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| Sunday, 18 December 2005 |
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Love Letters - by Kate Walker
In this short story, Kate Walker touches on romantic love of teenage boys and girls and the writer seems to stress the fact that the contents in the love letters of teenage lovers stand as the hall-mark of their love, though the writer is neither really concerned about the mode and style of love letters nor is he concerned about the contents, that could attract the receiver of a love letter for it depends on the characteristics of the person concerned. The writer, Kate Walker has selected two teenage High School students from Australia, Nick and Fluer. They are quite new and inexperienced. The reader is made to understand that they have started their friendship with just a duration of only three weeks. The other characters Clive, Helen and Gilda seem to be minor characters. Fluer refers to Helen's boyfriend Clive writes three-paged love letter to his lover everyday praising her beauty and giving reasons for his attraction to her. Fluer seems to be disturbed for the very reason that her boyfriend does not write to her such romantic love letters; and she comes to the conclusion that Nick is unromantic. Most teenage girls as lovers expect long, fascinating romantic love letters from their boyfriends or they love to be called on the phone. Some teenage girls seem to be motivated by selfish attitudes expecting extreme attention from their boyfriends either by letters or by phone calls; thus assuring them of their attraction, love and attention. Thus, this sort of stupid approach of immature love, very often does not last long. Though girls, usually measure their love likewise. This could be called "the stupid approach of immature love". Most teenage girls love flattery and Fluer's remarks regarding Nick's letter. "You didn't say anything about me", Fluer's "ego was hurt when she didn't receive flattery from Nick." Thus Nick thinking that licking the same ice cream is love and Fluer thinking that writing romantic love letters is a suggestion of love. "you don't love me enough," she said. "How much is enough? How much ice cream does it take?" "you don't write me letters like Clive does to Helen, she said". Nick's visible mistakes are assuming that sharing ice cream is suggestive of love and over estimating Fluer could bring her closer to him. Writing fascinating love letters with over estimating remarks remain his problem. Nick, being ignorant of the type of contents in a love letter and his mother advising him to "write about things you have in common," and Nick thinking about recalling to the funny situations "wasn't that computer class on Tuesday a roar? The best bit was when Brando tilted the computer to show us the little button underneath, and the monitor fell off" No appreciable characteristics are shown in Nick's two letters and Nick writing to Fluer about the "farmer who lost everything and was a stronger man for it. " The maturity of Nick is emphasised in "He wished that he, himself was the victim of such a great loss and would be able to walk away stronger and nobler for it". Fluer is unable to see "the deeper implication of misfortune". Clive's love letters to Helen are a contrast, "Darling Helen, Your hair is like gold. Your eyes remind me of twilight reflected on Thores-by Creek Your ear lobes are.... Your eyelashes are...." and Fluer admiring such love letters. Nick becomes stronger and realises the mistake he has made by getting himself attached to Fluer. Like the courageous farmer in the film, who lost everything but becomes stronger and Nick writes to Fluer. "Even if it is a great personal loss to both of us, I'm sure we would walk away stronger and nobler". This idea of Nick reflecting his ability to see the "positive side of adversity" and instead of getting frustrated becoming stronger. The goggle-eyed Gilda's note to Nick, "I like your style, Nick. You've got depth " and Nick inviting Gilda to join him "I'll be eating lunch in the quad if you'd care to join me." Nick and Gilda seem to have common interest Kate Walker, highlights the fact that love letters are not just flattery but intelligent enterprises having common interests. Though Nick tried to write love letters like Clive, he failed in his attempts. The writer clearly points out and the theme itself is that flattery alone would not pave the way for a lasting love relationship, but there should be common interests and understanding of each other's motives and conceptions. Love letters, Kate Walker tries to clarify the subject matter that should go into a love letter. With a keen perspective she discusses the contrasting features of Teen Age Love Letters. There's the type of love letter with lavish praise highlighting the physical appearance of the lover. There's also the more matured type of love letter which consists of common interests and perspectives. Nick failing to write love letters of praise and love and his girlfriend Fluer's extreme anxiety to get fascinating love letters from Nick resulting in a conflict and Nick and Gilda getting closer to each other with their common interests and concepts. The theme of Kate Walker's short story what should be the contents of Love Letters she has selected a few High School students for her survey. Kate Walker has highlighted the character of goggle-eyed Gilda as the character that "embodies" the characteristics of love letters presenting what Kate wanted. Kate has selected High School students who are supposed to be more mature and understanding than the ordinary teenager. Though in High School, there are teenage students who are not as mature as expected of them. Fluer, the beautiful teenager, like a flower, as her name suggests is not mature in her attitudes towards certain aspects, though she is gifted with enticing appearance. She longs for flattery and invites expressions of love which she does not get. In this short story, the humorous episodes appeal to the reader in a very innocent manner. Clive, writing pages of love letters to his girlfriend, praising her appearance, and Nick trying to copy his art of writing and failing in his endeavour. Nick asking his mother for ideas to write his love letter. Nick getting anxious to get his girl Fluer to lick ice cream. There's mild satire running in the humorous episodes such as Nick's letter rejected by Fluer for bad spelling. The short story "Love Letters" by Kate Walker has a bit of advice to "teenage lovers" and humour being "a part of romantic love" carries the reader to amusing situations. The new relationship of Nick and Gilda is rather a serious one and the writer has carefully avoided humour in it; and instead embodies maturity, with positive attitudes. "Dear Gilda, The three minute talk you gave on speech day, about third world famine relief was really excellent. I'll be eating lunch in the quad, if you'd care to join me." Mrs. C. Ekanayake, Retd. Specialist Teacher Eng. Lit., St. Anne's College, Kurunegala |
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Kate Walker's, 'Love Letters' deals with
teenage love, romantic love and having a conversation about the contents
of a love letter. In Shakespeare's tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, Romeo gives
up Rosaline when he finds his new love Juliet and the Friar's remarks are
indeed eloquent "young men's love then lies not truly in their hearts but
in their eyes." Attraction by the superficial appearance seems to be the
mode of teenage love that may or may not last long. 
