Extremes of Truth and Denial: A Reading of Two Novellas by Jane Smiley.
Truth is a prized value in our society. It is the standard by which we judge our public figures, our politicians, and even our closest friends. If truth is the ideal of communication, then denial is its opposite, for denial is the deliberate suppression of any communication between people. Jane Smiley, in her novellas "Ordinary Love" and "Good Will", explores both of these extremes on the spectrum of communication. While there are differences in her depiction of these ideas in both novellas, this essay will argue that Smiley does not perceive a possibility for moderation between the two extremes. Rather, she envisions her characters as representing one extreme or another, with little possibility of every attaining a middle ground of moderation and balance. 6 pgs. Bibliography lists 1 source.
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