The narrative is highly impressive. It is not easy to summarize a lifetime expectation and still create such an impression. The story addresses beauty and tragedy in such a fading way that is impeccable. First, the narrative begins with sweet emotions and joyful participation in what is expected to be the climax of ballet experience. The story then shifts gradually, assumes a mixture of joy and sadness, and finally drifts to an abject rejection of what was highly loved in the first place. At the beginning of the narrative, the narrator tells of his love for ballet. He renders a deep description of the love for the play and hours, energy, and emotions invested in the activity. In the middle, he spends equal amounts of strength, hours and emotions loving and hating the play which causes him to reach a climax of avowed hate and unquenchable desire to quite the play all together as soon as he leaves the stage. Finally, he leaves a double life with very little time committed to ballet and more to other passions. What a tragic end to love burning hot at the beginning! Despite the commendable efforts, the narrative deserves some improvements. The narrator mentions very little to almost nothing of his final year at high school. The detail is not there except him telling the audience that it was his final year. What was it with the final year? Was it that he had wasted time participating in ballet? Is it that there was more work to do in the final year? Is it that he got scared to face his final exams unprepared? These details would have added more flavors to the narrative; the information would have compared ballet to the final year more appropriately and at least justified his coldness towards ballet.
It is no doubt that the narrator knows how to express himself both on stage and with words. Anybody would wish to read a second time and confirm it was true that the narrator with such a great love for ballet turned his back on his love. The final stages of the narrative get one fixed on their seats and eyes unblinking to catch the end of the story. I almost convinced myself that the narrator’s love for ballet would be revived completely once the major event approached. It seemed an impossibility to love less and dim one’s passion especially when the defining moment was here and an important event that would have changed his career forever. As the narrator moves to the stage and out and then back again, he is battling the mixed reactions that have captivated him. Eventually, he rips himself away from his passion and wants to be free, completely free from it. The story is well told, and I find myself in the struggles of the narrator trying to battle it out as if I were he. He gives me no option but to stick to the narrative following plot after plot.
The narrative teaches of the struggles common to mortals; having to abandon one thing for another. It emphasizes the concept of setting priority. The narrator had to choose whether to focus on his high school final year or the play, between the play and other passions. Making such decisions are never simple as we see the struggle involved here, it requires a determination, a great fortitude to move on even when something seems more promising, to fulfill what we love most and significant to our life.
The Elusive Muse
The narrative is well structured begging with the narrator going for a ballet audition with Suzanne and concludes with her experience working with Suzanne. The audience is carried through to the audition to witness such an intense activity that has been long anticipated. This is the climax of the narrative, and the audience waits to see if she will land the job. The narrator begins with her mother attending the audition; it is unfortunate that nothing is heard of the mother’s reaction having accompanied her daughter to the audition. This is equally a significant moment to the mother, and we should be informed of her reaction besides just the voicemail detail left her. The narrator should have added more information about the mother’s response and make it a lesson of reward for parents working with their children as they journey through significant steps in life.
The narrator offers a vivid description of objects, people, and events. He renders a clear description of his emotions and expectations as he prepares, goes to, attend and the aftermath of the ballet audition. The aspect of time is well covered rather than leave the audience in a maze of eternity. Specific details are provided that serve as guides down the narrative putting the audience in those places, at the exact time, and making the audience have their adrenaline climb as though they were subjected to the very test. The use of language is outstanding, simple, and descriptive; the narrative can be understood even by a kindergarten pupil so to express its simplicity and richness. Generally, the narrative is complete as it outlines the events before the audition with Suzanne, attending the auditions, waiting for a response, reaction upon receiving the letter of acceptance and her experience while working with Suzanne; the plot is commendable. However, she ought to have added more details to the audition given that it was a long-awaited and major event of her life.
The narrative carries the burden of perseverance. The narrator points out countless auditions that she has attended in her lifetime and her involvement with other ballet events to the moment that she attends the major audition with Suzanne. It is not a simple path. Her final victory is worthy of the long struggle. The intensity involved in the audition and the moments of waiting define the importance attached towards fulfilling a lifelong goal. However, the narrator should have given more description on her reaction when she received the letter of acceptance: She offers very little details on this.