Wise Children Essay -- English Literature

Wise Children EssayAngela Carter uses a variety of methods and techniques to presentevents and characters in an interesting way in chapter 1. By usingDoras voice she is able to express the characters viewpoint andintroduce the subscriber to the story at a pace and style that non altogetherestablishes other characters plainly from how language is used the readercan create a personality for Dora also.The novel starts with a question to slowly introduce the reader intothe idea of the legitimacy and illegitimacy.WHY is London like Budapest?A. Because it two cities severalised by a river.Dora uses London to immediately explain how her and Dora live on thebastard side of Old Father Thames, not just literally but asillegitimate children it is a metaphor for their situation. Carteruses these parallels of the North and South divide to explain how Noraand Dora are from the wrong side of the tracks. and can also helpthe reader to relate and empathise with Dora and Noras position.The novel does not follow a chronological timeline, but is anon-linear narrative jumping back and forth between what is happeningon the twins 75th birthday and events that hasten taken place in thepast. The first main event in the novel is the arrival of theinvitation to Melchior Hazards birthday party, not only does itintroduce some action, but also other characters into the play andallows Carter to tell the reader some information on Doras situation,that Melchior Hazard is her father and who Wheelchair is. Carteruses plot very effectively in the first chapter she offers part ofthe story and then holds back, when Tristram is showing the videorecording, Freeze frame. This allows Carter to explain the famil... ...llen, Dora ismocking the demise of the Hazard family, the once great Shakespeareanact reduced to a host on a tacky game show. Dora pours scorn on theidea that the Hazard family are the height of respectability andlegitimacy Speaking of illegitimacy, there was more than a hint ofro mantic, nay, melodramatic illegitimacy in the Hazard family longbefore Nora and myself took our first bows, she breaks down the affable barriers between the two families, lowering them to her statusby revealing that even families of good reputation hide dark secrets.By the end of chapter 1 divergent questions gave been raised for thereader that now need answering, these questions create tensions thatencourage the reader to find out more. The plot development within thefirst chapter portray not only the events, but as they are seenthrough Dora shape her character.