Analyse af Lucy Caldwells novelle 'Like This'

Lucy Caldwell’s short story “Like This” (2021) revolves around a mother grappling with the challenges of motherhood. When her toddler suddenly needs to use the toilet in a café, she entrusts her newborn to a friendly stranger. At first it seems fine, but suddenly she got hit by the implications; in a moment of desperation, she has left her baby in the care of a total stranger. At this moment a whole potential future gape before her. Her thoughts race as she realize the unforeseen consequences of her split-second decision. Filled with a mix of anxiety and guilt, the mother grabbles with the profound realization that her choice may not be the best. At this point she gets in a hurry, so she can go back to her daughter, but this means that she put a rush to her son, resulting in him not washing his hands. When she finally came back, she was relieved to find the baby, but in the arms of the strange woman.

Analytical essay

Parenting can be an overwhelming experience, and the weight of striving to do one's best can be quite burdensome. In Lucy Caldwell’s short story “Like This” (2021) we see exactly this, as we accompany the main character through a day in her life with two children. The short story is based on the main character’s own narrative and thoughts, but despite that this short story is not made though a first-person point of view as many other stories. In this story the narrative unfolds though a third-person limited point of view, offering the reader a focused and intimate exploration of the main character's inner world. An example of this, is when the main character finds the woman that looked after her child while she was away: “And suddenly you can no longer speak, and suddenly: there she is. Wearing a navy jacket and jeans, tortoiseshell glasses - yes - and a bright silk scarf knotted round her neck (how could you have missed the scarf?). Grey-brown hair in a bob, jiggling the baby in her arms.” (p.8 l. 13-17). In this part we really see the main characters thoughts. The use of second-person pronouns, such as "you," also creates personal involvement, inviting readers to experience the main character’s feelings in real-time. The detailed observations of the woman’s appearance and the realization of the silk scarf underscore the main character’s emotional response, allowing readers to connect deeply with her.