Richard Brautigan’s 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 is a short story that contains a lot of meaning. Within this writing piece, Brautigan tells a simple story about a young man who owns a typewriter that is asked by a neighborhood woman to type a novel written by an older man, since they do not own a typewriter. When he agrees to type the novel, the woman explains that since there is three of them, each were to receive 1/3 of the cut. One of Brautigan’s main points is that the novelist, the man in his late forties, is only educated up until the 4th grade, but is the creator of a novel. In this short story not only does Brautigan prove that anyone can write a novel whether highly educated or not, but he also proves that there can be an opportunity for everyone. In this short story, when Brautigan is explaining how this opportunity came about him. He tells the readers that he was just going about his daily business, as usual, when a woman approached him with her offer. This tells the readers that he was not expecting anyone to approach him with that kind of offer, nor did chances like this ever come about. Living the way he did, in a rundown shack in the early 1950’s, Brautigan never thought he would get this kind of opportunity. “One day I was standing in front of my shack, eating an apple and staring at a black ragged toothache sky that was about to rain.” (72) This quote from the text further explains my point that there is an opportunity out there for everyone, you just have to be willing to wait around for it. Moving past the offer, Brautigan willingly accepts the challenge, after telling the woman that he first wanted to read the novel. Come to find out, the author of this novel was only educated up to the fourth grade. Did this change his mind? No. Brautigan still agreed to type the novel. This further proves that it doesn’t matter if you have magnificent education or mediocre education, you can still write a novel. I think Brautigan knew this, which is why he still agreed to do it. Also Brautigan himself didn’t have the experience of ever typing a novel anyway. This was a way for Brautigan to connect to the novelist. In all, I think that Brautigan not only wrote a good short story, but also wrote a story with many things to interpret. Brautigan allowed the readers to understand that it doesn’t matter if you have an amazing education or none at all, you can still write a novel. Also, Brautigan proved that there is an opportunity out there for everyone.
Nicole DeFosche Professor Chappell EN 106W- Response Paper “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” 27 January 2012 Age and Education In Richard Brautigan’s short story, “1/3, 1/3, 1/3,” he talks about two young characters wanting to write a novel to make a good profit. It first started off with the novelist and an editor, but they needed someone to type the novel once it was completed. It just so happened the editor lived near a young man with a type writer. She kindly asked the young man if he would be willing to type up the novel. The editor also explains that whatever the novel makes they all get one third of the profit. The man with the type writer agrees to this and wants to be a part of this. The editor brings the man who is typing the story to meet the novelist. The novelist explains he has only had a fourth grade education and the novel isn’t finished yet. He shows the typer his work and explains what the novel will be about. As the typer is reading over the start o the novelists novel, he can tell this needs a lot of work. The novelist was a man in his thirties and didn’t have all the techniques he needed to be the perfect novelist, but this did not stop him from writing. The typer didn’t know what he was getting himself into, but he wanted to make a profit and type because he loved it. He began to read the novel and realized all the errors in the novelist novel. This didn’t stop the typer from typing his work. The novelist may not be the writer when it comes to grammar and other errors, but he wanted to follow his dream and write a novel. By the novelist writing this novel, it can get him somewhere. It can show potential in his writing and show his readers how creative he is. This can be a fresh start to new beginning for the novelist, the typer and the editor. My point is all three of these people are not highly educated, but they were all a part of something they love to do. The more they practice at becoming better writers, the more novels they can write together and make more money. They’re following their dreams, which people should be doing every day. Brautigan is telling this from when he was seventeen years old. He has become a successful writer and has grown. He stuck with his dream and now he writes short stories for others to enjoy. He simply explains how his career started out.
Richard Brautigan's “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” is a story about a young writer getting a refreshing perspective from an unlikely source and breaking free from a deep depression. The author does not tell us explicitly that the protagonist is a writer, but the conclusion is natural enough. He is an articulate young man who lives alone in a shack, spends an inordinate amount of time staring at the sky, and types a lot at night. He is poor, but the particular lifestyle is more or less of his own choice, because fourteen years later he muses, "I still can't figure out what I meant by living the way I did in those days." Could the character be Brautigan himself, seventeen years old and just starting out? The setting of the story is vivid and very depressing. The young writer lives in a perpetually rainy, muddy and hopeless small town. Everything around him is rundown and dismal. The sky at which he stares is a "black ragged toothache sky." There is a trailer that is "sad with a cemetery-like chimney," the dishes that are "born dirty to last forever," and even Hopalong Cassidy on the mill watchman's notebook cover looks tired. The hero has a wry sense of humor, but it doesn't help him out of depression. His irony is as tired as his surroundings. Everything he says is loaded with the feeling of failure. "The street was of no use to cars any more. They travelled on a different frequency where asphalt and gravel were more sympathetic." The trailer was "never going anywhere again," and the bed "looked as if it had been a partner to some of the saddest love-making this side of The Cross." Whatever he is writing at night, it probably isn't going too well. And then out of all the mud suddenly come two naive, barely literate, child-like people who are writing a novel, of all things! Unlike the young writer, they aren't weighed down with expectations of failure. And why should they be? True, the spelling of their novel is atrocious, the wording is corny, and the opening scene is banal. True, the chances that it will ever get published are extremely low, even if somebody would "straighten out the grammar and commas and stuff." But they don't know that, and it doesn't matter anyway. There is an apple red mouth in their story, and scalding hot blood, and big handsome loggers. It is a perfect antidote to the black sky and the smell of stale rain. The closing line of the story is full of irony, but the old bitterness is gone from the young writer's tone. His irony is tender. "Maybell blushed like a flower flouar while we were all sitting there in that rainy trailer, pounding at the gates of American literature." Give your story a chance: it may be just that one breath of fresh air somebody needs. Don’t let the gates intimidate you.
Kelsey Nolan Dr. Michael J Champpell EN 106W 25 January 2012 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 The focus of 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 is on the individuals rather than the historical events that took place in that era. 1952 was the end of World War Two and the ‘baby boomers’ generation. These three people in this story are not involved in this economic shift. The only use of technology they had was the narrators’ typewriter. In this certain time period they should be worried about the Russians and bombs however, this is never mentioned. The setting of the story 1/3, 1/3,1/3 is in the Pacific Northwest. In this story the main characters go to places including a trailer and a welfare office showing that they are not wealthy. In the Pacific Northwest there is a lot of rain and puddles symbolizing that these 3 humans do not have the best lives. The central theme of 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 is the typewriter that the narrator owns because it brings all the characters together and symbolizes hope. Throughout 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 different images of the typewriter are presented. The typewriters image changes from the beginning to the end. The typewriter symbolizes progress at first because it gives each person opportunity. It portrays a figurative meaning behind its literal presence. The typewriter could symbolize the three peoples potential to get out of being outcasts. If they can use the typewriter, finish the novel, and make money they can move up classes. The type writer that the narrator owns connects all three characters. The humans in this story are uneducated, poor, and outcasts. The typewriter is a metaphor symbolizes knowledge. Using the typewriter shows that they want to change their lives for the better. I see the typewriter as like a car. The typewriter is their driving source to the ‘gates.’ By using the typewriter they are trying for higher education. Without the typewriter they would be stranded. Without the typewriter the story wouldn’t be complete. The typewriter portrays many different images. The typewriter shows knowledge, hope, opportunity, and a driving force to a better life.
In Richard Brautigan’s short story, “1/3, 1/3, 1/3,” three people get together to publish a novel, each promised 1/3 of the profit. One man wrote the novel, a woman will edit it, and the narrator will type it due to the fact that he as a typewriter. Each character has a different motive for why he or she wants to be part of this project. The man writing the novel wants to be part of it because of the sense of nostalgia that it gives him. The novel itself is an account of his life from 20 years earlier, when he was younger, stronger, and not so alone. Now, as the narrator points out, he looks as though life mistreated him. This state of sorrow that he is in motivates him to want to return back to the “good ol’ days” where he had the happiness that he is now lacking. The novel that he is writing acts as an escape for him, allowing him to return to the days where misery did not accompany him. The woman’s motivation for wanting to edit this novel is strictly financial. Throughout the story, you can see this woman’s desperation for money. She depends solely on the monthly checks that she receives from Welfare. The description of her character often refers back to Welfare, for example: “She was so fragile and firmly indebted to the Welfare Department that she often looked like a 12 year old.” It is also pointed out that her house is approximately 2 miles from the Welfare office, and her conversation with the narrator consisted mostly about her check from Welfare that was two days late. The narrator also states that he has seen her with three or four boyfriend, which could be looked at as a sign of her corrupt morals. The poverty that she struggles with as well as her dependency on Welfare is what is motivating her to edit this man’s novel – in order to receive the profit. The narrator’s motivation for typing the novel is simply because he doesn’t want to feel alone. He states in the story that living in the Pacific Northwest has made him “lonely and strange.” The setting of the story has put him out of his element. He also points out the lack of pavement where he and the other characters live, stating that cars don’t come through there. This can be looked at as the isolation that he feels and the label of “the outcast” he as well as the other characters holds. This feeling of loneliness motivates him to engage in this project, allowing him to be social as well as do something that may get him recognition, where he otherwise would go unnoticed. His motivation is to fill the void that the setting of the story has burdened him with.
Nick Coutant “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” In today’s society if you want to become successful in life and live your dreams you almost always need an education. Usually that being through college, but even a high school education is almost mandatory. In Richard Brautigan’s 1/3, 1/3,1/3, he shows the false hope of three poor, and uneducated people who are aspiring to write a novel. Brautigan is able to show that without an education it truly makes in almost impossible to become a successful author. Right from the beginning of the story Brautigan sets the story in a almost hopeless setting with the sky being cloudy and all of the rain. The roads in the town are almost impossible to drive on because of the mud. Most of the people in the town are living off of their welfare checks. Most are living in run down shacks and trailers that wouldn’t even make it onto the road. The citizens of this town are not given a many opportunities to become successful. All three people that were going to be contributing to this novel were all for the most part uneducated. The author of the novel had only completed up to a fourth grade education. Towards the end of the story, he included what the author of the novel had written so far and the fact that the author was uneducated became more clear. “You sur lik veel cutlets dont you Maybell said she was holding her pensil up to her mowth that she was preti and red lik an apl!” Brautigan was able to show how important it is to get an education, and without one the difficulties of becoming successful. Some people see this story as a glimmer of hope but that isn’t what I took away from this and the last line of the story really shows the stand point of the story with an almost sarcastic ending. “ Howdi ther Rins said Maybell blushed like a flouar while we were sitting there in that rainy trailer, pounding at the gates of American literature.”
Cassie Ferraro Professor Chappell English 106W 25 January 2012 Response to Richard Brautigan’s 1/3 1/3 1/3 When reflecting upon the short story 1/3 1/3 1/3 by Richard Brautigan, one cannot help but to notice the dreary diction the author uses to paint the setting and the mood. Consistent mud being the product of an endless rain serves as a parallel to the interpretation of the story. In 1/3 1/3 1/3, Brautigan illustrates a sense of failure and hopelessness through his impoverished characters and the melancholy setting of the Pacific Northwest. In the opening paragraphs of the short story, Brautigan sets the scene for his 1950s setting. A povery-ridden Pacific Northwest, with most of the protagonist’s community living in run down apartments or on the street, creates an atmosphere of depression and distress. These obvious details demonstrate the socio-economic status of the protagonist and the other characters in the story. The second character we meet, who offers our protagonist a form of income, is married to her welfare checks. She approached him, as the protagonist described, looking like a twelve year old child with the welfare check peeking out over her shoulder. Welfare implies that the situation in their community is so severe that federal aid is necessary so these people can survive and attempt to better their economic situation. However, it is also implied that she has been receiving these welfare checks for some period of time. As we progress through the story, we learn that his employment is dependent on his ability to type a story written by a man with a fourth grade education. Skeptical, he asks to read the story before he embarks on this venture with the other two people. This is interesting in and of itself because the protagonist is in a situation where extra income would be greatly appreciated, regardless of the subject matter of what he must type. Upon reading the story, we find that the author has detestable grammar and his living quarters are dismal. The story’s plot is rather dull and the diction nearly undecipherable. Through this unfortunate human being, Brautigan pokes fun at the notion that someone with such a limited education can contribute to great American literature. The irony lies in the last line of the story “and there we were, pounding on the gates of American literature.” The whole story carries a sense of hopelessness and is only reaffirmed in the end. The three characters in this story are doomed to lives of poverty and lack of education. There is nothing grandiose about the story that he is writing and it contains no literary value. Through Brautigan’s diction, characters and setting we see how this story is truly ironic in nature.
Mitchel Cleveland Professor Chappell English 106W 26 January, 2012 1/3 1/3 1/3 In the short story, 1/3 1/3 1/3, written by Richard Brautigan it is hard to notice the sad life these characters are living. The narrator lives is a card bored lined shack across from the run downed house the “welfare office” rents for the women. The writer of the story they are all in on lives in a beat up old trailer next to a run downed old sawmill. You can’t also help but notice how much of the woman’s life is made up by her welfare checks. She literally lives paycheck to paycheck. She even brings it up to the narrator on their walk out of nowhere with no mention by the narrator. If she has any chance to talk about herself or the welfare office she will definitely bring it up. Also you have to notice the time period this takes place. It is only a couple years after World War II and the economy is actually really good (because of the war), but these three people know nothing about it. They never bring up the fact that the Cold War is happening. They are busy worrying about when they’re Welfare checks are going to come instead of worrying if the Russians are coming or launching nuclear weapons. These three people are so far out of the loop, they do not even know what is going on at all in their country. They are so focused on living in this dreary area of the country, getting their welfare checks, and writing this book that they have no idea what is going on around them. They have no idea of the fear they should be in because of the Cold War and the communist Russian. In this book it is weird how these people do not ever mention the major dilemmas going on in our country, but talk about welfare and writing a novel written by a man with a 4th grade education.
