"A Spinster's Tale"

I think a driving conflict in the story is Elizabeth’s fear of Mr. Speed in both man vs. man and man vs. self. Elizabeth is afraid of Mr. Speed himself and what she would ever do if he came to her door, which he eventually does. Elizabeth reacts to his presence by calling the cops and getting him arrested for entering their house. Her fear drives her to react in a harsh manor. Elizabeth also has inner conflict about her fears with Mr. Speed. Both her father and brother tell her not to be afraid of him, “you mustn’t seek things to fear in this world.” Her fears of Mr. Speed are somewhat irrational but despite her fear she continues to seek him out. Elizabeth watches Mr. Speed pass her house every day from her parlor and creates inner turmoil for herself from his presence. Elizabeth is afraid of those who are drunk and often refers to her mother’s statement that she would rather see her brother in his grave than drunk. The fact that she only sees Mr. Speed intoxicated adds to his mystery and frightening appeal.

Mr. Speed is one of the most sympathetic characters in the story to me. He is an old drunk man who wonders around town everyday making a fool out of himself. I feel really bad for him and just want someone to go help him and check him into rehab or something. His existence is pitiful, and I feel like he could be helped if given the proper tools to do so. I also sympathize with Elizabeth who is left alone most of the day. She seems to be bored a lot of the time and feel lonely. She also has certain irrational fears that shouldn’t be present in someone of her age. I feel like she is maturing very slowly in the novel, and because of her child like tendencies I sympathize with her as well.

The title the Spinster’s Tale alludes to Elizabeth being an old, unmarried women. This title is a little unfitting because during the plot of the story Elizabeth is only thirteen and fourteen but it references her future. The fact that the story is a flashback helps readers to understand that now Elizabeth is grown up and is a spinster, who is reflecting upon her childhood.