declares that he is worthless and not deserving of a job. The story focuses on the effects of lying and the need for people to accept who they are. The consequences can affect the way an individual perceives other people or himself. For example, Sherwood indicates that “I don’t care nothing for working and earning money, and saving it for no such boob as myself” (18). This quote illustrates the change in perception after telling the lie. Therefore, the story enhances the understanding of how acts of deceit can affect how people interact with each other.

Conclusion

In summary, I’m a fool presents the theme of dishonesty using dramatic irony, first-person narrative, and reoccurring descriptive words. The story enhances the need for people to be truthful as it can reduce feelings of inferiority and self-hate. The narration also shows the need to deal with emotions maturely. Therefore, the narrative can be used to show people the consequences of lies.

Work Cited

Sherwood, Anderson. I’m a Fool: Horses and Men. Gutenberg, 1923.

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IvyPanda. (2024, January 31). The "I'm a Fool" Short Story by Sherwood Anderson. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-im-a-fool-short-story-by-sherwood-anderson/

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"The "I'm a Fool" Short Story by Sherwood Anderson." IvyPanda, 31 Jan. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/the-im-a-fool-short-story-by-sherwood-anderson/.

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IvyPanda. (2024) 'The "I'm a Fool" Short Story by Sherwood Anderson'. 31 January.

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IvyPanda. 2024. "The "I'm a Fool" Short Story by Sherwood Anderson." January 31, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-im-a-fool-short-story-by-sherwood-anderson/.

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IvyPanda. "The "I'm a Fool" Short Story by Sherwood Anderson." January 31, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-im-a-fool-short-story-by-sherwood-anderson/.

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