Bryn Landino Professor Chappell/Mr. Bolster Eng 106W 27 January 2012 “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” Response In Richard Brautigan’s short story, “1/3, 1/3, 1/3”, a few central ideas float around. For instance, the idea of the typewriter as a symbol of hope is present in this story. Another one could be where you reside has a tremendous effect on your mental state. But the debate that really sparked my attention was whether or not somebody with a fourth grade education could write a great literary piece. There definitely is the chance that someone with a fourth grade education can make great contributions to the literary world. In the story, Brautigan gives us three main characters: a 17 year old boy, a woman in her late 30s, and a man in his late 40s. The 17-year old boy is the narrator, and he reveals that the group would be working together on a novel written by the man, edited by the woman, and he would be the one to type it. The man has a story in mind and it’s not very well written, possibly because he has only the education of a 10 year old. That does not mean that others with the same education can’t write great stories. Most of my favorite works of literature are pieces that are very imaginative and fun and creative; fiction stories. You don’t need an education to have an imagination. I have a cousin who is also in the fourth grade and she has one of the biggest imaginations I’ve ever come across. Great novels and stories can be written through imagination. Granted, writers without a good education tend to not get published, but that’s not to say it’s an impossible task. Everyone has the power to write amazing literature, even if their education is not top notch.
That would be a whole: A response to the short story 1/3, 1/3, 1/3.
The story 1/3, 1/3, 1/3, was based on the beginning stages of three people’s work in coming together to write a novel. The entire story covers what is my estimate of a few hours’ time frame and ends with the reader in the same sort of misunderstanding as whence they began. However, throughout the story there is one recurring theme that is obviously present in nearly every printed sentence. While it is unclear whether the person telling the story is actually the author, it is obvious that this person is extremely bitter and meticulous, probably as a result of his life up until this point in time, with lonely thoughts and strange behaviors bordering Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). As well, this same person clearly lives in an impoverished part of town, feels trapped with no way out, and as most people in the ghetto, thinks there is nothing left for him to do but keep it moving from day to day. I believe this story was actually written about a whole, and the narrator is just very separated and distant from other persons and the rest of the world. Instead of stating that the story is about three people coming together to work on a single project, he makes great note of the fact that it is all about the thirds. His bitterness is not far behind, and in just the second paragraph he insults his own place of living, denoting it as a card-board lined shack of a building. Matter of fact, the only person he actually introduces by their real name is the nine year old son of his neighbor, Freddy. For some reason he seems especially mad at the welfare woman for living somewhat of a nice life up until the story’s present day, a luxury he clearly did not similarly enjoy. He labels her a twelve year old, lazy, and basically calls her a whore repeatedly throughout the story. One paragraph in particular really puts in perspective for the reader just how crumby these people’s part of town is. Noting that the street is unpaved, it would appear that he wants the reader to get the idea of just how bad his life is by stating that he lives in a part of town so crappy that cars and their drivers did not even have use for travel through his neighborhood streets. Although by the end of the story, one can almost get the idea that this was once a marvelous bustling logging town that, like so many other manufacturing and industry supported towns, met its maker at the end of the industrial revolution and unfortunately was never quite able to recover, similar to the three main characters in this story. By the time this story was over, it became clear to me that the person telling the story was indeed unhappy with his life to date and has become very bitter towards others as a result. As well, the recurring theme of his meticulousness is repeatedly threaded into almost every line. Whether he was focused on welfare’s little white boots, novelist’s six hundred cigarette butts, or his town’s raggedy conditions, he always managed to find something that unintentionally pushed his buttons. This confirms my hypothesis that he is somewhat OCD and detail oriented, and also confirms his own thoughts that he is indeed lonely and strange. In the end, its seems to be a somewhat dismal writing of a few people down on their luck trying to make something of themselves in what might be a last ditch effort to reverse the frequency of inevitable bad luck that accompanies the people of poverty. Even though it doesn’t seem to be that much of a story, it should serve as a gentle reminder to all of us who are more fortunate not to take even the smallest things, such as having paved streets, for granted when we ourselves become blue from time to time.
Jennifer Linke Professor Chappell English 106W 27 January 2012 The Gates of American Literature In Richard Brautigan’s, “1/3,1/3,1/3”, the author expresses that everyone has the right to tell their own story. The man writing the novel in the story only has a 4th grade education, but proceeds to write a novel based on some of his own experiences. Even though he is not a man of higher education nor a man from the upper class in society, he still persists to write a novel despite his lack of proper language and grammar. This character has the right to tell his own story no matter the challenges that he may be faced with. The narrator of the story is a boy who was to receive 1/3 of the profits from the novel the writer was creating. Brautigan writes the story through the eyes of the typist who in face is telling the story about the writer who is writing the novel. The typist’s interpretation gives the reader an insight to the time period of which the story takes place, as well as the social class of the characters. Brautigan makes an important distinction by addressing the fact that the characters are from a poor social class. He also creates a strong visual of a dreary, dark setting in which the story takes place, which makes the reader shocked to discover that this is about a man with a 4th grade education writing a novel. Even though the writer of the novel is faced with the challenges of a poor education and difficulty writing the story with proper grammar and spelling, he is persistent to tell his own story and seeks help so that he may accomplish his goal of telling his story. This is a strong symbol of hope and persistence because no matter the challenge they each believe in the right to tell a story. I think this correlates with the final statement, “pounding at the gates of American literature,” because the writer tells his own story, and with help, he is creating a piece of literature even though he is faced with many challenges.
Kristina Kruse Professor Chappell ENG 106W-01 26 January 2012
The Voice of the Novelist
The worth of man is not solely dictated by the level of his education. In the short story, 1/3, 1/3, 1/3, Richard Brautigan illustrates three ominous characters’ desires of reaping benefits of literary excellence, however lacking in professorial intellect. Exceptionality can be accomplished simply with the wealth of life experience. The narrator of the Brautigan’s story is the typist; this characterization creates the assumption that he is the protagonist. This interpretation suggests the protagonist is the novelist. Having only a fourth grade intellect inhibits the novelist’s ability to express his story with any clarity. In order for him to be relieved of his impoverished life, he must write. He needs his voice to be heard and therefore requires the assistance of the fellow characters, the Welfare stricken editor and the sky gazing typist. “Maybell shifard wen she saw him standing ther in his blac mackinaw he smild at her and Carl felt his blod run hot lik scallding coffee and fiting mad!” Jealousy can drive a man insane. A tale of long lost romance and the printed record of human experience can give hope to even the most shameful of persons. The emotion filled journey the novelist explores with his lover in the diner will explain the choices that lead him to where he is now. Is he proud? If he is compelled to publish his work there must be a certain significance that may be overlooked by persons not bound by his current status. His story is relative; it is a “what it’s like” representation of him and assures him that his existence will not go unnoticed. The irony of Brautigan’s story is the implication that American literature is only great if created by exemplary members of society. The novelist’s recollection of his past is a literary masterpiece in the eyes of common folk. The combination of relatability and emotionality will portray a beautiful portrait of the human experience.
Karina Rodriguez Prof. Chappell English 106 January 27, 2012
Hopeful
In the story 1/3, 1/3, 1/3, the author described three young different characters that each had something special about them. One of them knew how to type, one of them was a writer, and the other one was able to read and edit. With the three of them brought together they were able to help the writer write a book. The writer only having education up to the fourth grade has the brains, ability, and imagination to write a novel but doesn’t have the full power to completely write it properly and correctly. His spelling is bad and he doesn’t know how to write in proper English. With the help of the editor they can make this novel happen. Also to complete this, they have the typewriter finishing their story. The typewriter was just minding his own business one day and the young lady who lived down the road from him had approached him and told him about the novel. He agreed to meet the man who was writing the novel and decided that he will go in on the job too. The author described the living environment as brought down, kind of poor, muddy pavement and living in a broken down shack. This book gave them the opportunity to each split the money they get out of it into 1/3 for each person. The story shows that they are all very hopeful because they each have this opportunity to help this man become successful with his novel and they were also able to step in and help him out and at the end of the day get paid for it as well. Without knowing if the book is going to be successful or not they are hopeful putting their foot forward and preparing to get the job done. The editor is young and beautiful she has a bunch of different boyfriends, the author described her to be about twelve years only. She probably could live off of the men she spoke to and gotten money from them. Instead of that she is willing to help the man right the book. The typewriter was not sure about the offer and he wanted to meet with the man to make sure that he was going to be set up and to see what the novel was all about. Finally meeting this man and learning that he only has education for up to the fourth grade, he is still willing and hopeful to help him knowing he will get 1/3 of the deal. The novelist wanted to follow his hopes and dreams of writing a novel, even with his lack of education it didn’t stop him from writing one. This could each give one of them an option to succeed higher. The novelist could be able to write more novels and the other two could continue the typing and editing and together they can each split what they are working hard for. Not knowing of the success of this novel they still all step in together as a team and help one another out. This story was written and said by Richard Brautigan, he didn’t know how successful he was going to be but he was hopeful, he followed his dreams and succeeded. Now he writes short stories that are published and read but many people all around. In the beginning of the story he just described the three characters, he didn’t clearly say that it was actually him who was writing the story, but as the story approached and he referred to him as I, then it was clear that he was the writer. He wrote the story in his point of view to show how far he has come, from being for little educated to having his short story published in a book. He as a character in the story never gave up and this short story symbolizes the American dream, which is following what you believe.
Keith Kirwan-Welsh Professor Bolster English 106 27 January 2012 Desperate Times Call For Desperate Measures When despair and gloom are everywhere, at every turn, at every step; when all hope seems lost, what can one do to better their state of being? That person or group of people can accept their situation, or they can do anything possible to get out of that dark time. Even if the idea they try is quite frankly not going to get them anywhere, they are trying. That effort alone gives them a slight ray of light into their dark life, giving them a glimmer of hope of one day achieving a better life. In the short story “1/3 1/3 1/3,” three characters are in the slums of the Pacific Northwest. They are all very poor- one’s life seems to revolve around whether or not she will get her welfare check, another lives in a rundown trailer, and another lived in a cardboard-lined shack. These three people are living that depressing life, and instead of letting themselves rot away, they decide to do something about their life. People who are desperate enough will go to any lengths-ridiculous or not, to better their lives. These three people prove this statement. One of the three has a fourth grade education. He decides that he is going to write a novel. Another has read pocketbooks and “Readers Digest” so she is going to edit it. And the last man is simply going to type it up. After all of this they are going to split the profit between each other. The fact of the matter is that they will most likely not create a well written piece of literature. They do not have the skill set or resources to create sophisticated works of writing. Yes, there has to be SOME possibility that they can work together to create something great, but one must be realistic when thinking about something as challenging as writing great literature. If it was so easy many people who graduated high school, let alone fourth grade, would have published writing. The group of three is desperate; they are living in terrible conditions. They are very poor, so to try and make money they decide to write a novel. They are so desperate that they decide to do something as unrealistic as writing a novel. When people are in desperate times, they do very strange things. Had these people been well off, they would not be trying to write a novel. They are doing it for money, not because they think they are talented writers. Sometimes when in trouble or tough times, people just accept where they are at in life. Other times, people act, and sometimes, they act in strange and outrageous ways, for example like robbing a bank, or trying to publish a book.
Victoria Weiss Mr. Chappell English 100W 25 January 2012 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 Response My first response to this vignette was that right away I could tell that the setting seemed grimy, dull, and dark. The description of the town consisted of tons of rain and cloudy days. The character explains how he had to run through the muddy road because it isn't paved, but only made of dirt. Another instance that made me think of this is that the women in the story is always wearing boots of some kind, either for snow or for rain which makes me believe that the scenery isn't a nice one to be living in. Not only is the weather terrible, so is the living conditions of all the people living in the town. Without the residence's monthly welfare checks, none of them would be able to survive or maintain a living style. In my option, without their welfare checks, not only would they not have any food or shelter. but the whole town would become a large dump. It also says a lot when one of the characters explains how he only went as far as 4th grade. This shows that no one in the town takes education seriously because there is other problems to worry about. However, because lack of education is the issue for some, it brings the inspiration of gathering helpers to write the book that they wanted to be published. This piece of literature was interesting and full of description. The reader could really get a sense of what the weather and everyday life is like there.
The Un-American Dream Richard Brautigan’s “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” is a story of hope. His word choice and character description gives life to the hopeless world these characters live in. The time of this story is post World War II. In this time the economy slowly transition from war to peace and in this process some people struggled to get by until the economy picked up. These characters are all clearly living a life of shear desperation. The American Dream is to work hard and with given opportunity and create your own success. These 3 characters are doing the complete opposite of the American Dream as they seek out a quick lifeboat from the ocean of desperation they are stranded in. These characters lives are promptly put into focus. The man with the type writer puts the blame on his environment and surroundings for the loneliness and imperfections in his life. The life in the Pacific Northwest where the weather is typically cold and rainy. It’s common for weather like this to provide negative thoughts and aid depression. Their goal is to be successful and for this to happen they need to open the “gates to American literature.” It’s almost like they are on a path like in “Wizard of Oz” and they are seeking that gate to enter a new world. In this case they are seeking financial relief. The woman in this story constantly talks about welfare. She is living off of welfare checks and is always waiting for her next check so she can continue to live. The other character who was actually writing the short story only went through 4th grade and was clearly having a rough go of things. With such little education he is looking for the instant success to knock him into a higher lifestyle. The division of labor speaks volumes of the desperation of these characters. The writer is instantly settling for less by splitting it with the editor. He is the one with the literature that they hope to bring them fortune. They seek out more help by bringing in a man to type it. Seriously they only needed him for the typewriter; they were so desperate they took anyone with a type writer to help them get their book finished. One person could do all of these things but these characters cannot bear the road blocks of publishing a book, they would rather sacrifice royalties in exchange for confidence in their final product. This is key for them to keep their hope as they are depending on each other heavily. All of these characters have one thing in common. They are poor. They are living depressing unsuccessful lives and are looking for this sweet escape. The fact that they will split it between the 3 of them shows that they are willing to reach out to others. They have tried hard throughout their lives and have not been successful. They can combine their talents in one to help lift all of them out of their slump. In a world set to be naturally depressing these characters have help a firm grasp on their goals in life. They gave up on the American Dream however, and are now looking for the easy out.
