Saints at the River by Ron Rash

“There is always something more that lies outside the camera’s framed, mechanical truth.”

                As Maggie is in the dark room, creating the picture that really will say a thousand words, it is sometimes forgettable what lies outside just the frame of the picture. Personally, when looking at pictures, I always wonder what is going on around and outside taking the picture. For Mr. Kowalsky, all that is going on outside of the picture of him next to the river is the continuation of his life without his daughter. 

“There may have been other men in her life – probably were.”

                While Allen explained his relationship with his wife to Maggie, he explains that she may have other men. He continues to say that although he said he worked late hours he truly was working late hours and not cheating on his wife with other women. For most married couples, if one spouse was cheating the other would confront the situation. However, Allen did not. He allowed his wife to cheat on him with another man to fill the void of him not being there. But why didn’t he just fill the void himself? Why does his job have to take precedence over his own wife and daughter, two people who should be the utmost important to him?

“We assume that tomorrow or the birthday is going to come.”

                A common phrase among people today is “O, I’ll get to it tomorrow.” However, when tomorrow comes, the phrase is repeated. Is this laziness, procrastination, or just unwillingness to complete a task? When Maggie says this at the meeting to build a damn in the river, it occurred to me that a lot of the world shares this same thought. But what if tomorrow or a birthday does not come? What then? We must take advantage of the moment, now, in the present, not in the future and act on it at all times. If not, everything will slowly pass by in front of our eyes.

facile: easily done, performed, used, etc. (Saints at the River, 137)

stilted: stiffly dignified or formal, as speech or literary style; pompous. (Saints at the River, 13)

piton: stiffly dignified or formal, as speech or literary style; pompous.  (Saints at the River, 170)

Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet

“There is a one-in-a-million chance that so and so will happen… Fuck it, it won’t happen to me. No.”

                Roma is attempting to close on a lead with Lingk in the restaurant. Everyone has thought the above phrase at one time or another in their lives. Roma ssays whatever he can to close his deals and this time is no exception. He talks up the lead he has to Lingk and makes it near impossible for LIngk to pass up on the offer. This ability of Roma to sweet talk aids him in closing the deals and being at the top of the “board.”

“A man’s his job and you’re fucked at yours.”

Williamson is the assistant to Murray and Mitch. His job is to hand out the leads as he sees most profitable. Levene use to be a go to person to give leads to because he had a great return rate, however, he has gone downhill recently. Levene begs Williamson for better leads at the top of the “board” but Williamson refuses. Levene calls Williamson out with the above quote saying his character is incapable of handling this job. He bashes Williamson for not helping him out in a desperate time when he is not necessarily accountable, putting him in the wrong.

“I just called downtown and its on their desk.”

                While in the office, Lingk walks in to talk with Roma about the deal that they just closed. There is a three day period after the check has been cashed for it to be canceled for the owner of the check to be bound. Lingk is having second thoughts and would rather not go through with the deal. Roma’ shady charcter really shines through in this scene when it is very clear that he is lying to his client.

close- to come together and to terminate(Glengarry Glen Ross, 62)

leads- a suggestion or piece of information that helps to direct or guide; tip; clue, a position in advance of others (Glengarry Glen Ross, 67)

peachfuzz- baby facial hair, to signify a start of growth (Glengarry Glen Ross, 70)

purloined- to commit theft to steal (Glengarry Glen Ross, 77)

The Same River Twice by Chris Offutt

“The Everglades would be my detox center, a monastery.”

                Nature can sometimes be seen as a very calming entity. Chris Offutt, like many other characters in American literature, turns to nature to “detox” his life. He sees nature as a simplistic life style, not affected by the products and technologies used in daily life. He thinks that by surrounding himself with nature, he will rid his life of his many troubles. However, if he were to return to his home town and live with his family, he would also be returning to nature.

“it occurs to me that fathers always seem to be of a different species”

                As Chris Offutt imagines the relationship between his unborn son and himself, he imagines the normal relationship between a father and a son. Sons never understand their fathers and fathers never really understand their sons. For any child, they are confused by the actions the parents take in raising them. Some fathers, like that of Chris Offutt, act as the head of the household. They are seen as superiors, but superiors in the sense of a different species.

“Paternal terror was simply ignorance.”

                New fathers are almost always nervous before their child is born. They are concerned and worried as to whether or not they are capable of raising another human being. Am I even capable of raising myself? Time after time, once the new father holds his child, everything falls into place. The father learns along the way just like any other parent does. The second Chris Offutt holds his newborn child, his fears wash away and he knows he will be able to raise this child and learn from his mistakes.

ineluctably: incapable of being evaded (The Same River Twice, 154)

lingam: the masculine gender (The Same River Twice, 155) 

manchineel: a tropical American tree having a poisonous sap (The Same River Twice, 156) 

petered: to diminish gradually and stop (The Same River Twice, 164) 

tectonic: of or pertaining to building or construction (The Same River Twice, 166)