Ghost and Entities

According to the story “Ghosts and Entities” by Lauren Groff, she begins by telling the reader how she vents. Throughout the story, she explains everything she observes. She never quite gives any details of the exact sights she sees while she is out venting. The imagery she creates in the readers mind is created out of general terms. 

Referring to the beginning of the story, Groff portrays the narrator as the main character who tends to go on runs to vent. Is venting a good thing? In a way, isn’t it like running away from problems? For example, when she came home and found her husband satisfying his sexual desires, she went on a run. Nowhere in the story, does she confront her problems. She continues to go on runs. Perhaps, she felt the need to remove herself from situations so she could think rationally an avoid making the problem worse. 

I believe, part of the reason she covers up the problem because of society. Her neighborhood, is covered by a happy go lucky exterior. Although the houses are superficially happy, when she runs, she observes more of the hidden flaws of the perfect neighborhood. She sees a fat boy running on a treadmill, a couple arguing, and an elderly woman walking a dog. During the day, all of the houses give off a perfect image and keep their problems hidden in the night. It’s possible that she was able to see these people as possibilities for herself. The fat boy running on treadmill with the sad expression on his face could be representative of how she continues to vent on a constant basis and continues to run away from her problems, but just like the fat boy, she is stagnant and her situation is not changing. Additionally, the couple arguing is her viewing a consequence of addressing the situation with her husband. A confrontation such as this would lead her to nights of arguing with her husband. The elderly woman can be interpreted as a result of the confrontation. She may never be married again but she won’t need to be tied in this relationship.

Additionally, Groff refers swans and nuns. She is symbolizing the swans and nuns as contrasting points. Swans are often used to represent love and companionship. The nuns are included to symbolize independence, purity, and love for the church. Each symbol, faces the same type of end. The swans and nuns, both face death. In a way, this could be her way of realizing no matter how she lives, she will still face the same end. One way she will die with her husband, the other way she will die by herself.

Focusing in on the author, the story itself was extremely vague. I would describe it as a descriptively vague story. Although she does include that it was based on the Duckpond of Gainesville. Similarly to one of my previous blogs, the author adds to the idea that each house and each family has its own history. No story is exactly the same. Although both the swans and nuns faced death, they lived completely different lifestyle. One was more animalistic, whereas the other was more based on human community. Both had different identities and therefor different lives. In the same way, the narrator, had an opportunity to take actions that would alter her lifestyle. 

In conclusion, no matter what lifestyle you choose, we all face the same end. Death is inevitable and people are free to do as they please. Before taking action, one should still consider the possible results of their actions.