Brie Brown Prof. Chappell ENG 106W-01 27 January 2012 The Understanding of Being Poor Writers generally write about something that they truly understand or have gone through. Whether it is about a previous event that happened in the writer’s life or a serious event that the writer went through at some point in his or her life. In Richard Brautigan’s American Short Story, “1/3, 1/3, 1/3,” he shows he truly understands the meaning of being poor. In the short story “1/3, 1/3, 1/3,” the main characters agree to work together to write a novel. It is because they are all poor that they would work together to write a novel. It is clear that the three of them are doing whatever it takes to make enough money to at least live comfortable. By fully describing the settings, Brautigan really shows that he has a good understanding of the lifestyle of a poor person. In the first setting, Brautigan describes what the main characters’, whose names we do not know, home is. He describes one as cardboard-lined shack in an apartment building. The novelist lived in a rundown trailer near a sawmill, which is described as a small, muddy trailer that smelled like stale rain. Brautigan also explains how the characters live in a poor part of town and explains how the streets are not paved and part of the town were wet and muddy. Only someone who understands what it is like to be poor could actually be able to give enough detail about the scenery, among other things. Brautigan uses many details to help give the audience a better ideal as to what it is like to be poor. Other than the settings, he uses details to describe other important elements to the story. A common thing that many poor people do, when they are receiving Welfare, is they buy at least one sort of flashy item to make it seem like they are not living off of Welfare. The woman in the story who would do the editing did just this. Every time she would not be going to the Welfare, she would be wearing her green mackinaw and then change into her shapeless duck-gray coat. Some other close details that really draw attention would be the pile of 600 cigarette butts, the unmade bed, and the dirty dishes in the sink that was described as looking as if they were always dirty. These details suggest that the novelist doesn’t have any momentum to keep his living space clean because of his lack of money because he is so focused on trying to make money. The amount of close detail that Brautigan uses really shows that he knows exactly what he is talking about when it comes to being poor. In conclusion, Brautigan’s “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” really shows how he understands the true meaning of being poor. He shows this by explaining exactly how the characters’ lifestyles are in the story and gives specific details about them and their surroundings. Brautigan understands what it means to be poor and uses “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” to illustrate this to those who read his work.
Alyssa Downey Intro to Fiction Dr. Chappell 27 January, 2012 In the Far Away Land of the Pacific Northwest In “1/3, 1/3, 1/3,” the three main characters are outcasts of society. They live day by day, and do not worry about current events. The woman relies on nothing but Welfare checks, and the writer of the novel only has a fourth grade education and cannot process current events. Even the author creates a separation by not giving each character a name, and instead referring to them as “he” or “she.” The three characters are separated from society and are only focused on themselves. In 1952, America was as busy as can be. Between the baby boomer generation, the experiments with nuclear weapons with other countries, and new technology rising, there was a lot going on. However, the characters were so segregated from society that they did not acknowledge the existence of these events. They cannot afford to be stressed out over current events because they are more worried about living day by day on what little resources they have. The woman in this story is overall described as the Welfare lady. Every week she waits for the check in order to support herself. The man who wrote the novel has a fourth grade education. He will have a hard time understanding why other countries have weapons and not being educated is not attractive to many women, therefore, he does not participate in the baby boom. The man with the typewriter is the only character that has any source of the outside world; his typewriter. It is the only type of technology that appears in the book. Also, the other two characters see this typewriter as an important factor to their project, since they do not possess one. The author also separates the characters from society. Usually, an author will give characters names to make the story connect to the reader. However, Brautigan decides not to give names. The reader is not supposed to connect with these people. They are outcasts; they do not connect well with others. By using “he” and “she,” we see the characters as who they are and focus on their situations, not their names and any assumptions that come with those names. These are the outcasts stored away in the Pacific Northwest. They are so separated from society that they do not even have names. They are focused on surviving and making sure that the next check goes through.
Stephanie Mazzucco Professor Chappell English 106W January 25th 2012 Go Towards the Gates Right from the beginning of the poem “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” by Richard Brautigan the theme is pretty clear. The setting is in the year 1952 in the Pacific Northwest. Brautigan was asked to be part of a project in which he would become one third of a team. All that he had to contribute for this was the fact that he had his type writer and could type up a story. He mentions that they are going down a path in which a gate at the end would be found. Despite the year that this poem was written the only thing that the characters can really even think about is themselves. It is clear that they do not have a lot of financial stability considering the amount of times the welfare office and welfare checks were talked about throughout the poem. They aren’t able to worry about other things that the country was worrying about because they were worrying about the next meal that was going to be on their table. Even though the writer of the story only has a 4th grade education he is still able to write the story because of his determination. In a situation like this the 3 partners need each other so that they can all have a shot at making something great together. I enjoyed how at the ending of the poem it goes into how the book was written by the man. The gates that were mentioned at the beginning of the book come up right at the last sentence of the poem. The gates that they were trying to go threw were the ones of “American literature.”
The setting in the short story, “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” by Richard Brautigan reflects the characters own lives, as they currently are. The way the setting and natural elements are described, as it pertains to the three main characters, the narrator, the woman, and the novelist; convey the different aspects of their lives and their condition. The short story takes place in the Pacific Northwest. It is commonly a very wet, rainy, and dreary place. This is certainly true and evident in the story. This can create a potentially very depressing and oppressing mood overall. This depressing and oppressing atmosphere and mood, in turn, reflects and is a metaphor for the character’s attitudes and the way they live their lives. The narrator describes how he was “made lonely and strange by the Pacific Northwest of so many years ago, that dark, rainy land of 1952.” (pg. 71). This says that the narrator thinks that the conditions of the Pacific Northwest, with its rainy, dark skies, somehow impeded his life and made his life less than it could have been. As the narrator is “staring at the black ragged toothache sky that was about to rain.” (pg. 72), his says that he looks at the sky, like it was his occupation. He sees something in it. One could see someone’s occupation as an extension of that person. The narrator could be seeing the dark ominous sky as an extension of himself and his life. One almost literal example of the state of the character’s lives are the unpaved muddy roads. As a result of living in a poorer part of town, the characters don’t have the luxury of nice, asphalt roads. A correlation between setting and the state of the character’s lives also extends behind the narrator too, as we see with the novelist. The narrator describes the novelist’s trailer home and says “the place was small and muddy and smelled of stale rain.” (pg. 75). Just the description alone gives a thought provoking impression in regards to who the novelist is and his lot in life right now. As the narrator is about to read over the novelist’s story, “suddenly the rain started to come down hard outside, without any warning, just suddenly great drops of rain that almost shook the trailer.” (pg. 75). This could be an indication of an impending doom as it relates to the novelist’s story and the quality of its actual content. This short story takes time to convey how the character’s lives are not as comfortable or pleasant as they could be. They are poor and live in poverty-like conditions. Their actions and their descriptions show just how depressing and dark their lives are. But, the setting, weather, and natural occurrences also indirectly set the mood and tone for the character’s positions in life.
Stephanie Sereday Intro to Fiction Professor Chappell “1/3,1/3,1/3”
Response to “1/3,1/3,1/3”
“1/3, 1/3, 1/3,” humorous; or inspiring? In my opinion, it’s a little bit of both. This short story, much like a poem, can be taken in different ways. Depending on how one perceives the context and tone of the story, it can hold different meanings. This is my perception of Richard Brautigan’s short story, “1/3, 1/3, 1/3.”
Brautigan tells a story of three not-so wealthy people living in what seems to be a very run down town in the Pacific Northwest. Each of the three are assigned separate tasks in writing a novel. One was to write it, one to edit it, and the last to type it. Any money earned was to be split evenly among the three, hence, “1/3,1/3, 1/3.” Sounds like a simple enough story right? Although with Brautigan’s remarks like, “ I was that involved in looking at the sky ... you would have thought that I had been hired to do it ...” (pg.72) the reader can find humor in the story. This makes me think that maybe the entire story is to be taken in a humorous, light-hearted tone. Then Brautigan throws me. He says, “ ... we were all sitting there in that rainy trailer, pounding at the gates of American Literature.” I look at this line and I see both irony, and inspiration. Could this poorly educated, poverty stricken trio accomplish writing a successful and meaningful novel? If so, what an inspiration for Americans to take a chance, tell their story and maybe even make a few bucks. Or is Brautigan condescendingly poking fun at their sorry attempt to success? What are we, as readers, supposed to take from this story?
In my own interpretation, I am choosing to take this story as an inspiration with an ironic twist. Yes, it’s funny at times and maybe even a little condescending. Though, I still see the optimistic sun cracking through those grey Pacific Northwest clouds. This is a beautiful short story of three strangers working together towards a goal that will better each one of their lives. What’s more inspirational than that?
A friend who had recently visited Seattle described the Pacific Northwest as the only place in America that can bring the depressing, gloomy, rebellious sounds of the band Nirvana into existence. The region is known for its rainy weather and muddy fields as featured in the short story 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 by Richard Brautigan. Brautigan tells a story of three residents in a town in the Pacific Northwest who get together in an abrupt fashion to write novel. The imagery, the theme of money, and the comical nature of the story combine to tell a tale of those in search of imaginary hope and in the process, accentuate the depressing irony of the story. The story takes place in the “Pacific Northwest of so many years ago, that dark, rainy land of 1952.” (71) It’s setting is dark, rainy, gloomy, and even the characters are garnished in some shades of darker colors. The “Welfare” woman wears white boots but the imagery portrayed by a woman who’s past her prime wearing these boots in muddy rain doesn’t really give off a pristine vibe. The main character was looking at the black sky like “an occupation”, idling his youth away at his cardboard-lined shack. (72) The many imageries used by Brautigan helps to represent the hopelessness of the characters as well as their endeavor. The title gives away the reoccurring theme of the story: money. 1/3 is the share that each character would have if their so-called novel was published. The editor, or better known as the “Welfare” lady, lives on welfare with her son and “their entire lives rotate around that one day a month when they get their Welfare checks.” (71) The typewriter lives in a shack and the novelist lives in a run-down trailer. The characters are poor, lower class Americans who, in the whim of things, get together to make a novel in hopes to make some money. Their intentions of making this novel are not based on their passion for creative literature but more based on the escapist mentality of these lower-class Americans to make it “big.” With this in mind, their “pounding at the gates of American literature” is really for their search to escape the dire reality they live in. (75) Their “ticket” out of their realities is a paragraph of misspelled words telling a bad story of a lumberjack in a restaurant. The story and the way it’s depicted is comical because of its pure absurdity. This is Brautigan’s final twist and it really accentuates the false hope that these characters have. If their story had at least a hint of seriousness and possibility to become a great story, Brautigan’s 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 would have carried a different meaning. However, he reinforces the gloomy nature in a comical and in an ironical fashion. Their endeavor to make a novel and publish it is as absurd and “misspelled” as their story. The combination of these three elements tells a story of hopelessness in 1/3, 1/3, 1/3. In the dark, rainy, muddy settings of Pacific Northwest, three characters are misguided into thinking they can publish an absurd story that’s absurd as their endeavor itself. An actual line from the story poetically described Brautigan’s 1/3, 1/3, 1/3; “The man held his hand above his eyes, shielding his eyes from a bright imaginary sun, though everything had turned dark in anticipation of the rain.”
Zach Westfall Professor Chappell Intro to Fiction 25 January 2012 The Gates of American Literature In the Story “1/3,/13,/1,3” the author writes about three people that come together to write an novel. Writing a novel however takes more than a fourth grade education a typewriter and an editor who reads magazines. The writing of the author shows how bad his writing skills are and that most of the words are spelt incorrectly. “just ten the caf door opend and in cam Rins Adams he was hasom and meen, everi bodi in those parts was afrad of him but not Carl and his dad they wasn’t afrad no sur!”(75) If the whole novel was written like that and only thirty page in a notebook I don’t think the chances of them actual writing a novel and getting it published has much hope. When the author of the story says that they are knocking at the gates of American literature I think they are saying it more of a mocking way. They might be knocking but I don’t think anyone hears them. It’s nice to think they have a chance of succeeding but so much is against them that I think it would be close to impossible to ever get that novel published. I find it funny how the character in the story hat is to type this “novel” never agrees to type and only says “it will be easy”. On the other hand this story could be about the hope in that three people with little education living in poor condition could write a novel and maybe have a chance of it actual getting published. Hope is an important theme in a lot of stories, so maybe they could pull it off. The d raft of the novel is written in a notebook and is only thirty pages long and “It was written in large grammar school sprawl: an unhappy marriage between printing and longhand.”(74) This short story is about the challenge of writing a novel with little education in poor condition. If they have a chance or not really isn’t important because the point is anyone can try to write a novel but if it actual gets published is a whole different story.
Chris Reagan Mr. Bolster ENG 106W 1/26/12 “Better Than” He or She In the short story, 1/3, 1/3, 1/3, the reader follows a narrator's story about his experience typing a novel for a couple hoping to publish their work. Even though this is a short story, the narrator is able to make his impression of these people very clearly. The narrator of this story is rude, and he looks down upon others even when they are showing him kindness. Different examples throughout this piece clearly show how this man thinks he is too good for others, even though he himself has done nothing impressive. The narrator instantly begins to judge the woman who edits the novel, and he constantly refers to the fact that she is on welfare. He also goes on to describe her as, “one of those eternally fragile women in their late thirties” (71). This same woman is the one who is generous enough to offer this 17 year-old an easy way to make money: literally typing something that someone has already written. When she first meets the narrator, she gets is attention by yelling “Hey you!” and the narrator responds with “What do you want?” Any person would be able to see how rude of a response this is, aside from the fact that he keeps referring to her as a twelve year-old girl on welfare. This man also seems to be pretty sure of himself, but what has he accomplished? He lives in a cardboard shack across the street from the woman, and just a mile from the man who wrote the novel. If someone in his position were given an easy job opportunity, it would make sense to be grateful; however, he chose to give short, rude responses while simultaneously judging these two people.
Naomi Alphonso Professor Chappell English 106W 27th January 2012 Great American Literature, not so great after all. The term literary is often related to writing that is noted for quality or form. Richard Brautigan’s 1/3 1/3 1/3 defies the ideals of society by exemplifying how a fourth grade education is sufficient enough to be able to contribute to great American literature. His sarcastic tone implies that great American literature is not so great after all. Brautigan touches on the idea that American writers are not writes at all, they’re typist. Merely putting words on paper does not make one a writer. In today’s society, anyone can become a writer. This sarcastic toned short story makes a mockery of so called “Great American Literature.” Throwing a flow of words on paper and making sure not to end with a preposition makes one a writer by American standards. Society is thought to believe that every piece of writing has some sort of philosophical, deep, significance. The focus of writing today is ambiguity. An unclear piece of writing that does not have a reason for being seems to be of congratulatory standards today. Brautigan goes out of his way to set a standard of uneducated deprived characters. He tells the story of a man with a fourth grade education putting pen to paper. The point being made here is that there is no set-in-stone version of a great American writer. Any one that can understand the essence writing is to language can be a writer. As Americans, one has an ideal that Homer’s ability to spin a tale like the Odessy is “Great Literature.” The reason Great American Literature is not so great after all, is because writing complex sentences that the average man does not comprehend, has been instilled in us. Brautigan makes a point that replicating this stereotype is not the essence of being a writer.
