When I saw "Another Manhattan" on the syllabus, I thought it would focus on another Manhattan. That is, some other version of the city Manhattan; some other version of reality. Maybe some dystopia or futuristic society (or both), and the lives of people in them. I was kinda wrong... I think?
After reading the story, I wasn't very impressed. I didn't really like any of the characters and I didn't find anything particularly interesting. Sure, this guy steals this gigantic bouquet in an attempt to (somehow?) repair his (kinda bad, really) marriage. Okay. But that's it? Honestly, the only thoughts I had before our class discussion was that Jim and Kate really needed to go to marriage counseling (and Jim to therapy and also a psychiatrist's office) if they wanted things to work. Jim's initial thoughts were right--they really did just need to talk about things, rather than going out to diner with friends they cheated on each other with.
During our class discussion, I realized quite a few things that made the story more compelling. I have to admit--when I got to the latter part of the story, I started getting a bit distracted and so didn't notice as much as I should have. One thing that several people brought up was Kate and her relationship with Elliot. It's true; Elliot does seem pretty controlling, and their relationship definitely doesn't seem as nice as Jim imagines it to be. Another thing would be just how serious Jim's mental illness is, and how it seems to be so normalized. Actually, I got a bit indignant about how Kate was talking to him. Shouldn't she be more considerate? Doesn't she know how much her husband's going through? Of course, since we don't get her perspective on their relationship that much, she might also be having a tough time, at her wit's end. It's definitely a difficult situation--and so that's why I concluded that it really might be better for them to split up. Sometimes love isn't enough. You also need communication, trust, understanding, the works. I know that I have a tendency to comment on the relationships of characters of things I read, sometimes a bit too much (armchair relationship counsellor? maybe), but it's just hard not to, seeing all these people struggle and suffer!
Something that I went away puzzled about after our class discussion was the "pretty shop assistant" and her interactions with Jim. Initially, I didn't think much about her, and felt kinda bad when he ran away with the flowers. But as some people brought up, you could also interpret her trying to get him to buy them as taking advantage of an obviously mentally unwell guy. Sure, he looks rich, and sure, he did agree to all these lilies and irises and globs of baby's breath, but...
Though, I suppose Jim's also a bit weird (understatement?). I found it a bit amusing, but also pretty disheartening when he mentioned "using a shopgirl as a proxy to get himself worked up for sex later that night"--it really showed that his relationship was lacking in way too many aspects.
I know this post has been kinda disjointed (I just have a little to say on a lot of stuff), but I'm still a bit confused about the title of the story. Yes, it could be in reference to the drinks Kate's downing. But, now that I think about it, it could also tie in with Jim's feelings of not belonging. He just feels so displaced and hopeless, and he really just does not belong. Of course, maybe he'll get better and finally be able to support himself and Kate, and they'll talk and work things out and live well and... Is that another Manhattan?
