"A New Leaf"

from: Perrine's Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense

edited by Arp and Johnson (8th Edition, 2002)Pages 439-453

Welcome to 1931. Or at least that's when this particular story was first published in the Saturday Evening Post. I found the text in one of the used literature anthologies I seem to grab whenever they are within reach.

"A New Leaf" is in a chapter dedicated to "Evaluating Fiction." The student is instructed to pay close attention to things like plot, structure, characterization, theme, point of view, symbols, allegories, fantasy, humor, and irony (did you catch all that?).

There are even eight questions that follow to direct thoughts. Good stuff. Nevertheless, I shall ignore all the rules and opine on the story as I normally do.

By far, my favorite section of the story occurred first--opening scene as Julia spies Dick Ragland, as he briefly stops to speak to the man she is having dinner with:

She sat there, a well-behaved women of twenty-one, and discreetly trembled....

"He's without doubt the handsomest man I ever saw in my life."

"Yes, he's handsome," he agreed without enthusiasm.

"Handsome! He's an archangel, he's a mountain lion, he's something to eat. Just why didn't you introduce him?"

If I had a dollar for every time...okay. I don't think those words have ever left my mouth, but I am dying to use the line as soon as possible.

But, of course, Dick is trouble. He's not well-received. He's a drunk. Which is all the more reason for Julia to fall madly and deeply, despite the fact that he shows up both drunk and hungover for the first planned meeting.

The rest is predictable. Well, maybe not exactly--but there will be disappoint and it is rather anti-climactic, even though F. Scott throws in a bit of mystery when we hear of the final action through another character.

"Better let it all alone in the depths of her heart and the depths of the sea." Aye, aye captain.

~~J