Trey Cole Professor Chappell English 106W 26 January 2012 Whole Great literature can not spawn from someone without a substantial amount of education. In order for one to create a successful or thorough piece of written work, certain requirements that must be met. On top of that, writing a novel requires a top-notch group of specialists each responsible for a certain facet in the production of the novel. There are a great deal of reasons as to why the characters in the short story, “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” would not have concocted a successful piece of literature. While each of the characters in the short story did have a separate job, none of them actually had the slightest clue as to what they were doing. The person responsible for writing the story could not write proficiently, the person responsible for typing on the typewriter could not even use the typewriter, and the person responsible for editing the story had never before done anything along the lines of editing. How can one expect to succeed in a field such as writing with a level of education superior only to a third grader? How can a book be finished without being properly edited? How can the work station of three people be a small trailer? That sounds more like the setting for a poorly made adult film. Put all of those ingredients together and the final product will look very much like the last two paragraphs of the story—absolute crap. Sure, there have been many different people who have achieved fame and received high praise despite not being educated. But when it comes down to actually getting something down on paper, it takes a lot more than endless determination and a strong heart to be successful. Writing is a fine art, not a Disney movie.
Ryan McDonald McDonald 1 Professor Chappell English 106W 26 January 2012
Response to 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 Author Richard Brautigan’s short story, 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 takes place in a dark Pacific Northwest in 1952 where the only bright spot of their resident’s existence seemed to be the monthly welfare check provided by the government. 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 depressed setting is shadowed by three individuals who plan on conjoining their talents to produce a written novel. Brautigan’s short story emphasizes the importance of having hope and happiness in one’s life that will inspire the willingness to persevere and achieve the unthinkable. The narrator was seventeen at the time living in a cardboard-lined shack surrounded by fellow locals who were living in similar less than desirable conditions. One dark and rainy day the narrator was asked by his neighbor if he would like to type up a novel that was being written for 1/3 of earnings. The women who asked him was to be the editor of the novel and lived on the opposite side of the road from the narrator in a house supported by a welfare check. As the narrator and the fragile editor set off to the writer’s house avoiding puddles and pot holes of their un- drivable roads the woman gave the writer praise stating, “he’s a good guy, it’s a wonderful book.” (Brautigan, pg. 73) As the two approached the run down yellow trailer of the writer the narrator depicted the surroundings as, “really sad with a cemetery-like chimney swirling jagged dead McDonald 2 smoke in the air above it.” (Brautigan, pg. 73) The man opened his trailer door shook the narrators hand and gave the women a kiss on the lips. The writer reiterated the 1/3 deal as the narrator asked if he could take a look at his work. The writer agreed but mentioned it wasn’t carefully written due to his fourth grade education. The twenty-five or thirty pages of grammar school work was about a young logger who lived in 1935 Oregon at a café sitting at a table waited on by a beautifully depicted waitress as he ordered veal cutlets with mashed potatoes and gravy. The story focused on the logger’s lust and attraction for the waitress who takes his order when the big bad Rins Adams walks through the café door making the waitress Maybell blush. This short story illustrates the fact that in life you can’t always get what you want, but you must make the most of your situation. Everyone in their lives has a memory that sparks happiness in a person and provides hope for even the hopeless in the Pacific Northwest. These three characters that were living in a tough environment were optimistically hopeful in thinking they could possibly publish a novel and make enough money to pay each other adequately for their work. Although the writer had a fourth grade education level he persevered and made progress in his story with the help of the fragile women whose job was to edit his garbled grammar. In life we all need to live or stand for something to have hope and happiness that will put a smile on your face. These people not only lived for their monthly check, but the thought that maybe they could make something of this novel and prosper. The writers
McDonald 3 story depicts a story that may have been himself in 1935 reliving some of his fondest memories and loves such as the beautiful waitress, veal cutlets, and his father. We all have our own struggles in life some worse than others, but it is the small things in life that keep us going such a veal cutlets. As difficult as life can be at times it is our duty to keep our fond memories close and never lose hope in yourself or one’s you love. As hopeless as this short story may come off to some, I see 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 as a prime example of characters who convey a strong sense of perseverance for life.
Richard Brautigan’s 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 is a fairly simple story in context and plot but the story holds so much more meaning than just of the words written. Brautigan tells the story of a relatively poor, young man who lives in a shack in the Northwestern region of the United States. One day a neighbor of the young man asked him if her and another man could use his typewriter to make a novel. The proposition for the young man in exchange for using the typewriter would be that he receive 1/3 of the profits made from the created novel. Everybody had a role in the novel; the young man was the typer, the woman was the editor, and the older man was the author for the novelist. But there was something unique about this older man. He was also a relatively poor man in his 30s but yet he only had a 4th grade education. When the old man presented the work to the man with the typewriter he could tell his grammar and spelling were off right away. But regardless of the circumstances and challenges they all faced, all three of them contributed to make the novel work. By using the gloomy setting of the rainy, cloudy Pacific Northwest and using characters that had not so fortunate lifestyles; he really illuminated the idea that opportunity can strike at any given moment. Brautigan also really stressed how a dream and a vision can inspire people to overcome the negativity or limitations around them. In this case the three of them never let their levels of education, their location, or allow others to stand in their way. Brautigan used many vivid and descriptive quotes throughout his story. For example, he really emphasized the drearynes that the setting of the characters’ loves gave off. One of my favorite quotes of the setting/tone of the story was, “One day I was standing in front of my shack, eating an apple and staring at a black ragged toothache sky that was about to rain” (72). Brautigan also used many symbolic connections in the story throughout the text. One of my favorite parts from the story was at the end how he described the crew ‘banging at the gates of American Literature.’ This created such great imagery. At the end of the end of the long road which is symbolic for the long journey of life and pursuit of success; that on the other side of the large gates is the group of elite writers welcomed into American literature. The story of 1/3 1/3 1/3 depicts what seizing an opportunity and following dreams can do.
Brandon Johnson Professor Chappell EN 106 W 25 January 2012
Being a Product of your Environment
The characters in the story “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” by Richard Brautigan have the potential to do a lot of good things but they are in many ways affected negatively by their environment. The Group consists of 1 girl and 2 guys. These characters live in a relatively poor area which contributes to their way of living and the way the characters act in certain situations. In other words, the location where this short story takes place has a huge impact on the lives of the characters. Since this story takes place in the northwest pacific, the mood of the story and characters is more on a depressing side and these shows throughout the story. But even though they live in a poor area and their not educated as well as they should be, these people are very intelligent. Since these characters are deprived, there only source of finance is welfare check she gets which is the main topic of discussion for the 3/3 so to speak. Nevertheless, they are smart and this leads them to come across a deal that would be beneficial to them in the long run. People like me can relate to a story like this. I grew up in New Haven Connecticut which is a place that is known for being a bad place to live; it is easy to become a product of your environment. Some people I know are into a lot of negative things. I think I’m more like the characters in this story because even though they aren’t the most books smart people in the world and they did have it pretty rough in their living conditions they didn’t really let this hold them back from doing great things. In many ways I feel like this story could have been called “1/4, 1/4 1/4, 1/4" because in a way I think I could have fit into this story because in some ways it connects to my personal life. My family comes from generations of hardworking people that were less fortunate and in turn this makes me the person I am today. And everyone has their own problems. In “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” their problems was they didn’t have much and their best times surrounded a welfare check. And back in the 1950s a lot of people didn’t get welfare. In my life I have been more fortunate than most people that come from my environment with very a very giving family that a lot of kids my age don’t have. So it’s easy to become a product of your environment but there are many ways you can fight that so you don’t have to be a statistic. In Conclusion, people have their own walks in life. In other words everyone is going to have their own adversity in life but it’s not about how you start the game it’s how you finish it and that’s what 1/3, 1/3 1/3 showed me.
Kile Coty Prof. Chappell Intro to Fiction 01/27/12 Response to “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” Richard Brautigan’s story “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” shows that literature can be a means of escape from one’s social and economical constraints. This story takes place in a rundown town in the middle of nowhere, it rains all the time, and there’s not much to look forward to besides a monthly welfare check. The characters are a product of this miserable place, the 17 year old typist lives in a cardboard shack, the editor lives for a welfare check, and the writer lives in a trailer that’s laid up on blocks. Despite the overbearing factors against them, these three still find purpose and maybe even hope in making this story worth something. This story shows how literature can be a saving grace or even just a fresh breath away from reality. I believe this story highlights the whole purpose of fictional literature in that it’s a channel of creativity that can be anything the writer wants it to be. The story for the novel seems to be a boring recollection of the good times the writer once cherished. The fact that this event is the premises of a novel shows that it doesn’t matter how a person’s life is they still have a story to tell and it might be worthwhile to others. -sorry its late but i have been having major computer problems...itd be nice if we could also hand in hard copies
Tami Corsi Professor Chappell Intro to Fiction 106W "1/3, 1/3, 1/3"
Richard Brautigan's short story "1/3, 1/3, 1/3" encompasses a child-like hope though by adults. It takes two adults who never really grew up and one teenager to dream about their "1/3" The story is set in an urban run down city. It is the central of welfare collectors and teens looking for an out. For Brautigan's character, his out is a fairly young, once pretty woman who asks him to type up this alleged story. She explains excitedly, as a child would about what they want to be when they grow up, of a plan to compose a wonderful novel. Even after hearing this welfare woman was going to edit the story, the typer blindly says yes in hopes of his 1/3. Brautigan's way of painting a dark and gloomy setting sits perpendicular to the tone of the characters. Even after knowing a welfare collector was editing this story and a thirty year old fifth grade drop out was writing, all seem to still have hope. The elder two still have a child-like state of mind as they carry the teen on their train of though. They come across just as naive as the typer in a seemingly golden opportunity. I found it funny how the woman spoke to try convincing the teen. She says, "he’s a good guy, it’s a wonderful book." (Brautigan, pg 73) Just because he is a good guy means nothing in light of a separate 1/3. Her thought process is based on human behavior rather than money and knowledge. Even though all of this sounds ridiculous, the teen still investigates the book because it is the only light shed on such a gloomy situation. The very last two paragraphs are chicken scratch. However, the man and woman were so proud of their work it is incredibly sad to read instead of funny. The last line was arguably the most important of the whole story. knocking on the gates of American literature. Even though the story, spelling, and grammar were awful, it is in essence the first step to writing. It had to have started somewhere, so it might as well have just been with three young Americans searching for an out.
Christopher Harrison Writing 106 Mr. Bolster 2/26/2012 “1/3, 1/3, 1/3,” Response Paper The short story, 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 by Richard Brautigan displays the hard times and desperation of the people living in post World War II, early 1950’s America. In the story, Brautigan introduces the three main characters who decide to have a novel written and published in order to get out of this coarse lifestyle. With one person who has the idea of the novel, another person typing the novel, and an editor, they decide to split the profits 1/3 each. After reading Brautigan’s novel, it was clear that Bolster captures the desperation and high hopes the people of this era and expresses it through the experiences of these main characters. The editor of the story was known for wearing white boots whenever she went out in public. The setting in which they lived is also known to be very muddy, which makes her white boots extremely dirty. This is one example of how desperate people of this time were. Although the mud would ruin her white boots, she would still wear them to try and look her best. People would live in denial that they are in a financially unstable situation and still try to impress those around them. Even though they are all in the same state. The agreement to split the entire profit three ways also demonstrates how desperate these people are to get out of the state they are in now. The novelist should be making the majority of the profit for having the whole idea of the novel to begin with. However, in order to assure that his novel does get finished, he agrees to share the profit with the editor and the typist equally. Greed and envy practically does not exist in this era. These three people are in full commitment with each other in order to get a better lifestyle in the end. The high hopes the three main characters have in this novel is what signifies Brautigan’s main point of the story. It is evident that the novel will not be successful at all after reading the excerpt at the end of the story. However, they do believe that it can get them somewhere that is better than where there are now. Their situation is so bad that they put all their faith and hope into a book that will not even be published. This is the desperation that Brautigan displays to the reader.
Morgan Taylor Professor Michael Chappel English 106W 25 January 2012 Despair In Richard Brautigan’s short story “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” we learn about the creation of a book. A young seventeen year old man with a type writer, an older man with a story, and a younger women who was an editor came together to produce a book. The typist liked to type late at night, and the editor heard the type writer going as she passed his apartment. Once the editor brought the idea up to the typist about being involved in writing the novel he seemed quite spectacle. As soon as the editor mentioned he’d be getting 1/3 of the profit he agreed he would give it a shot. The typist and the editor went to go meet the man with the novel and once again we are put in a setting of despair. The novelist lives in a trailer with a strange animal. There is garbage throughout the trailer and several dirty dishes in the sink. I then came to realize that the story was very flat. It was always raining, and Braugtigan always set up the setting to be dreary and muddy. When the typist saw the novel at hand, he realized then that his decision might have not been the best idea. There were errors all over the place and as stated in Braugtigan’s writing, “it was written in a large grammar school sprawl: an unhappy marriage between printing and longhand.” The novel was a true story about the novelist and a girl he once fell in love with and the troubles he goes through with her. The typist, the editor, and the novelist seem to be doing such a courages thing for money. Braugtigan gives them characteristics of being poor (ex. the editor living of welfare checks) and the characters are hoping that this is their way out of the miserable lives.
3/3
ReplyDeleteRichard Brautigan’s 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 is a short story that contains a lot of meaning. Within this writing piece, Brautigan tells a simple story about a young man who owns a typewriter that is asked by a neighborhood woman to type a novel written by an older man, since they do not own a typewriter. When he agrees to type the novel, the woman explains that since there is three of them, each were to receive 1/3 of the cut. One of Brautigan’s main points is that the novelist, the man in his late forties, is only educated up until the 4th grade, but is the creator of a novel. In this short story not only does Brautigan prove that anyone can write a novel whether highly educated or not, but he also proves that there can be an opportunity for everyone.
