The author introduces two sisters, Monica and Claire who have just arrived at a café from a classical music concert. The two sisters exhibit two different personalities where Monica is a critic and Claire is a keen listener. Monica begins by criticizing the table flowers, then the concert they had just attended, her sister’s figure and even the coffee she buys. The two sisters are spending the time to bond with each other but no connection takes place at all because Monica spends all the time criticizing her sister and other things. When Claire tries to talk to Monica about the self-discovery she has been achieving, Monica does not understand because she is barely listening. The interaction between Monica and her sister especially the selfish remarks and false kindness that Monica displays demonstrate that loneliness can be expressed in many forms and that everyone requires somebody they can share their life experiences with.
Structure, Language, and Mechanics
The story between the two sisters is presented as a short play. The language used in the play is a dialogue where Monica and Claire share their personal experiences. The use of a dialogue helps the reader to identify with the lives of the two sisters. For instance, when Claire orders a coke and a hot fudge sundae, Monica reminds her that they had just been discussing her weight just a few minutes back while in the car (Ackerman 1340). Through this conversation, the audience realizes that Claire is struggling with weight issues. Humor is one of the mechanics that Ackerman has applied in the play. Although the two sisters had come to connect with each other in the café, Monica ends up criticizing everything while Claire is talking about the intimate time she spends with herself (Ackerman 1344). None of the sisters connect with each other and the play only becomes an enjoyable episode for the audience.
Works Cited
Ackerman, Joan. Quiet torrential sound. Boston: St. Martin's Press, 1995. 1339-1345.
