Marriage is a big step in life and people wait for the moment with much anticipation. The essay “Vows” by Julie Showalter creates another perspective on the event, which is somewhat different from the regularly expected one (Showalter 258). The emotions are made real and the reader connects with the feelings of people involved. The purpose of the writing is to show that not everyone’s the same and there are people who view marriage in a different way. It is meant to represent the struggles that people have with themselves and those who are close. The author makes it obvious that doubts are often the darkest demons and people should make an effort in dealing with them.
The message that the author transfers to the reader is original and unexpected. It illustrates how some people view life and that the uniqueness of the moment can be spoiled by previous experiences and expectations. The audience that the essay is directed towards can be both married couples and single individuals. To those who are single, it represents a deeper insight into marriage and the changes that take place. At first, it is not really obvious how the way people feel and behave changes but closer to the end, the switch becomes obvious. Most of the time, marriage is planned for a long time and to those who lose their head, this is a return to reality. It is dreamt of from early childhood and it is expected to be one of the happiest events in life, whereas here, it is not the case. In this short story, it is made obvious that second and even third marriage can be seen as not being as special as some people would imagine. It serves as a warning to those who plan to get married. For couples, this story is an illustration that the moments of love and happiness must be cherished. The language of the piece is much different from the usual stories. It is set in a humorous and indifferent tone. The atmosphere created by it, leaves the reader unaware of what will come next. Even though it is filled with seemingly neutral and regular phrases related to the wedding, it is made clear that emotion and heaviness of the situation makes the couple feel uneasy. The previous marriages are brought to reader’s attention several times and so, the couples are given a look at the way feelings change after a divorce. The introduction familiarizes the reader with the way the couple views marriage. It is not made special, quite the opposite, it seems that their marriage is forced. It readies the reader with the general tone of the short story, setting the atmosphere for what is to come next. The ending is very surprising and depressing. The contrast between the bulk of the piece and the ending creates a perspective that reminds people how some things in life are less important than other. Often, there are moments which are considered very stressful but then something else takes place and the predisposition towards the situation changes completely. The short story is very effective because it gives an opportunity to see how people can expect one thing and then, something different happens. The insignificance of the wedding and health seems to be the theme of the story but after reading, the audience is left with a shocking understanding of how precious life really is.
Works Cited
Showalter, Julie. “Vows.” Essays from Contemporary Culture. Ed. Katherine Anne Ackley. Boston: Heine, 2004. 257-264. Print.