In this short story, when Brautigan is explaining how this opportunity came about him. He tells the readers that he was just going about his daily business, as usual, when a woman approached him with her offer. This tells the readers that he was not expecting anyone to approach him with that kind of offer, nor did chances like this ever come about. Living the way he did, in a rundown shack in the early 1950’s, Brautigan never thought he would get this kind of opportunity. “One day I was standing in front of my shack, eating an apple and staring at a black ragged toothache sky that was about to rain.” (72) This quote from the text further explains my point that there is an opportunity out there for everyone, you just have to be willing to wait around for it.
Moving past the offer, Brautigan willingly accepts the challenge, after telling the woman that he first wanted to read the novel. Come to find out, the author of this novel was only educated up to the fourth grade. Did this change his mind? No. Brautigan still agreed to type the novel. This further proves that it doesn’t matter if you have magnificent education or mediocre education, you can still write a novel. I think Brautigan knew this, which is why he still agreed to do it. Also Brautigan himself didn’t have the experience of ever typing a novel anyway. This was a way for Brautigan to connect to the novelist.
In all, I think that Brautigan not only wrote a good short story, but also wrote a story with many things to interpret. Brautigan allowed the readers to understand that it doesn’t matter if you have an amazing education or none at all, you can still write a novel. Also, Brautigan proved that there is an opportunity out there for everyone.
Nicole DeFosche
ReplyDeleteProfessor Chappell
EN 106W- Response Paper “1/3, 1/3, 1/3”
27 January 2012
Age and Education
In Richard Brautigan’s short story, “1/3, 1/3, 1/3,” he talks about two young characters wanting to write a novel to make a good profit. It first started off with the novelist and an editor, but they needed someone to type the novel once it was completed. It just so happened the editor lived near a young man with a type writer. She kindly asked the young man if he would be willing to type up the novel. The editor also explains that whatever the novel makes they all get one third of the profit. The man with the type writer agrees to this and wants to be a part of this. The editor brings the man who is typing the story to meet the novelist. The novelist explains he has only had a fourth grade education and the novel isn’t finished yet. He shows the typer his work and explains what the novel will be about. As the typer is reading over the start o the novelists novel, he can tell this needs a lot of work. The novelist was a man in his thirties and didn’t have all the techniques he needed to be the perfect novelist, but this did not stop him from writing. The typer didn’t know what he was getting himself into, but he wanted to make a profit and type because he loved it.
He began to read the novel and realized all the errors in the novelist novel. This didn’t stop the typer from typing his work. The novelist may not be the writer when it comes to grammar and other errors, but he wanted to follow his dream and write a novel. By the novelist writing this novel, it can get him somewhere. It can show potential in his writing and show his readers how creative he is. This can be a fresh start to new beginning for the novelist, the typer and the editor. My point is all three of these people are not highly educated, but they were all a part of something they love to do. The more they practice at becoming better writers, the more novels they can write together and make more money. They’re following their dreams, which people should be doing every day.
Brautigan is telling this from when he was seventeen years old. He has become a successful writer and has grown. He stuck with his dream and now he writes short stories for others to enjoy. He simply explains how his career started out.
A Breath of Fresh Air
ReplyDeleteRichard Brautigan's “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” is a story about a young writer getting a refreshing perspective from an unlikely source and breaking free from a deep depression.
The author does not tell us explicitly that the protagonist is a writer, but the conclusion is natural enough. He is an articulate young man who lives alone in a shack, spends an inordinate amount of time staring at the sky, and types a lot at night. He is poor, but the particular lifestyle is more or less of his own choice, because fourteen years later he muses, "I still can't figure out what I meant by living the way I did in those days." Could the character be Brautigan himself, seventeen years old and just starting out?
The setting of the story is vivid and very depressing. The young writer lives in a perpetually rainy, muddy and hopeless small town. Everything around him is rundown and dismal. The sky at which he stares is a "black ragged toothache sky." There is a trailer that is "sad with a cemetery-like chimney," the dishes that are "born dirty to last forever," and even Hopalong Cassidy on the mill watchman's notebook cover looks tired.
The hero has a wry sense of humor, but it doesn't help him out of depression. His irony is as tired as his surroundings. Everything he says is loaded with the feeling of failure. "The street was of no use to cars any more. They travelled on a different frequency where asphalt and gravel were more sympathetic." The trailer was "never going anywhere again," and the bed "looked as if it had been a partner to some of the saddest love-making this side of The Cross." Whatever he is writing at night, it probably isn't going too well.
And then out of all the mud suddenly come two naive, barely literate, child-like people who are writing a novel, of all things! Unlike the young writer, they aren't weighed down with expectations of failure. And why should they be? True, the spelling of their novel is atrocious, the wording is corny, and the opening scene is banal. True, the chances that it will ever get published are extremely low, even if somebody would "straighten out the grammar and commas and stuff." But they don't know that, and it doesn't matter anyway. There is an apple red mouth in their story, and scalding hot blood, and big handsome loggers. It is a perfect antidote to the black sky and the smell of stale rain.
The closing line of the story is full of irony, but the old bitterness is gone from the young writer's tone. His irony is tender. "Maybell blushed like a flower flouar while we were all sitting there in that rainy trailer, pounding at the gates of American literature." Give your story a chance: it may be just that one breath of fresh air somebody needs. Don’t let the gates intimidate you.
Kelsey Nolan
ReplyDeleteDr. Michael J Champpell
EN 106W
25 January 2012
1/3, 1/3, 1/3
The focus of 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 is on the individuals rather than the historical events that took place in that era. 1952 was the end of World War Two and the ‘baby boomers’ generation. These three people in this story are not involved in this economic shift. The only use of technology they had was the narrators’ typewriter. In this certain time period they should be worried about the Russians and bombs however, this is never mentioned. The setting of the story 1/3, 1/3,1/3 is in the Pacific Northwest. In this story the main characters go to places including a trailer and a welfare office showing that they are not wealthy. In the Pacific Northwest there is a lot of rain and puddles symbolizing that these 3 humans do not have the best lives. The central theme of 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 is the typewriter that the narrator owns because it brings all the characters together and symbolizes hope.
Throughout 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 different images of the typewriter are presented. The typewriters image changes from the beginning to the end. The typewriter symbolizes progress at first because it gives each person opportunity. It portrays a figurative meaning behind its literal presence. The typewriter could symbolize the three peoples potential to get out of being outcasts. If they can use the typewriter, finish the novel, and make money they can move up classes.
The type writer that the narrator owns connects all three characters. The humans in this story are uneducated, poor, and outcasts. The typewriter is a metaphor symbolizes knowledge. Using the typewriter shows that they want to change their lives for the better. I see the typewriter as like a car. The typewriter is their driving source to the ‘gates.’ By using the typewriter they are trying for higher education. Without the typewriter they would be stranded.
Without the typewriter the story wouldn’t be complete. The typewriter portrays many different images. The typewriter shows knowledge, hope, opportunity, and a driving force to a better life.
Motivation for American Literature
ReplyDeleteIn Richard Brautigan’s short story, “1/3, 1/3, 1/3,” three people get together to publish a novel, each promised 1/3 of the profit. One man wrote the novel, a woman will edit it, and the narrator will type it due to the fact that he as a typewriter. Each character has a different motive for why he or she wants to be part of this project. The man writing the novel wants to be part of it because of the sense of nostalgia that it gives him. The novel itself is an account of his life from 20 years earlier, when he was younger, stronger, and not so alone. Now, as the narrator points out, he looks as though life mistreated him. This state of sorrow that he is in motivates him to want to return back to the “good ol’ days” where he had the happiness that he is now lacking. The novel that he is writing acts as an escape for him, allowing him to return to the days where misery did not accompany him.
The woman’s motivation for wanting to edit this novel is strictly financial. Throughout the story, you can see this woman’s desperation for money. She depends solely on the monthly checks that she receives from Welfare. The description of her character often refers back to Welfare, for example: “She was so fragile and firmly indebted to the Welfare Department that she often looked like a 12 year old.” It is also pointed out that her house is approximately 2 miles from the Welfare office, and her conversation with the narrator consisted mostly about her check from Welfare that was two days late. The narrator also states that he has seen her with three or four boyfriend, which could be looked at as a sign of her corrupt morals. The poverty that she struggles with as well as her dependency on Welfare is what is motivating her to edit this man’s novel – in order to receive the profit.
The narrator’s motivation for typing the novel is simply because he doesn’t want to feel alone. He states in the story that living in the Pacific Northwest has made him “lonely and strange.” The setting of the story has put him out of his element. He also points out the lack of pavement where he and the other characters live, stating that cars don’t come through there. This can be looked at as the isolation that he feels and the label of “the outcast” he as well as the other characters holds. This feeling of loneliness motivates him to engage in this project, allowing him to be social as well as do something that may get him recognition, where he otherwise would go unnoticed. His motivation is to fill the void that the setting of the story has burdened him with.
Nick Coutant
ReplyDelete“1/3, 1/3, 1/3”
In today’s society if you want to become successful in life and live your dreams you almost always need an education. Usually that being through college, but even a high school education is almost mandatory. In Richard Brautigan’s 1/3, 1/3,1/3, he shows the false hope of three poor, and uneducated people who are aspiring to write a novel. Brautigan is able to show that without an education it truly makes in almost impossible to become a successful author.
Right from the beginning of the story Brautigan sets the story in a almost hopeless setting with the sky being cloudy and all of the rain. The roads in the town are almost impossible to drive on because of the mud. Most of the people in the town are living off of their welfare checks. Most are living in run down shacks and trailers that wouldn’t even make it onto the road. The citizens of this town are not given a many opportunities to become successful.
All three people that were going to be contributing to this novel were all for the most part uneducated. The author of the novel had only completed up to a fourth grade education. Towards the end of the story, he included what the author of the novel had written so far and the fact that the author was uneducated became more clear. “You sur lik veel cutlets dont you Maybell said she was holding her pensil up to her mowth that she was preti and red lik an apl!”
Brautigan was able to show how important it is to get an education, and without one the difficulties of becoming successful. Some people see this story as a glimmer of hope but that isn’t what I took away from this and the last line of the story really shows the stand point of the story with an almost sarcastic ending. “ Howdi ther Rins said Maybell blushed like a flouar while we were sitting there in that rainy trailer, pounding at the gates of American literature.”
Cassie Ferraro
ReplyDeleteProfessor Chappell
English 106W
25 January 2012
Response to Richard Brautigan’s 1/3 1/3 1/3
When reflecting upon the short story 1/3 1/3 1/3 by Richard Brautigan, one cannot help but to notice the dreary diction the author uses to paint the setting and the mood. Consistent mud being the product of an endless rain serves as a parallel to the interpretation of the story. In 1/3 1/3 1/3, Brautigan illustrates a sense of failure and hopelessness through his impoverished characters and the melancholy setting of the Pacific Northwest.
In the opening paragraphs of the short story, Brautigan sets the scene for his 1950s setting. A povery-ridden Pacific Northwest, with most of the protagonist’s community living in run down apartments or on the street, creates an atmosphere of depression and distress. These obvious details demonstrate the socio-economic status of the protagonist and the other characters in the story.
The second character we meet, who offers our protagonist a form of income, is married to her welfare checks. She approached him, as the protagonist described, looking like a twelve year old child with the welfare check peeking out over her shoulder. Welfare implies that the situation in their community is so severe that federal aid is necessary so these people can survive and attempt to better their economic situation. However, it is also implied that she has been receiving these welfare checks for some period of time.
As we progress through the story, we learn that his employment is dependent on his ability to type a story written by a man with a fourth grade education. Skeptical, he asks to read the story before he embarks on this venture with the other two people. This is interesting in and of itself because the protagonist is in a situation where extra income would be greatly appreciated, regardless of the subject matter of what he must type. Upon reading the story, we find that the author has detestable grammar and his living quarters are dismal. The story’s plot is rather dull and the diction nearly undecipherable.
Through this unfortunate human being, Brautigan pokes fun at the notion that someone with such a limited education can contribute to great American literature. The irony lies in the last line of the story “and there we were, pounding on the gates of American literature.” The whole story carries a sense of hopelessness and is only reaffirmed in the end. The three characters in this story are doomed to lives of poverty and lack of education. There is nothing grandiose about the story that he is writing and it contains no literary value. Through Brautigan’s diction, characters and setting we see how this story is truly ironic in nature.
Mitchel Cleveland
ReplyDeleteProfessor Chappell
English 106W
26 January, 2012
1/3 1/3 1/3
In the short story, 1/3 1/3 1/3, written by Richard Brautigan it is hard to notice the sad life these characters are living. The narrator lives is a card bored lined shack across from the run downed house the “welfare office” rents for the women. The writer of the story they are all in on lives in a beat up old trailer next to a run downed old sawmill. You can’t also help but notice how much of the woman’s life is made up by her welfare checks. She literally lives paycheck to paycheck. She even brings it up to the narrator on their walk out of nowhere with no mention by the narrator. If she has any chance to talk about herself or the welfare office she will definitely bring it up. Also you have to notice the time period this takes place. It is only a couple years after World War II and the economy is actually really good (because of the war), but these three people know nothing about it. They never bring up the fact that the Cold War is happening. They are busy worrying about when they’re Welfare checks are going to come instead of worrying if the Russians are coming or launching nuclear weapons. These three people are so far out of the loop, they do not even know what is going on at all in their country. They are so focused on living in this dreary area of the country, getting their welfare checks, and writing this book that they have no idea what is going on around them. They have no idea of the fear they should be in because of the Cold War and the communist Russian. In this book it is weird how these people do not ever mention the major dilemmas going on in our country, but talk about welfare and writing a novel written by a man with a 4th grade education.
Bryn Landino
ReplyDeleteProfessor Chappell/Mr. Bolster
Eng 106W
27 January 2012
“1/3, 1/3, 1/3” Response
In Richard Brautigan’s short story, “1/3, 1/3, 1/3”, a few central ideas float around. For instance, the idea of the typewriter as a symbol of hope is present in this story. Another one could be where you reside has a tremendous effect on your mental state. But the debate that really sparked my attention was whether or not somebody with a fourth grade education could write a great literary piece. There definitely is the chance that someone with a fourth grade education can make great contributions to the literary world.
In the story, Brautigan gives us three main characters: a 17 year old boy, a woman in her late 30s, and a man in his late 40s. The 17-year old boy is the narrator, and he reveals that the group would be working together on a novel written by the man, edited by the woman, and he would be the one to type it. The man has a story in mind and it’s not very well written, possibly because he has only the education of a 10 year old. That does not mean that others with the same education can’t write great stories.
