Essay about the “ Pool”

- A characterization of Darla

Darla is a young woman in the 20s. Her boyfriends name is Jon and she is the main character of the short story “Pool”. Darla seems very confused about feelings and relationships. She seems very modest and shy, for example about showing herself in bathing clothes:

““ A little later” she said, knowing that she wouldn’t, that she hated others seeing her in her swimsuit.” ( p. 9 l. 60-62)

She is thin and always keeps an eye on here weight, she drinks light soda. She describes candy and snacks as packs of chemicals. You also hear about Jon taking her out to a restaurant that he cannot afford which indicates that Darla maybe comes from another environment than the other characters in the story.
Darla takes an emergency contraceptive pill, the same morning as the story is told. She is really affected by the experience and even if she convinces Jon, that it is the right decision, she fells insecure. For example, she lays a pillow on her belly, and that’s a sign for protection. The pictures of kids all around the house of Trevor and Mandy are also in Darla’s mind.

- The relationship between Darla and Jon

The relationship between Darla and Jon has been going on for about a year, and they both look differently at the relationship. Jon’s mom tries to take Darla into their family, Darla on the other hand knew that the relation wouldn’t last long:

“ What she liked best about him, Darla had realized earlier in the car, was that it wasn’t going to last, so she didn’t have to care that much really” ( p. 8 l. 11-13)

There is not so much love to find in Darla’s description of Jon.
One of the reasons could be the lack of communication between Darla and Jon, for example when she takes the emergency contraceptive pill, they eat in silence and turn on the car radio.

- The main theme

Relationship and marriage are important themes in the short story. Darla and Jon have different expectations to what is good for their relationship, and Darla fells Jon is the only one who is satisfied.
The marriage between Trevor and Mandy is a lot on Darla’s mind. She has an interest in how they met, how they were together and which problems they had in the daily life.

- The ending

The short story ends in Trevor and Mandy’s bedroom, where Darla takes her clothes of in front of Trevor. Darla takes Mandy’s bathing suit on. It is too big for her but she doesn’t care. This could be a symbol. She maybe wants to fell how it is to be Mandy.

- The setting

The short story’s setting is in Trevor and Mandy’s house in The Valley. The area is described as a place where people earning fast money live and where young couples live in rented houses, because they can’t afford a real estate. The houses are small and square and fenced.

“ a neighborhood of small square houses, many guarded by iron fences, the homes of car thieves and newlyweds in their twenties still renting” ( p. 8 l. 5-6)

In the backyard of Mandy and Trevor’s house there is a terrace and a pool. The house is built in the 70s, which is shown for example in the colors of the kitchen, which is orange and green. The Bathroom has a fake marble countertop.
You can see on the description of the setting, that it is trough Darla’s eyes that the story is told.