Literary Response

Susan
From when she gets home from work.

As I walk through the door, a heavy sigh escapes me, grateful to be home after a long day at
work. The familiar sound of Amy's voice cooing to my little one, Callum, fills the air, and a
smile spreads across my face.

- Who's my bestest bestest boy in the whole wide world then?

I say as I make my way to the living room.

But my elation is short-lived. As I enter the room, I see Claire standing there holding Callum.
Her presence is unwelcome, and my smile disappears as I turn and march straight up to my
room, slamming the door shut behind me. Although I don't get a good look at her, I notice
the fineries of her American lifestyle, which immediately irritates me. Claire is probably
downstairs telling my kids about how grand her life is in America, and I am livid. I pace
around my room, fuming, unable to shake off the feeling of annoyance.

They try to coax me out of my room, but I remain silent, refusing to budge. The only time I
speak is when I ask if Claire has left, and if she hasn't, I make it known that I won't leave my
room until she does. I know everyone is waiting for me to leave so they can use the
bathroom, but I am being stubborn, intentionally avoiding Claire. As I sit in my room, my
thoughts swirl with what Claire has done to me. Suddenly, I hear someone coming up the
stairs, and we both know that the tension is unbearable.
- Sue? If you'll just let me in for one moment, I promise I'll go. I don't want anything. I
only want to see you. I brought you something to eat
Claire says her voice barely above a whisper. However, I refuse to respond, maintaining
the silent treatment.
- Let me in, I know you're listening to me.

I refuse to respond, and after some time, she leaves. Throughout the whole evening, I hear
the laughter and chatter of storytelling and drinking below, but it only serves to fuel my
anger. Claire has done this to herself, and I have no intention of letting it go. To make
matters worse, Amy invites her to spend the night. Frustrated, I resolve to leave early in the
morning, waking up earlier than usual to ensure Claire doesn't wake up before I leave.

IN THE MORNING, as I quietly prepare for work, I grab my bag and notice some tissue paper
at the bottom. Realizing it's a gift from Claire, I hesitate. Knowing it's probably something
expensive and luxurious from her American life, I decide not to take it. Instead, I put the
scarf in the bottom of her bag, hoping she won't find it until much later. I leave for work,
hoping not to see Claire for a very long time. As I make my way to the office, my mind is still
occupied with thoughts of her, but I know that I'm not going to forgive her, not yet.
 Statement of Intention
In my literary response, I aimed to showcase the messy relationship between Susan and
Claire through a scene that begins with Susan's return home from work. I utilized dialogue
to highlight the strained dynamics between the two sisters and their contrasting lifestyles.

Through the interactions between Susan and her family, I was able to depict Susan's
jealousy and bitterness towards her sister. The use of vivid imagery, such as Claire's
jewellery and expensive gifts, emphasized the stark contrast between their lifestyles and
added to the tension between the characters.

The scene where Susan shuts herself in her room and refuses to interact with anyone was
intended to convey her deep-seated emotions. I used sensory details, such as the sound of
storytelling and drinking coming from downstairs, to add to the atmosphere and further
emphasize Susan's feelings of frustration and anger. By utilizing the first-person perspective,
I aimed to create a sense of immediacy and heighten the depth of Susan's emotions.

Furthermore, I intentionally portrayed Susan as obstinate and challenging, echoing the

original story's portrayal. By presenting Susan and Claire as complete opposites, I aimed to
demonstrate how their longstanding feud has affected them and transformed their lives
since their youth.

To emphasize Susan's jealousy of Claire, I depicted her pettiness and complete disregard for
her sister over an argument that took place long ago. I also portrayed Claire as exceptionally
stubborn, mirroring her characterization in the original story. These traits contributed to the
complexity of the relationship between the two characters and showcased the lasting
impact of their feud.

Overall, my intention was to offer a complex portrayal of Susan and Claire's relationship. By
utilizing a range of literary techniques, including dialogue, imagery, sensory details, and
perspective, I aimed to convey the intricacy of their emotions and the lasting impact of their
feud. The use of adjectives and adverbs, such as "furious" and "spite" helped to highlight the
hostility between the sisters and underscore the fractured relationship between them.
Through this scene, I aimed to offer a fresh perspective on Tessa Hadley's story "Flight" and
explore the dynamics of sibling rivalry and the impact of long-held grudges.