Most of my favorite works of literature are pieces that are very imaginative and fun and creative; fiction stories. You don’t need an education to have an imagination. I have a cousin who is also in the fourth grade and she has one of the biggest imaginations I’ve ever come across. Great novels and stories can be written through imagination. Granted, writers without a good education tend to not get published, but that’s not to say it’s an impossible task. Everyone has the power to write amazing literature, even if their education is not top notch.
Cooper Whiteside
ReplyDeleteENG 106W
Prof. Chappelle
January 26, 2012
That would be a whole: A response to the short story 1/3, 1/3, 1/3.
The story 1/3, 1/3, 1/3, was based on the beginning stages of three people’s work in coming together to write a novel. The entire story covers what is my estimate of a few hours’ time frame and ends with the reader in the same sort of misunderstanding as whence they began. However, throughout the story there is one recurring theme that is obviously present in nearly every printed sentence. While it is unclear whether the person telling the story is actually the author, it is obvious that this person is extremely bitter and meticulous, probably as a result of his life up until this point in time, with lonely thoughts and strange behaviors bordering Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). As well, this same person clearly lives in an impoverished part of town, feels trapped with no way out, and as most people in the ghetto, thinks there is nothing left for him to do but keep it moving from day to day.
I believe this story was actually written about a whole, and the narrator is just very separated and distant from other persons and the rest of the world. Instead of stating that the story is about three people coming together to work on a single project, he makes great note of the fact that it is all about the thirds. His bitterness is not far behind, and in just the second paragraph he insults his own place of living, denoting it as a card-board lined shack of a building. Matter of fact, the only person he actually introduces by their real name is the nine year old son of his neighbor, Freddy. For some reason he seems especially mad at the welfare woman for living somewhat of a nice life up until the story’s present day, a luxury he clearly did not similarly enjoy. He labels her a twelve year old, lazy, and basically calls her a whore repeatedly throughout the story.
One paragraph in particular really puts in perspective for the reader just how crumby these people’s part of town is. Noting that the street is unpaved, it would appear that he wants the reader to get the idea of just how bad his life is by stating that he lives in a part of town so crappy that cars and their drivers did not even have use for travel through his neighborhood streets. Although by the end of the story, one can almost get the idea that this was once a marvelous bustling logging town that, like so many other manufacturing and industry supported towns, met its maker at the end of the industrial revolution and unfortunately was never quite able to recover, similar to the three main characters in this story.
By the time this story was over, it became clear to me that the person telling the story was indeed unhappy with his life to date and has become very bitter towards others as a result. As well, the recurring theme of his meticulousness is repeatedly threaded into almost every line. Whether he was focused on welfare’s little white boots, novelist’s six hundred cigarette butts, or his town’s raggedy conditions, he always managed to find something that unintentionally pushed his buttons. This confirms my hypothesis that he is somewhat OCD and detail oriented, and also confirms his own thoughts that he is indeed lonely and strange. In the end, its seems to be a somewhat dismal writing of a few people down on their luck trying to make something of themselves in what might be a last ditch effort to reverse the frequency of inevitable bad luck that accompanies the people of poverty. Even though it doesn’t seem to be that much of a story, it should serve as a gentle reminder to all of us who are more fortunate not to take even the smallest things, such as having paved streets, for granted when we ourselves become blue from time to time.
Jennifer Linke
ReplyDeleteProfessor Chappell
English 106W
27 January 2012
The Gates of American Literature
In Richard Brautigan’s, “1/3,1/3,1/3”, the author expresses that everyone has the right to tell their own story. The man writing the novel in the story only has a 4th grade education, but proceeds to write a novel based on some of his own experiences. Even though he is not a man of higher education nor a man from the upper class in society, he still persists to write a novel despite his lack of proper language and grammar. This character has the right to tell his own story no matter the challenges that he may be faced with.
The narrator of the story is a boy who was to receive 1/3 of the profits from the novel the writer was creating. Brautigan writes the story through the eyes of the typist who in face is telling the story about the writer who is writing the novel. The typist’s interpretation gives the reader an insight to the time period of which the story takes place, as well as the social class of the characters.
Brautigan makes an important distinction by addressing the fact that the characters are from a poor social class. He also creates a strong visual of a dreary, dark setting in which the story takes place, which makes the reader shocked to discover that this is about a man with a 4th grade education writing a novel. Even though the writer of the novel is faced with the challenges of a poor education and difficulty writing the story with proper grammar and spelling, he is persistent to tell his own story and seeks help so that he may accomplish his goal of telling his story. This is a strong symbol of hope and persistence because no matter the challenge they each believe in the right to tell a story. I think this correlates with the final statement, “pounding at the gates of American literature,” because the writer tells his own story, and with help, he is creating a piece of literature even though he is faced with many challenges.
Kristina Kruse
ReplyDeleteProfessor Chappell
ENG 106W-01
26 January 2012
The Voice of the Novelist
The worth of man is not solely dictated by the level of his education. In the short story, 1/3, 1/3, 1/3, Richard Brautigan illustrates three ominous characters’ desires of reaping benefits of literary excellence, however lacking in professorial intellect. Exceptionality can be accomplished simply with the wealth of life experience.
The narrator of the Brautigan’s story is the typist; this characterization creates the assumption that he is the protagonist. This interpretation suggests the protagonist is the novelist. Having only a fourth grade intellect inhibits the novelist’s ability to express his story with any clarity. In order for him to be relieved of his impoverished life, he must write. He needs his voice to be heard and therefore requires the assistance of the fellow characters, the Welfare stricken editor and the sky gazing typist.
“Maybell shifard wen she saw him standing ther in his blac mackinaw he smild at her and Carl felt his blod run hot lik scallding coffee and fiting mad!” Jealousy can drive a man insane. A tale of long lost romance and the printed record of human experience can give hope to even the most shameful of persons. The emotion filled journey the novelist explores with his lover in the diner will explain the choices that lead him to where he is now. Is he proud? If he is compelled to publish his work there must be a certain significance that may be overlooked by persons not bound by his current status. His story is relative; it is a “what it’s like” representation of him and assures him that his existence will not go unnoticed.
The irony of Brautigan’s story is the implication that American literature is only great if created by exemplary members of society. The novelist’s recollection of his past is a literary masterpiece in the eyes of common folk. The combination of relatability and emotionality will portray a beautiful portrait of the human experience.
Karina Rodriguez
ReplyDeleteProf. Chappell
English 106
January 27, 2012
Hopeful
In the story 1/3, 1/3, 1/3, the author described three young different characters that each had something special about them. One of them knew how to type, one of them was a writer, and the other one was able to read and edit. With the three of them brought together they were able to help the writer write a book. The writer only having education up to the fourth grade has the brains, ability, and imagination to write a novel but doesn’t have the full power to completely write it properly and correctly. His spelling is bad and he doesn’t know how to write in proper English. With the help of the editor they can make this novel happen. Also to complete this, they have the typewriter finishing their story.
The typewriter was just minding his own business one day and the young lady who lived down the road from him had approached him and told him about the novel. He agreed to meet the man who was writing the novel and decided that he will go in on the job too. The author described the living environment as brought down, kind of poor, muddy pavement and living in a broken down shack. This book gave them the opportunity to each split the money they get out of it into 1/3 for each person. The story shows that they are all very hopeful because they each have this opportunity to help this man become successful with his novel and they were also able to step in and help him out and at the end of the day get paid for it as well. Without knowing if the book is going to be successful or not they are hopeful putting their foot forward and preparing to get the job done.
The editor is young and beautiful she has a bunch of different boyfriends, the author described her to be about twelve years only. She probably could live off of the men she spoke to and gotten money from them. Instead of that she is willing to help the man right the book. The typewriter was not sure about the offer and he wanted to meet with the man to make sure that he was going to be set up and to see what the novel was all about. Finally meeting this man and learning that he only has education for up to the fourth grade, he is still willing and hopeful to help him knowing he will get 1/3 of the deal. The novelist wanted to follow his hopes and dreams of writing a novel, even with his lack of education it didn’t stop him from writing one. This could each give one of them an option to succeed higher. The novelist could be able to write more novels and the other two could continue the typing and editing and together they can each split what they are working hard for. Not knowing of the success of this novel they still all step in together as a team and help one another out.
This story was written and said by Richard Brautigan, he didn’t know how successful he was going to be but he was hopeful, he followed his dreams and succeeded. Now he writes short stories that are published and read but many people all around. In the beginning of the story he just described the three characters, he didn’t clearly say that it was actually him who was writing the story, but as the story approached and he referred to him as I, then it was clear that he was the writer. He wrote the story in his point of view to show how far he has come, from being for little educated to having his short story published in a book. He as a character in the story never gave up and this short story symbolizes the American dream, which is following what you believe.
Keith Kirwan-Welsh
ReplyDeleteProfessor Bolster
English 106
27 January 2012
Desperate Times Call For Desperate Measures
When despair and gloom are everywhere, at every turn, at every step; when all hope seems lost, what can one do to better their state of being? That person or group of people can accept their situation, or they can do anything possible to get out of that dark time. Even if the idea they try is quite frankly not going to get them anywhere, they are trying. That effort alone gives them a slight ray of light into their dark life, giving them a glimmer of hope of one day achieving a better life.
In the short story “1/3 1/3 1/3,” three characters are in the slums of the Pacific Northwest. They are all very poor- one’s life seems to revolve around whether or not she will get her welfare check, another lives in a rundown trailer, and another lived in a cardboard-lined shack. These three people are living that depressing life, and instead of letting themselves rot away, they decide to do something about their life. People who are desperate enough will go to any lengths-ridiculous or not, to better their lives. These three people prove this statement.
One of the three has a fourth grade education. He decides that he is going to write a novel. Another has read pocketbooks and “Readers Digest” so she is going to edit it. And the last man is simply going to type it up. After all of this they are going to split the profit between each other. The fact of the matter is that they will most likely not create a well written piece of literature. They do not have the skill set or resources to create sophisticated works of writing. Yes, there has to be SOME possibility that they can work together to create something great, but one must be realistic when thinking about something as challenging as writing great literature. If it was so easy many people who graduated high school, let alone fourth grade, would have published writing.
The group of three is desperate; they are living in terrible conditions. They are very poor, so to try and make money they decide to write a novel. They are so desperate that they decide to do something as unrealistic as writing a novel. When people are in desperate times, they do very strange things. Had these people been well off, they would not be trying to write a novel. They are doing it for money, not because they think they are talented writers. Sometimes when in trouble or tough times, people just accept where they are at in life. Other times, people act, and sometimes, they act in strange and outrageous ways, for example like robbing a bank, or trying to publish a book.
Victoria Weiss
ReplyDeleteMr. Chappell
English 100W
25 January 2012
1/3, 1/3, 1/3 Response
My first response to this vignette was that right away I could tell that the setting seemed grimy, dull, and dark. The description of the town consisted of tons of rain and cloudy days. The character explains how he had to run through the muddy road because it isn't paved, but only made of dirt. Another instance that made me think of this is that the women in the story is always wearing boots of some kind, either for snow or for rain which makes me believe that the scenery isn't a nice one to be living in. Not only is the weather terrible, so is the living conditions of all the people living in the town. Without the residence's monthly welfare checks, none of them would be able to survive or maintain a living style. In my option, without their welfare checks, not only would they not have any food or shelter. but the whole town would become a large dump. It also says a lot when one of the characters explains how he only went as far as 4th grade. This shows that no one in the town takes education seriously because there is other problems to worry about. However, because lack of education is the issue for some, it brings the inspiration of gathering helpers to write the book that they wanted to be published. This piece of literature was interesting and full of description. The reader could really get a sense of what the weather and everyday life is like there.
Jeff Semenetz
ReplyDeleteThe Un-American Dream
Richard Brautigan’s “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” is a story of hope. His word choice and character description gives life to the hopeless world these characters live in. The time of this story is post World War II. In this time the economy slowly transition from war to peace and in this process some people struggled to get by until the economy picked up. These characters are all clearly living a life of shear desperation. The American Dream is to work hard and with given opportunity and create your own success. These 3 characters are doing the complete opposite of the American Dream as they seek out a quick lifeboat from the ocean of desperation they are stranded in.
These characters lives are promptly put into focus. The man with the type writer puts the blame on his environment and surroundings for the loneliness and imperfections in his life. The life in the Pacific Northwest where the weather is typically cold and rainy. It’s common for weather like this to provide negative thoughts and aid depression. Their goal is to be successful and for this to happen they need to open the “gates to American literature.” It’s almost like they are on a path like in “Wizard of Oz” and they are seeking that gate to enter a new world. In this case they are seeking financial relief. The woman in this story constantly talks about welfare. She is living off of welfare checks and is always waiting for her next check so she can continue to live. The other character who was actually writing the short story only went through 4th grade and was clearly having a rough go of things. With such little education he is looking for the instant success to knock him into a higher lifestyle.
The division of labor speaks volumes of the desperation of these characters. The writer is instantly settling for less by splitting it with the editor. He is the one with the literature that they hope to bring them fortune. They seek out more help by bringing in a man to type it. Seriously they only needed him for the typewriter; they were so desperate they took anyone with a type writer to help them get their book finished. One person could do all of these things but these characters cannot bear the road blocks of publishing a book, they would rather sacrifice royalties in exchange for confidence in their final product. This is key for them to keep their hope as they are depending on each other heavily.
All of these characters have one thing in common. They are poor. They are living depressing unsuccessful lives and are looking for this sweet escape. The fact that they will split it between the 3 of them shows that they are willing to reach out to others. They have tried hard throughout their lives and have not been successful. They can combine their talents in one to help lift all of them out of their slump. In a world set to be naturally depressing these characters have help a firm grasp on their goals in life. They gave up on the American Dream however, and are now looking for the easy out.
Brie Brown
ReplyDeleteProf. Chappell
ENG 106W-01
27 January 2012
The Understanding of Being Poor
Writers generally write about something that they truly understand or have gone through. Whether it is about a previous event that happened in the writer’s life or a serious event that the writer went through at some point in his or her life. In Richard Brautigan’s American Short Story, “1/3, 1/3, 1/3,” he shows he truly understands the meaning of being poor.
