The Sojourner And What We Talking About When We Talk About...

In the short stories title The Sojourner and What We Talk About When We Talk About Love, written by Carson McCullers and Raymond Carver respectively, the writers tell a story about love and its changing attitudes. The main characters in these stories all vary in regard to their personalities and their individual idiosyncrasies, however, the message being conveyed by McCullers and Carver is that of the changing nature of love, and how it can impact an individual’s sense of self in respect to how one defines their relationships with others. Examining the relationships of the characters in these stories, as well as their interactions amongst each other, is paramount to understanding their sense of self, and this is best achieved by applying†¦show more content†¦The reader can deduce that Ferris displays jealousy and regret, however subtle, towards Bill on the basis that Bill has Elizabeth. Ferris’ relationship with Elizabeth is friendly in nature, but with underto nes of longing for what they once had and what Bill has now, her affection. This is referenced in the story when Ferris reflects upon his past with Elizabeth in disbelief, saying â€Å"Was it indeed true that at one time, he [Ferris] had called this stranger, Elizabeth, Little Butterduck during nights of love, that they [Ferris and Elizabeth] had lived together, shared perhaps a thousand days and nights†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . This statement gives the reader in indication of how he felt about their relationship. However, upon further inspection, it is implied that Ferris is not jealous of the relationship that Bill and Elizabeth have, but rather the interaction and familial bond that they share. When one applies Stryker’s concepts to the experiences and interactions of these characters, it is possible to determine how the characters’ relationships shape their sense of self. In regard to role identity, the roles being portrayed are: Bill as the loving husband and devoted father, Elizabeth as the compassionate wife and caring friend, and Ferris as the reminiscent ex-lover, which essentially makes him the third wheel. The roles between Bill and Ferris would inherently present conflict, had it not been for identity salience