I have enjoyed reading some short stories lately, it's something I rarely do because I kind of forget that they're there. When you usually finish a novel they make you feel as if you're glad that you've been told this story. They have this completed sense about them, even series have this completion and when they don't we feel as if something was left out. Short stories don't really need to solve anything, they don't need to make you feel as if everything turned out alright.
So when I said that this story was strange, I really meant that it's different. Yes there were a lot of unusual elements to the story but that's not necessarily bad. After talking about the story in class, it's pretty clear what this story is about; survival. It's not about survival of the fittest, which I dislike that phrase anyway because it's selfish, but it's just plain and simple survival. Doing exactly what you have to because you might not know any better, it's expected of you, or out of sacrifice. I feel as if the main character gave into this life because he didn't know much else, he was almost forced into it in that sense because he didn't have a choice and the only choice he had was sacrifice. It's easy to stand back and judge him for giving in, for not fighting more, for not wanting something different for himself. I can't decide if I feel his actions were heroic or stupidity. When I think about what I would have done in his case, it's hard to say that it was stupidity. To one's self it wouldn't feel like a heroic act but as an outside realizing the sacrifice how can you not say it's heroic. Then in the same sense I think he was foolish. He was foolish to give up his life to just live for bearing the alien's offspring.
But of course as soon as I say that we have to get into the idea of humans and the fact the so many people give up almost all they have to their children. I don't think people should have to feel that way. If having a child makes someone so unhappy because they have to leave their old life, then don't have one. There is nothing worse than making someone feel regret for something they cannot change. Though that's sort of another subject entirely.
Another aspect of the story that I thought was different was the connection between the main character and the alien. Sure he grew up being shown diagrams, he sort of accepted the fact that his life was planned out for him. He lived in the reserved pretty much like a caged animal, sure he was safe, sure he wasn't going to be given away to a stranger and these situations seem great because either way his fate was sealed. He had this bond with the alien, and it was strong enough for him to do what he needed to do and not resent her for it. I guess that's what I think was so odd about their relationship, the fact that there wasn't any resentment. How can you feel the same about someone if the only choices they give you are negative. Either you let my children feed off of you and when they are ready to come out it could kill you or your sister gets it. Then you think about it what does being upset about it do for you, bitterness? If she asked him for such a sacrifice then why didn't she sacrifice her children. She wanted to watch him grow up that's why she chose him, he basically was her child, how can you put that type of burden on someone you love just for your own sake.
I enjoyed the brother as a character. I think he was the easiest to relate to about how I felt about their situation. Yet I pity him, he wanted out, he didn't want his fate to just be like everyone else's. I'd like to think that maybe he changed his fate but since the story was about survival I know that is unrealistic. There really was no way for him to run away no matter how hard he tried. I still admire his spirit to want more. This is something I rarely say because I usually find something to relate to in people but I despised the mother, she was weak in my opinion. She felt that she owed the alien one of her children because the alien introduced her to her husband. Could she not realize that the alien was practically breeding them there was nothing selfless in her actions. So she just stood aside, practically ignoring the fact that her sons were being given up as incubators.
The story was written a little gory, I enjoyed how the alien's children were refereed to as grub. That was a nice little touch, made them seem like leeches. I didn't really think about the author as male of female, I guess we could say that it's much more likely that a female would write about birth but I don't think we can completely rule out that fact that a guy could write this story. So I did like this short story, there was a lot to think about and I always think that's a positive thing.
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