In the short story “1/3, 1/3, 1/3,” the main characters agree to work together to write a novel. It is because they are all poor that they would work together to write a novel. It is clear that the three of them are doing whatever it takes to make enough money to at least live comfortable. By fully describing the settings, Brautigan really shows that he has a good understanding of the lifestyle of a poor person. In the first setting, Brautigan describes what the main characters’, whose names we do not know, home is. He describes one as cardboard-lined shack in an apartment building. The novelist lived in a rundown trailer near a sawmill, which is described as a small, muddy trailer that smelled like stale rain. Brautigan also explains how the characters live in a poor part of town and explains how the streets are not paved and part of the town were wet and muddy. Only someone who understands what it is like to be poor could actually be able to give enough detail about the scenery, among other things.
Brautigan uses many details to help give the audience a better ideal as to what it is like to be poor. Other than the settings, he uses details to describe other important elements to the story. A common thing that many poor people do, when they are receiving Welfare, is they buy at least one sort of flashy item to make it seem like they are not living off of Welfare. The woman in the story who would do the editing did just this. Every time she would not be going to the Welfare, she would be wearing her green mackinaw and then change into her shapeless duck-gray coat. Some other close details that really draw attention would be the pile of 600 cigarette butts, the unmade bed, and the dirty dishes in the sink that was described as looking as if they were always dirty. These details suggest that the novelist doesn’t have any momentum to keep his living space clean because of his lack of money because he is so focused on trying to make money. The amount of close detail that Brautigan uses really shows that he knows exactly what he is talking about when it comes to being poor.
In conclusion, Brautigan’s “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” really shows how he understands the true meaning of being poor. He shows this by explaining exactly how the characters’ lifestyles are in the story and gives specific details about them and their surroundings. Brautigan understands what it means to be poor and uses “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” to illustrate this to those who read his work.
Alyssa Downey
ReplyDeleteIntro to Fiction
Dr. Chappell
27 January, 2012
In the Far Away Land of the Pacific Northwest
In “1/3, 1/3, 1/3,” the three main characters are outcasts of society. They live day by day, and do not worry about current events. The woman relies on nothing but Welfare checks, and the writer of the novel only has a fourth grade education and cannot process current events. Even the author creates a separation by not giving each character a name, and instead referring to them as “he” or “she.” The three characters are separated from society and are only focused on themselves.
In 1952, America was as busy as can be. Between the baby boomer generation, the experiments with nuclear weapons with other countries, and new technology rising, there was a lot going on. However, the characters were so segregated from society that they did not acknowledge the existence of these events. They cannot afford to be stressed out over current events because they are more worried about living day by day on what little resources they have. The woman in this story is overall described as the Welfare lady. Every week she waits for the check in order to support herself. The man who wrote the novel has a fourth grade education. He will have a hard time understanding why other countries have weapons and not being educated is not attractive to many women, therefore, he does not participate in the baby boom. The man with the typewriter is the only character that has any source of the outside world; his typewriter. It is the only type of technology that appears in the book. Also, the other two characters see this typewriter as an important factor to their project, since they do not possess one.
The author also separates the characters from society. Usually, an author will give characters names to make the story connect to the reader. However, Brautigan decides not to give names. The reader is not supposed to connect with these people. They are outcasts; they do not connect well with others. By using “he” and “she,” we see the characters as who they are and focus on their situations, not their names and any assumptions that come with those names.
These are the outcasts stored away in the Pacific Northwest. They are so separated from society that they do not even have names. They are focused on surviving and making sure that the next check goes through.
Stephanie Mazzucco
ReplyDeleteProfessor Chappell
English 106W
January 25th 2012
Go Towards the Gates
Right from the beginning of the poem “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” by Richard Brautigan the theme is pretty clear. The setting is in the year 1952 in the Pacific Northwest. Brautigan was asked to be part of a project in which he would become one third of a team. All that he had to contribute for this was the fact that he had his type writer and could type up a story. He mentions that they are going down a path in which a gate at the end would be found. Despite the year that this poem was written the only thing that the characters can really even think about is themselves. It is clear that they do not have a lot of financial stability considering the amount of times the welfare office and welfare checks were talked about throughout the poem. They aren’t able to worry about other things that the country was worrying about because they were worrying about the next meal that was going to be on their table. Even though the writer of the story only has a 4th grade education he is still able to write the story because of his determination. In a situation like this the 3 partners need each other so that they can all have a shot at making something great together. I enjoyed how at the ending of the poem it goes into how the book was written by the man. The gates that were mentioned at the beginning of the book come up right at the last sentence of the poem. The gates that they were trying to go threw were the ones of “American literature.”
Chynna Burroughs
ReplyDeleteBolster
Eng 106W
27 January 2012
Metaphors and Setting in 1/3, 1/3, 1/3
The setting in the short story, “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” by Richard Brautigan reflects the characters own lives, as they currently are. The way the setting and natural elements are described, as it pertains to the three main characters, the narrator, the woman, and the novelist; convey the different aspects of their lives and their condition. The short story takes place in the Pacific Northwest. It is commonly a very wet, rainy, and dreary place. This is certainly true and evident in the story. This can create a potentially very depressing and oppressing mood overall. This
depressing and oppressing atmosphere and mood, in turn, reflects and is a metaphor for the character’s attitudes and the way they live their lives.
The narrator describes how he was “made lonely and strange by the Pacific Northwest of so many years ago, that dark, rainy land of 1952.” (pg. 71). This says that the narrator thinks that the conditions of the Pacific Northwest, with its rainy, dark skies, somehow impeded his life and made his life less than it could have been. As the narrator is “staring at the black ragged toothache sky that was about to rain.” (pg. 72), his says that he looks at the sky, like it was his occupation. He sees something in it. One could see someone’s occupation as an extension of that
person. The narrator could be seeing the dark ominous sky as an extension of himself and his life. One almost literal example of the state of the character’s lives are the unpaved muddy roads. As a result of living in a poorer part of town, the characters don’t have the luxury of nice, asphalt
roads.
A correlation between setting and the state of the character’s lives also extends behind the narrator too, as we see with the novelist. The narrator describes the novelist’s trailer home and says “the place was small and muddy and smelled of stale rain.” (pg. 75). Just the description alone gives a thought provoking impression in regards to who the novelist is and his lot in life right now. As the narrator is about to read over the novelist’s story, “suddenly the rain started to come down hard outside, without any warning, just suddenly great drops of rain that almost shook the trailer.” (pg. 75). This could be an indication of an impending doom as it relates to the
novelist’s story and the quality of its actual content.
This short story takes time to convey how the character’s lives are not as comfortable or pleasant as they could be. They are poor and live in poverty-like conditions. Their actions and their descriptions show just how depressing and dark their lives are. But, the setting, weather, and natural occurrences also indirectly set the mood and tone for the character’s positions in life.
Stephanie Sereday
ReplyDeleteIntro to Fiction
Professor Chappell
“1/3,1/3,1/3”
Response to “1/3,1/3,1/3”
“1/3, 1/3, 1/3,” humorous; or inspiring? In my opinion, it’s a little bit of both. This short story, much like a poem, can be taken in different ways. Depending on how one perceives the context and tone of the story, it can hold different meanings. This is my perception of Richard Brautigan’s short story, “1/3, 1/3, 1/3.”
Brautigan tells a story of three not-so wealthy people living in what seems to be a very run down town in the Pacific Northwest. Each of the three are assigned separate tasks in writing a novel. One was to write it, one to edit it, and the last to type it. Any money earned was to be split evenly among the three, hence, “1/3,1/3, 1/3.” Sounds like a simple enough story right? Although with Brautigan’s remarks like, “ I was that involved in looking at the sky ... you would have thought that I had been hired to do it ...” (pg.72) the reader can find humor in the story. This makes me think that maybe the entire story is to be taken in a humorous, light-hearted tone. Then Brautigan throws me. He says, “ ... we were all sitting there in that rainy trailer, pounding at the gates of American Literature.” I look at this line and I see both irony, and inspiration. Could this poorly educated, poverty stricken trio accomplish writing a successful and meaningful novel? If so, what an inspiration for Americans to take a chance, tell their story and maybe even make a few bucks. Or is Brautigan condescendingly poking fun at their sorry attempt to success? What are we, as readers, supposed to take from this story?
In my own interpretation, I am choosing to take this story as an inspiration with an ironic twist. Yes, it’s funny at times and maybe even a little condescending. Though, I still see the optimistic sun cracking through those grey Pacific Northwest clouds. This is a beautiful short story of three strangers working together towards a goal that will better each one of their lives. What’s more inspirational than that?
Jae Hak Oh
ReplyDeleteA Bright Imaginary Sun
A friend who had recently visited Seattle described the Pacific Northwest as the only place in America that can bring the depressing, gloomy, rebellious sounds of the band Nirvana into existence. The region is known for its rainy weather and muddy fields as featured in the short story 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 by Richard Brautigan. Brautigan tells a story of three residents in a town in the Pacific Northwest who get together in an abrupt fashion to write novel. The imagery, the theme of money, and the comical nature of the story combine to tell a tale of those in search of imaginary hope and in the process, accentuate the depressing irony of the story.
The story takes place in the “Pacific Northwest of so many years ago, that dark, rainy land of 1952.” (71) It’s setting is dark, rainy, gloomy, and even the characters are garnished in some shades of darker colors. The “Welfare” woman wears white boots but the imagery portrayed by a woman who’s past her prime wearing these boots in muddy rain doesn’t really give off a pristine vibe. The main character was looking at the black sky like “an occupation”, idling his youth away at his cardboard-lined shack. (72) The many imageries used by Brautigan helps to represent the hopelessness of the characters as well as their endeavor.
The title gives away the reoccurring theme of the story: money. 1/3 is the share that each character would have if their so-called novel was published. The editor, or better known as the “Welfare” lady, lives on welfare with her son and “their entire lives rotate around that one day a month when they get their Welfare checks.” (71) The typewriter lives in a shack and the novelist lives in a run-down trailer. The characters are poor, lower class Americans who, in the whim of things, get together to make a novel in hopes to make some money. Their intentions of making this novel are not based on their passion for creative literature but more based on the escapist mentality of these lower-class Americans to make it “big.” With this in mind, their “pounding at the gates of American literature” is really for their search to escape the dire reality they live in. (75)
Their “ticket” out of their realities is a paragraph of misspelled words telling a bad story of a lumberjack in a restaurant. The story and the way it’s depicted is comical because of its pure absurdity. This is Brautigan’s final twist and it really accentuates the false hope that these characters have. If their story had at least a hint of seriousness and possibility to become a great story, Brautigan’s 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 would have carried a different meaning. However, he reinforces the gloomy nature in a comical and in an ironical fashion. Their endeavor to make a novel and publish it is as absurd and “misspelled” as their story.
The combination of these three elements tells a story of hopelessness in 1/3, 1/3, 1/3. In the dark, rainy, muddy settings of Pacific Northwest, three characters are misguided into thinking they can publish an absurd story that’s absurd as their endeavor itself. An actual line from the story poetically described Brautigan’s 1/3, 1/3, 1/3; “The man held his hand above his eyes, shielding his eyes from a bright imaginary sun, though everything had turned dark in anticipation of the rain.”
Zach Westfall
ReplyDeleteProfessor Chappell
Intro to Fiction
25 January 2012
The Gates of American Literature
In the Story “1/3,/13,/1,3” the author writes about three people that come together to write an novel. Writing a novel however takes more than a fourth grade education a typewriter and an editor who reads magazines. The writing of the author shows how bad his writing skills are and that most of the words are spelt incorrectly. “just ten the caf door opend and in cam Rins Adams he was hasom and meen, everi bodi in those parts was afrad of him but not Carl and his dad they wasn’t afrad no sur!”(75) If the whole novel was written like that and only thirty page in a notebook I don’t think the chances of them actual writing a novel and getting it published has much hope. When the author of the story says that they are knocking at the gates of American literature I think they are saying it more of a mocking way. They might be knocking but I don’t think anyone hears them. It’s nice to think they have a chance of succeeding but so much is against them that I think it would be close to impossible to ever get that novel published. I find it funny how the character in the story hat is to type this “novel” never agrees to type and only says “it will be easy”.
On the other hand this story could be about the hope in that three people with little education living in poor condition could write a novel and maybe have a chance of it actual getting published. Hope is an important theme in a lot of stories, so maybe they could pull it off. The d raft of the novel is written in a notebook and is only thirty pages long and “It was written in large grammar school sprawl: an unhappy marriage between printing and longhand.”(74)
This short story is about the challenge of writing a novel with little education in poor condition. If they have a chance or not really isn’t important because the point is anyone can try to write a novel but if it actual gets published is a whole different story.
Chris Reagan
ReplyDeleteMr. Bolster
ENG 106W
1/26/12
“Better Than” He or She
In the short story, 1/3, 1/3, 1/3, the reader follows a narrator's story about his experience typing a novel for a couple hoping to publish their work. Even though this is a short story, the narrator is able to make his impression of these people very clearly. The narrator of this story is rude, and he looks down upon others even when they are showing him kindness. Different examples throughout this piece clearly show how this man thinks he is too good for others, even though he himself has done nothing impressive.
The narrator instantly begins to judge the woman who edits the novel, and he constantly refers to the fact that she is on welfare. He also goes on to describe her as, “one of those eternally fragile women in their late thirties” (71). This same woman is the one who is generous enough to offer this 17 year-old an easy way to make money: literally typing something that someone has already written. When she first meets the narrator, she gets is attention by yelling “Hey you!” and the narrator responds with “What do you want?” Any person would be able to see how rude of a response this is, aside from the fact that he keeps referring to her as a twelve year-old girl on welfare.
This man also seems to be pretty sure of himself, but what has he accomplished? He lives in a cardboard shack across the street from the woman, and just a mile from the man who wrote the novel. If someone in his position were given an easy job opportunity, it would make sense to be grateful; however, he chose to give short, rude responses while simultaneously judging these two people.
Naomi Alphonso
ReplyDeleteProfessor Chappell
English 106W
27th January 2012
Great American Literature, not so great after all.
The term literary is often related to writing that is noted for quality or form. Richard Brautigan’s 1/3 1/3 1/3 defies the ideals of society by exemplifying how a fourth grade education is sufficient enough to be able to contribute to great American literature. His sarcastic tone implies that great American literature is not so great after all. Brautigan touches on the idea that American writers are not writes at all, they’re typist. Merely putting words on paper does not make one a writer. In today’s society, anyone can become a writer. This sarcastic toned short story makes a mockery of so called “Great American Literature.”
