Essay Questions

How does Gail Godwin show that writing is not easy?

Gail Godwin reflects on her writing career and realizes that it is not an easy task. In most of her stories, she discusses the challenges and difficulties that she had to undergo. Even as an accomplished novelist, she still narrates that being an author is not a ride in the park. For instance, in most of her short narrations, Gail Godwin shows that being an author alone can be problematic in marriage if your partner is not approving your work. Putting down a successful story requires a lot of effort and dedication that sometimes makes her forgo her duties as a mother and spouse.

Is pragmatism one of the key themes in Gail Godwin: Short Stories?

In 'Nobody's Home' and the 'Dream Children' among other short stories in her collections, Gail Godwin talks about reality. Her stories focus on practical experiences. She does not beat about the bush nor shy away from reality. For instance, she invests much of her time sharing how her life experiences have shaped her writing career. She also distinguishes dreams and reality in the story 'Dream Children'. Similarly, in the story 'Nobody's Home,' the old woman gets out of her imagination to execute her plans.

According to Gail Godwin, why is marriage not a bed of roses?

More often than not, most people anticipating to get married think that it is a bed of roses. However, Gail Godwin is using her own example to prepare the reader of the realities of marriage. Marriage is a journey that comprises both good times and bad times. In reality, bad times tend to overweigh good times and that is why one has to work harder to make sure that the marriage succeeds. Some of the characters in her narrations are struggling to make their marriage workable. For instance, a female character in the short story 'Nobody's Home' is stressed and wants to run away from her marriage because of the challenges she is facing.