Analysis of a Telephone Call

In Class Essay 1| EAC100BF| | Kassandra Krystal Bartlett| 055719124| [Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of the document.

Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of the document. ]| Kassandra Bartlett EAC150BF October 2, 2012 In Class Essay Dorthey Parker’s story, “A telephone Call” is a monologue of a very common situation; a young woman desperately awaiting the expected call from a man, who she is very much infatuated with.

This woman is in constant battle with her contradicting thoughts, based around the man’s use of the word “darling”. The man refers to her as “darling” more than once, in which she attaches her expectations to.

She attempts to rationalize through her expectations and standards; analyzing every single word he spoke to her and the stigma attached to them, as well as blaming her self-worth, with excuses for her “lover” and using god as a scape goat. As woman, we have a certain expectation of the opposite sed.

We enjoy to be treated as we are wanted and desired. This woman is going along with societies expectations and is avoiding caving in to her desire to break the silent code by making the phone call. “I know you shouldn’t keep telephoning them- I know they don’t like that.

When you do that, they know you are thinking about them and wanting them, and that makes them hate you” (Parker, 217) This is a prime example of what women believe men desire in an intimate relationship. She reassures herself on multiple occasions that he makes the all because he addressed her as “Darling”, which must mean he has feelings for her. Another standard, if men address a woman by a pet name, he must be emotionally attracted to her. She convinces herself of this, that if he called her darling- more than once- then he shall be calling. “‘I’ll call you at five darling. ‘ I think that’s where he called me ‘darling’.

I’m almost sure he said it there. I know he called me ‘darling’ twice, and the other time when he said goodbye. ” (Parker, 217) This is where she begins to drive herself mad.

She hangs on to the words as her only hope. She honestly believes that his words were a promise to her, and men who use the word “darling”, would not dishonor this unspoken promise.

“He said he’d telephone me. He didn’t have to say that. I didn’t ask him to, truly I didn’t. I’m sure I didn’t. I don’t think he would say he’d telephone me, and then just never do it” (Parker, 217).

She hangs on to her expectations of relationships in hopes that he will keep his word. Like most women in love, she awaits her “lover’s” phone call, believing that her feelings are not unrequited.

When the narrator begins to realize that her suitor may not be calling, as promised, she begins to doubt her own self-worth. Still hanging on to the fact that he called her “darling” as the only expression of his feelings to her, she begins to emotionally attack herself. She starts to drive herself mad with self-hatred for wanting to call him, as well as doubting his actual feelings. “I think he must still like me a little.

He couldn’t have called me “Darling” twice today, if he didn’t ‘still like me a little. It isn’t all gone, if he still likes me a little; even if it’s only a little, little bit. (Parker, 218)

She never mentions anything but him addressing her as “darling”, as a reason for her to hold on to him. She blames herself, but doesn’t try and rationally think about his true feelings. Her pride keeps her from picking up the phone, but meanwhile, wonders if maybe she is being punished by god himself.

Her back and forth contradiction shows how low her self-esteem is. She firstly begs to the higher power that he will call. Then goes on to wish he was dead. “I won’t telephone him. I’ll never telephone him again as long as I live.

He’ll rot in hell, before I call him up. You don’t have to give me strength, god; I have it myself. If he wanted me he could get me. ” (Parker, 219) Her state of mind is becoming crazed with thoughts like these, because herself doubt is stronger than her confidence and pride. Parker’s obsession with this man leads her to even make excuses for him, at her own expense. She brings god into the equation multiple times, blaming everyone but his possible true feelings towards her.

She believes that because he referred to her as darling then he must call her. Suppose he’s a little late calling me up- that’s nothing to get hysterical about. Maybe he isn’t going to call- maybe he’s coming straight up here without telephoning.

” (Parker, 218) She creates scenarios, to resist the reality that he probably never telephone. The excuses she makes for this man are never ending.

“Anything could have made him late. “(Parker, 219) She latches on to the fact that he could be late, not just uninterested in her. She even goes as far as to imagining something horrible has happened to him, to hide from reality. A Telephone Call”, by Dorthey Parker addresses real life ideals and expectations of relationships. She analyzes every word he said, blames herself and god, and even doubts her own self-worth to avoid from facing the ugly truth. She obsesses with the word “darling” and the way he uses it.

This word is her crutch and bases for his supposed feelings for her. Just because he addressed her with a pet name, doesn’t mean he will keep his promise to her. Work Cited: Parker, Dorthey: “A Telephone Call”, Moving Beyond the Page: a Reader for Writing and Thinking. Oup Canada, 2012