Throwing a flow of words on paper and making sure not to end with a preposition makes one a writer by American standards. Society is thought to believe that every piece of writing has some sort of philosophical, deep, significance. The focus of writing today is ambiguity. An unclear piece of writing that does not have a reason for being seems to be of congratulatory standards today.
Brautigan goes out of his way to set a standard of uneducated deprived characters. He tells the story of a man with a fourth grade education putting pen to paper. The point being made here is that there is no set-in-stone version of a great American writer. Any one that can understand the essence writing is to language can be a writer. As Americans, one has an ideal that Homer’s ability to spin a tale like the Odessy is “Great Literature.” The reason Great American Literature is not so great after all, is because writing complex sentences that the average man does not comprehend, has been instilled in us. Brautigan makes a point that replicating this stereotype is not the essence of being a writer.
Trey Cole
ReplyDeleteProfessor Chappell
English 106W
26 January 2012
Whole
Great literature can not spawn from someone without a substantial amount of education. In order for one to create a successful or thorough piece of written work, certain requirements that must be met. On top of that, writing a novel requires a top-notch group of specialists each responsible for a certain facet in the production of the novel. There are a great deal of reasons as to why the characters in the short story, “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” would not have concocted a successful piece of literature.
While each of the characters in the short story did have a separate job, none of them actually had the slightest clue as to what they were doing. The person responsible for writing the story could not write proficiently, the person responsible for typing on the typewriter could not even use the typewriter, and the person responsible for editing the story had never before done anything along the lines of editing. How can one expect to succeed in a field such as writing with a level of education superior only to a third grader? How can a book be finished without being properly edited? How can the work station of three people be a small trailer? That sounds more like the setting for a poorly made adult film.
Put all of those ingredients together and the final product will look very much like the last two paragraphs of the story—absolute crap. Sure, there have been many different people who have achieved fame and received high praise despite not being educated. But when it comes down to actually getting something down on paper, it takes a lot more than endless determination and a strong heart to be successful. Writing is a fine art, not a Disney movie.
Ryan McDonald McDonald 1
ReplyDeleteProfessor Chappell
English 106W
26 January 2012
Response to 1/3, 1/3, 1/3
Author Richard Brautigan’s short story, 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 takes place in a dark Pacific Northwest in 1952 where the only bright spot of their resident’s existence seemed to be the monthly welfare check provided by the government. 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 depressed setting is shadowed by three individuals who plan on conjoining their talents to produce a written novel. Brautigan’s short story emphasizes the importance of having hope and happiness in one’s life that will inspire the willingness to persevere and achieve the unthinkable.
The narrator was seventeen at the time living in a cardboard-lined shack surrounded by fellow locals who were living in similar less than desirable conditions. One dark and rainy day the narrator was asked by his neighbor if he would like to type up a novel that was being written for 1/3 of earnings. The women who asked him was to be the editor of the novel and lived on the opposite side of the road from the narrator in a house supported by a welfare check. As the narrator and the fragile editor set off to the writer’s house avoiding puddles and pot holes of their un- drivable roads the woman gave the writer praise stating, “he’s a good guy, it’s a wonderful book.” (Brautigan, pg. 73) As the two approached the run down yellow trailer of the writer the narrator depicted the surroundings as, “really sad with a cemetery-like chimney swirling jagged dead
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smoke in the air above it.” (Brautigan, pg. 73) The man opened his trailer door shook the narrators hand and gave the women a kiss on the lips. The writer reiterated the 1/3 deal as the narrator asked if he could take a look at his work. The writer agreed but mentioned it wasn’t carefully written due to his fourth grade education. The twenty-five or thirty pages of grammar school work was about a young logger who lived in 1935 Oregon at a café sitting at a table waited on by a beautifully depicted waitress as he ordered veal cutlets with mashed potatoes and gravy. The story focused on the logger’s lust and attraction for the waitress who takes his order when the big bad Rins Adams walks through the café door making the waitress Maybell blush.
This short story illustrates the fact that in life you can’t always get what you want, but you must make the most of your situation. Everyone in their lives has a memory that sparks happiness in a person and provides hope for even the hopeless in the Pacific Northwest. These three characters that were living in a tough environment were optimistically hopeful in thinking they could possibly publish a novel and make enough money to pay each other adequately for their work. Although the writer had a fourth grade education level he persevered and made progress in his story with the help of the fragile women whose job was to edit his garbled grammar.
In life we all need to live or stand for something to have hope and happiness that will put a smile on your face. These people not only lived for their monthly check, but the thought that maybe they could make something of this novel and prosper. The writers
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story depicts a story that may have been himself in 1935 reliving some of his fondest memories and loves such as the beautiful waitress, veal cutlets, and his father.
We all have our own struggles in life some worse than others, but it is the small things in life that keep us going such a veal cutlets. As difficult as life can be at times it is our duty to keep our fond memories close and never lose hope in yourself or one’s you love. As hopeless as this short story may come off to some, I see 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 as a prime example of characters who convey a strong sense of perseverance for life.
William Arndt
ReplyDelete1/26/12
Fictional Writing
Richard Brautigan’s 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 is a fairly simple story in context and plot but the story holds so much more meaning than just of the words written. Brautigan tells the story of a relatively poor, young man who lives in a shack in the Northwestern region of the United States. One day a neighbor of the young man asked him if her and another man could use his typewriter to make a novel. The proposition for the young man in exchange for using the typewriter would be that he receive 1/3 of the profits made from the created novel. Everybody had a role in the novel; the young man was the typer, the woman was the editor, and the older man was the author for the novelist. But there was something unique about this older man. He was also a relatively poor man in his 30s but yet he only had a 4th grade education. When the old man presented the work to the man with the typewriter he could tell his grammar and spelling were off right away. But regardless of the circumstances and challenges they all faced, all three of them contributed to make the novel work. By using the gloomy setting of the rainy, cloudy Pacific Northwest and using characters that had not so fortunate lifestyles; he really illuminated the idea that opportunity can strike at any given moment. Brautigan also really stressed how a dream and a vision can inspire people to overcome the negativity or limitations around them. In this case the three of them never let their levels of education, their location, or allow others to stand in their way. Brautigan used many vivid and descriptive quotes throughout his story. For example, he really emphasized the drearynes that the setting of the characters’ loves gave off. One of my favorite quotes of the setting/tone of the story was, “One day I was standing in front of my shack, eating an apple and staring at a black ragged toothache sky that was about to rain” (72). Brautigan also used many symbolic connections in the story throughout the text. One of my favorite parts from the story was at the end how he described the crew ‘banging at the gates of American Literature.’ This created such great imagery. At the end of the end of the long road which is symbolic for the long journey of life and pursuit of success; that on the other side of the large gates is the group of elite writers welcomed into American literature. The story of 1/3 1/3 1/3 depicts what seizing an opportunity and following dreams can do.
Brandon Johnson
ReplyDeleteProfessor Chappell
EN 106 W
25 January 2012
Being a Product of your Environment
The characters in the story “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” by Richard Brautigan have the potential to do a lot of good things but they are in many ways affected negatively by their environment. The Group consists of 1 girl and 2 guys. These characters live in a relatively poor area which contributes to their way of living and the way the characters act in certain situations. In other words, the location where this short story takes place has a huge impact on the lives of the characters. Since this story takes place in the northwest pacific, the mood of the story and characters is more on a depressing side and these shows throughout the story. But even though they live in a poor area and their not educated as well as they should be, these people are very intelligent. Since these characters are deprived, there only source of finance is welfare check she gets which is the main topic of discussion for the 3/3 so to speak. Nevertheless, they are smart and this leads them to come across a deal that would be beneficial to them in the long run.
People like me can relate to a story like this. I grew up in New Haven Connecticut which is a place that is known for being a bad place to live; it is easy to become a product of your environment. Some people I know are into a lot of negative things. I think I’m more like the characters in this story because even though they aren’t the most books smart people in the world and they did have it pretty rough in their living conditions they didn’t really let this hold them back from doing great things. In many ways I feel like this story could have been called “1/4, 1/4 1/4, 1/4" because in a way I think I could have fit into this story because in some ways it connects to my personal life. My family comes from generations of hardworking people that were less fortunate and in turn this makes me the person I am today. And everyone has their own problems. In “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” their problems was they didn’t have much and their best times surrounded a welfare check. And back in the 1950s a lot of people didn’t get welfare. In my life I have been more fortunate than most people that come from my environment with very a very giving family that a lot of kids my age don’t have. So it’s easy to become a product of your environment but there are many ways you can fight that so you don’t have to be a statistic.
In Conclusion, people have their own walks in life. In other words everyone is going to have their own adversity in life but it’s not about how you start the game it’s how you finish it and that’s what 1/3, 1/3 1/3 showed me.
Kile Coty
ReplyDeleteProf. Chappell
Intro to Fiction
01/27/12
Response to “1/3, 1/3, 1/3”
Richard Brautigan’s story “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” shows that literature can be a means of escape from one’s social and economical constraints. This story takes place in a rundown town in the middle of nowhere, it rains all the time, and there’s not much to look forward to besides a monthly welfare check. The characters are a product of this miserable place, the 17 year old typist lives in a cardboard shack, the editor lives for a welfare check, and the writer lives in a trailer that’s laid up on blocks. Despite the overbearing factors against them, these three still find purpose and maybe even hope in making this story worth something.
This story shows how literature can be a saving grace or even just a fresh breath away from reality. I believe this story highlights the whole purpose of fictional literature in that it’s a channel of creativity that can be anything the writer wants it to be. The story for the novel seems to be a boring recollection of the good times the writer once cherished. The fact that this event is the premises of a novel shows that it doesn’t matter how a person’s life is they still have a story to tell and it might be worthwhile to others.
-sorry its late but i have been having major computer problems...itd be nice if we could also hand in hard copies
Tami Corsi
ReplyDeleteProfessor Chappell
Intro to Fiction 106W
"1/3, 1/3, 1/3"
Richard Brautigan's short story "1/3, 1/3, 1/3" encompasses a child-like hope though by adults. It takes two adults who never really grew up and one teenager to dream about their "1/3"
The story is set in an urban run down city. It is the central of welfare collectors and teens looking for an out. For Brautigan's character, his out is a fairly young, once pretty woman who asks him to type up this alleged story. She explains excitedly, as a child would about what they want to be when they grow up, of a plan to compose a wonderful novel. Even after hearing this welfare woman was going to edit the story, the typer blindly says yes in hopes of his 1/3.
Brautigan's way of painting a dark and gloomy setting sits perpendicular to the tone of the characters. Even after knowing a welfare collector was editing this story and a thirty year old fifth grade drop out was writing, all seem to still have hope. The elder two still have a child-like state of mind as they carry the teen on their train of though. They come across just as naive as the typer in a seemingly golden opportunity.
I found it funny how the woman spoke to try convincing the teen. She says, "he’s a good guy, it’s a wonderful book." (Brautigan, pg 73) Just because he is a good guy means nothing in light of a separate 1/3. Her thought process is based on human behavior rather than money and knowledge. Even though all of this sounds ridiculous, the teen still investigates the book because it is the only light shed on such a gloomy situation.
The very last two paragraphs are chicken scratch. However, the man and woman were so proud of their work it is incredibly sad to read instead of funny. The last line was arguably the most important of the whole story. knocking on the gates of American literature. Even though the story, spelling, and grammar were awful, it is in essence the first step to writing. It had to have started somewhere, so it might as well have just been with three young Americans searching for an out.
Christopher Harrison
ReplyDeleteWriting 106
Mr. Bolster
2/26/2012
“1/3, 1/3, 1/3,” Response Paper
The short story, 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 by Richard Brautigan displays the hard times and desperation of the people living in post World War II, early 1950’s America. In the story, Brautigan introduces the three main characters who decide to have a novel written and published in order to get out of this coarse lifestyle. With one person who has the idea of the novel, another person typing the novel, and an editor, they decide to split the profits 1/3 each. After reading Brautigan’s novel, it was clear that Bolster captures the desperation and high hopes the people of this era and expresses it through the experiences of these main characters.
The editor of the story was known for wearing white boots whenever she went out in public. The setting in which they lived is also known to be very muddy, which makes her white boots extremely dirty. This is one example of how desperate people of this time were. Although the mud would ruin her white boots, she would still wear them to try and look her best. People would live in denial that they are in a financially unstable situation and still try to impress those around them. Even though they are all in the same state.
The agreement to split the entire profit three ways also demonstrates how desperate these people are to get out of the state they are in now. The novelist should be making the majority of the profit for having the whole idea of the novel to begin with. However, in order to assure that his novel does get finished, he agrees to share the profit with the editor and the typist equally. Greed and envy practically does not exist in this era. These three people are in full commitment with each other in order to get a better lifestyle in the end.
The high hopes the three main characters have in this novel is what signifies Brautigan’s main point of the story. It is evident that the novel will not be successful at all after reading the excerpt at the end of the story. However, they do believe that it can get them somewhere that is better than where there are now. Their situation is so bad that they put all their faith and hope into a book that will not even be published. This is the desperation that Brautigan displays to the reader.
Morgan Taylor
ReplyDeleteProfessor Michael Chappel
English 106W
25 January 2012
Despair
In Richard Brautigan’s short story “1/3, 1/3, 1/3” we learn about the creation of a book. A young seventeen year old man with a type writer, an older man with a story, and a younger women who was an editor came together to produce a book. The typist liked to type late at night, and the editor heard the type writer going as she passed his apartment. Once the editor brought the idea up to the typist about being involved in writing the novel he seemed quite spectacle. As soon as the editor mentioned he’d be getting 1/3 of the profit he agreed he would give it a shot. The typist and the editor went to go meet the man with the novel and once again we are put in a setting of despair. The novelist lives in a trailer with a strange animal. There is garbage throughout the trailer and several dirty dishes in the sink. I then came to realize that the story was very flat. It was always raining, and Braugtigan always set up the setting to be dreary and muddy. When the typist saw the novel at hand, he realized then that his decision might have not been the best idea. There were errors all over the place and as stated in Braugtigan’s writing, “it was written in a large grammar school sprawl: an unhappy marriage between printing and longhand.” The novel was a true story about the novelist and a girl he once fell in love with and the troubles he goes through with her. The typist, the editor, and the novelist seem to be doing such a courages thing for money. Braugtigan gives them characteristics of being poor (ex. the editor living of welfare checks) and the characters are hoping that this is their way out of the miserable lives.