The Art of the Short Story
The story's artwork is a synthesis of several tales that Charles Scribner collected in 1959. Due to the significant demand from anthologies and students, he decided to compile the works. 52 different writers contributed fiction to the collection The art of the short story. They are the best stories that could be used in educational contexts, and they have been current for a while.
The Bridge of Dead Things
The Bridge of Dead Things, by Michael Gallagher, is one of the most captivating tales in "the art of the short story." He was one of the famous writers in the Victorian times and he published several books. He was born in New York and was major contributor of the magazine “Mad” which was a two page gag written in 1990.
Lizzie Blaylock's Struggles
“The bridge of dead things” has been used in different settings and the writer had acquired several awards for recording unique and impressive work. The work is about a little girl named Lizzie Blaylock who is 13 years old. No matter how much she struggles to fit in her mother’s shoes, her father does not motivate her. The father is lazy and feckless with no agenda to attend. Her little sister is suffering from tuberculosis, and the family is unable to raise treatment fee. After enrollment to school, she faces expelling for misbehaving and losing concentration in class. There is no option left rather than going home and helping her mother with household chores and taking care of her younger sister. Her father Mr. Martins is a drunkard who keeps shouting to the neighbors while his wife is a nurse in the nearest hospital (Wlaschin et al 221). Lizzie later realizes that she has supernatural powers of communicating with the dead. The context is based on the role played by women and their contribution to the enhancement of the book setting.
An Ordinary Girl Named Eliza
Her real name is Eliza but no one has ever called her by that name except Mrs. Smutts. “The name is just enough for an ordinary thirteen year old girl.” (Wlaschin et al 239). Though she tries to be the best girl ever, things come to reveal that she is ordinary despite going to church and attending all classes. During a music lesson, Eliza fails to pay attention and the teacher shouts at her, “Eliza did you hear me, I said stand up” She stands on her feet but unable to answer the questions asked by the teacher. “Eliza Blaylock, were you concentrating or were you passing notes?” Shouts Mrs. Smutts as she proceeds towards the board. Lizzie is aware that the loss of concentration is due to the stress she has back at home. She really cares about her little sister who lies on her bed with nobody to help her.
A Good Break for Lizzie
As she continues to meditate, the teacher continues to shout at her, and she becomes upset. “You were in trouble last week for not handing in your homework.” (Stallabrass & Julian 89). She is later summoned in the director’s office and suspended. To her, this seems to be a good break so that she can take care of her sister. The blame goes to Maria who had stolen Lizzie’s homework and tore it into pieces. Mrs. Smutts seems to show a lot of concern to all children despite some cheeky behaviors. There is struggle by the girl child as all the controversies in the class are laid on girls. When the day is over at school, some boys are laughing at Lizzie and making jokes about her, but she scares them and orders them to go home.
The Power of Women
Women have a major significance in the book. Lizzie is inspired by her mother who is a nurse and she is determined that one day her dreams will come to happen (Stallabrass & Julian 25). Her mother works for long hours to provide food for the family while the father is busy drinking. The Down Hill apartment that they live signifies that men have no contribution to the society. Martins and his fellow friends spend almost all their nights in a nearest bar while their wives are busy monitoring their children’s assignments. That is the main reason why Lizzie can never want to be like his father. Women look down upon men for their laziness and immoral behaviors. At one day, Lizzie’s father is called at school after her girl had imitated one of her classmates, but he seems to care less.“You call me all the way just because my daughter has imitated one of her classmates?” (Wlaschin et al 246). Mr. Martin is agitated as he walks out of the office. The principal describes that as being arrogant and, Mrs. Martins later punishes Lizzie for misbehaving in school.
Lizzie's Supernatural Powers
Later on, Lizzie discovers that she can communicate with the dead and in fact, she has supernatural powers. Some people begin to believe Lizzie and whatever she predicts while others despise her for being young. She one day predicts that there would be a storm, but people do not trust her. Therefore one day as children are going to school, they are unable to cross to the other side of the valley, and they wonder on the type of bridge they require. Amazingly, Lizzie extends her body and forms a bridge by sleeping over the valley. Children begin crossing, but Miss Otis warns them, “For the sake of God step back.” (Wlaschin et al 225) They later cross to the other side, but no one can explain the magic behind Lizzie’s supernatural behavior.
The Power of Women's Contribution
“The Bridge of Dead things” has a vital theme that symbolizes the power of women. Women connect and pursue what seems to be difficult and bring it into reality. Mrs. Martins is in a state of a dilemma on how to raise her family and on the other side, Miss Otis faces humiliation in her family of one girl and eight boys. She has to do all household chores, and the most important thing her father offers is telling her that she would be married to a lucky man in the future, omen face a lot of challenge in the play, but they raise a lot of concern all over the community. Lizzie being the main character is accompanied by difficulty situations but she later shows light to his village.
Work Cited
Stallabrass, Julian. Art incorporated: The story of contemporary art. Oxford University Press, (2004): 16-176.
Wlaschin, Ken, and Stephen Bottomore. "Moving picture fiction of the silent era, 1895– 1928." Film History: An International Journal20.2 (2008): 217-260.
