Julia Darling’s short story “The Dress” Essay

Sometimes people hold emblematical value to their material possessions, e.g. a dress. When those possessions are stolen it hurts more, and it take shapes it harder to condemn the buccaneer, especially if the thief is someone you shaft and trust. Such is the case in Julia Darlings short story The Dress where the main character Rachel gets her dress stolen by her own sister, Flora. This story deals with things like lying, betrayal, loyalty and family. It explains the process from when something gets stolen, to speculations c at a timerning the thief, to discovering the thief, and finally dealing with the thief and seeing the consequences for the thief. The relationship between Rachel and her sister Flora is really tense. I wish she would shut up snapped Rachel. What are you angry nearly? asked Flora in a lightly whipped voice, as she chewed a prawn. You know why Im angry. As you can see, their conversations are truly heated, perhaps a sign that things between them arent too sk ilful between them, even before the dress was taken. It could likewise just be siblings fighting, as siblings do sometimes.The detail that Flora stole Rachels dress could as well indicate that she is jealous of her sister. At first she had simply thought that she would guess it on for a moment and then replace it, but once it clung to her young body she found she was unable to take it off. She walked around the release house, rejoicing in the way the dress made her feel slenderise and long legged. This quote could indicate that Flora is jealous of Rachels instinctive beauty. Maybe Flora blueprintly lives in the shadow of her sister, and would do anything to work like her. Better than her. Lying also seems to come naturally to Flora. The dress, express Rachel, unable to contain herself. I want the dress back. I turn int know what shes talking about, said Flora. That could be because she is well-known(prenominal) with stealing, or that she simply has been forces to lie a l ot in her family. both way, the relationship between the sisters has diffidently worsened after the events of this story.In the beginning of the story, The mother seems like a normal, socially active and adjusted person. She is xl years old, and her birthday party is actually taking place during this story. She is depression the weight of her age. Im so old, said the mother. Youre non said Flora. No, not old, said Rachel. I think I readiness leave my job. said the mother. Often when people turn forty, one of devil things happen.Either they try to revive their youth by buying and doing things that make them feel young again, or they become depressed with their age and the fact that their looks and wits are fading. This could be the case judging from the quote. The mother also starts to show alcoholic tendencies near the end. So the mother drank the rest of the vino and sat looking out at the black night, listening to footsteps in the street of people coming home from the bars in nippy skittish groups. As seen in the quote, The mother turns to liquor when her problems need solving. This could be a thing that she only did on that night, or maybe it has been a consistent problem throughout the life she has made with her daughters.In the end, this is a short story that is trying to teach it reader morals like, beart lie, dont steal, be kind to your family etc. provided the story is ultimately a quick look at a slightly dysfunctional. The sister that steals, the mother that drinks and Rachel who is left as the only normal family member. The one that has to lo live with a sister that cant be trusted and a mother that cant even attention herself, much less her daughters.