A Gap of Sky

Individualism is a keyword in postmodern society. We do not depend on each other and we go our own ways. If we fall, others might catch us, but not necessarily. We are left with freedom to choose whatever we want of life. It is expected that we create our own footprints. Freedom is beautiful, but with freedom, also comes a great responsibility; the responsibility of our own life. Freedom can lead to loneliness, and sometimes even lead to a fear of going in the wrong direction. In the short story “A Gap of Sky”, the author Anna hope uses the narrative technique with a stream of consciousness to give us an insight into the young protagonist Ellies mind, as she walks through the urban setting of London, where her confused mind makes her lose herself in the many choices and decisions. * Topic sentence for the 1st paragraph
The author allows the setting to take a symbolical meaning, when Anna Hope uses the urban setting of London, and how that affects Ellie’s way of taking choices.
The story takes place in the streets of London; an urban setting
Throughout the short story it is clear that Ellie is tired of education, things she has to do and expectations. She knows that she has to write the essay in order to stay on the course, but she is not quite sure for whom she is doing it. Her life seem to be an eternal search for freedom, and it is exactly the word “freedom” that is repeated through the story. In this quote; ”She doesn’t know where she is going maybe the river, yes, the river is what she needs, to look at the wide river, to see the wide river, to see the wide river and wash this away” (p, 4, ll. 94-96) The fact that Ellie chooses to go to the river indicates that, she stands at a point where she wants to “wash” the painful feeling away. The river has a calming effect on her. In this particular part of the story, the protagonist is at a point where she has the opportunity to clean her past, and start over. She knows that there is more to life than studies, duties and to comply with expectations and demands. Drugs, cigarettes and booze are greatly preferred when it comes to living her life to its fullest and to attain the feeling of freedom. The urban setting in A Gap of Sky plays a great role. The whole story is turned on the setting in London where noise, tall buildings and diametrically opposite districts is to be found. Ellie lives in the middle of all this and it is obvious that it has an impact on her. She is in contact with drug peddling or at least she knows people that are, which is not unusual in urban settings. On the other hand, urban setting also gives several opportunities to discover great things and to get inspiration you never thought was possible. For an example, Ellie visits the British Museum on her way which gives occasion for philosophical thoughts concerning life and death. Suddenly she feels a horrible throbbing in her skull. This leads her to a horrifying feeling, and suddenly Ellie is thinking if she’s dying, and what will happen to her if she dies? This is the first time Ellie is reacting on the drugs pulling her in a negative direction. An example could be:“The pain is intensifying, feels as though it is in that place where the drugs have gone, snorted up and into her brain”. (p.4, ll. 79-80)
Another example is when she stops at Russell Square; she discovers a glove that is put down over the top of one of the spikes, when she suddenly gets an epiphany for several thoughts and a feeling of possibility and delight that suddenly strikes her. “Life seems, suddenly, filled with possibility, with giddy possibility, with irreverence, with delight, for what really was there to be reverent to” (p, 3, ll. 63-65) * Topic sentence for the 2nd paragraph
Anna Hope is letting the language be predominantly influenced by the vocabulary of a nineteen year old. This gives the reader a closer understanding of the protagonist, and gives the short story a certain mood.
Though the short story is told with third person narration, we follow Ellie’s point of view and her thoughts. Therefore the language is predominantly influenced by the vocabulary of a nineteen year old, which is to be seen in the text where it says;
“Coffee plunged, poured, slurped; hot, fuck that’s hot. Anything else? Of course: printer, printer’s out of ink. Student shop too. Fine. Time? Ten minutes to get there. Shit”. (p. 1, ll. 35-36)
This quote gives the reader an insight in the mind of Ellie. We are almost literally in her head, reading her thoughts.
Throughout the story Anna Hope is letting Ellies way of speaking represent her feelings in certain moments. The author is leading the reader to confusion, as she is giving a suspect that Ellie is using drugs trough the hole story. The story is characterized by short sentences; this makes the story come more alive. Anne Hope use short descriptive sentences to get an important point across to the reader, and to create a special tension. “Monday. It is Monday. Essay, there is an essay due. Important, due for Tuesday morning. Virginia Woolf” (p, 1 ll. 14-15). * Topic sentence for the 3rd paragraph
Throughout the story the author Anna Hope uses the narrative technique with a stream of consciousness in order allow the reader to gain an insight into the protagonist Ellie’s mind Anna Hope's narrative technique is rather specific because she doesn't omit any of Ellie's thoughts or acts. This results in the reader gaining insight into her line of thinking and her inner conversations: “She's going to have to work through the night, but it's fine. This is fine. Coke. Does she have any left? Find the wrap, in the bra. The bra, in a tender pile on the floor, curled around her knickers. Yessssss! Clever Ellie...” (p, 1, ll. 30-33)
Throughout the story Ellie represents the result of children growing up in this modern society. Our generation has more freedom to take choices, like never before, but like everything else, this has positive and negative outcomes. Which path is the “right” one to take in life, when there are so many directions to go? Anna Hope simply concludes that sometimes it is best to take a walk by the river, preserve the moment and live in the present.