Essay 2 Proposal- McGill 1

Hadassah McGill Professor Camargo ENG 2100 March 9, 2013 Essay 2 Proposal- Wine by Hayashi Mariko For my second essay: writing about fiction, I have chosen to analyze the symbolism represented in Hayashi Marikos short story entitled Wine in which she subtly sketches a modern Japanese career woman evaluating her relationship with men (Bedford 615). I think some title choices could be: I. II. III. IV. V. Squishing Grapes Chateau Incomparable Tastes Harvested Selection of Men Refined Tastes

I cannot decide what a good title should be but this is a working process so I have no doubt that it will come to me. I believe I found a symbolic relationship between how women choose men in relation to both their taste in expensive things (wine in this instance), and equally who they deem most appropriate to share it with or who they feel is the most excellent recipient to present the most precious gift to such as themselves: their bodies, their virginity (might be a stretch), their hearts and most intimate experiences, but again in this instance the example used is wine. The thesis that I have in mind so far is: The protagonist staggers over the tough decision of which man seems most befit to receive her most expensive wine as a gift. The symbolic relationship between the wine and her choice of recipient speaks a lot about the decisions women make in choosing life partners as well as friendships and relationships that will last and age gracefully over time, like a bottle of rich, flavorful, and expensive wine. Some examples that support my interpretation represent the decision process the woman makes as she goes to great lengths to decide who should receive her wine: I had become malicious ever since I had bought the wine. I no longer wanted to give it to Morita. If possible, I thought, I wanted this wine to be drunk by a man who was close to perfect. But was there such a person in my life? (Bedford 622). I should give the wine to the doctor, I thought Dr. Okamura is a far more appropriate recipient for my wine than Morita (Bedford 622).

Essay 2 Proposal- McGill 2

I have not yet found sufficient secondary sources. HELP PLEASE!! I might consider examining other stories in which people have compared finding and weeding through adequate companions in similar ways; by acknowledging the most expensive thing in their repertoire and using that to compare and select long-lasting, sufficient companions. Also, possibly analyzing why this important in our human state or why natural selection or survival of the fittest is a reason we compare and have this mindset to choose and want only the best. I will organize my paper using the basic structure of an essay with a little High Definition of sorts. Introduction: will open with a strong but succinct synopsis of Hayashi Marikos short story, Wine. When it was written Its cultural and historical meaning, etc. Incorporated thesis with plot and symbolic structure Body: will explore what I am trying to prove/support with the thesis. History of wine development Symbolism of wine in story Significance of the careful selection of a male recipient Symbolism of what a relationship and the status symbol suggest Brief comparison of the male recipients listed in the story and how they each represented something different for her in her life decision Eventually when I find the perfect secondary source(s), they will tie into my thesis and the story to answer the So What? factor or in this case, the question(s), how does this affect or create meaning in the text? and/or why does this matter? Conclusion: will be something witty and thought provoking (God willing I get through the actual paper sufficiently).

I am currently still in the last phases of research for this paper. I need to find the perfect secondary source; I just dont know where to start. I am unsure if I am going in the right direction with this story, topic of symbolism and my current thesis as a whole. Im not sure if Im confident that I am on the right track or if I will be able to adequately be able to write this paper with enough evidence to support my thesis without the use of personal stories or first person point of view, and really address what is only given to me by the author and what the author wants the reader to pick up. I am not sure that I havent already stretched her meaning behind her work out of proportion with my own interpretations. I really liked this work though, I found it very interesting and relatable in a few ways and I thought it would be a good story to focus on. Now Im not so sure.