Valerie Laken’s “Separate Kingdoms” is written using many visual strategies and different points of view in order to paint a better mental picture to her readers. She writes this short story in a way that is unique and in a form that is uncommon. Laken structures her story in a way that allows her to write it from two different perspectives, giving the reader a clearer understanding and a more in-depth look at the feelings of each of the characters. The two perspectives are in two different columns. Another unique strategy she uses in the story is combining the two perspectives. Each column is a different perspective, one being from the point of view of Colt and the other being his son, Jack. Another stylistic difference is that Laken keeps the sentence going across both columns in order to create the sense that both characters are experiencing an event in the same period of time. By using these different techniques, Laken is able to write a compelling story and really catch the attention of her readers. The main strategies of her book are used to not only catch the attention of the reader but to help the reader understand, in a deeper sense, what is going on, how the characters are feeling and how they relate to one another. One of these main strategies that is repeated throughout the story is that every action has a reaction. Colt never truly admits that he was the one that disabled the safety locks on the machine, but nonetheless, Colt still used the machine knowing that the locks were shut off. By working in this unsafe environment, he hoped to catch up on his work in order to meet his quota. His action caused the ultimate reaction of him losing his thumbs in a machine accident. As stated in Murphy’s Law “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.” This was never truer in Colt’s case. Colt knew full well the dangers of working with the safety features off, yet he still continued. This decision turned out to be a terrible mistake because he ended up losing his thumbs. Colts decision caused a lot of turmoil throughout the family. Laken describes Colt’s family as one that is full of inner conflict and separation because of past incidents and Colt’s most recent accident. These past misfortunes caused the family to lose a common ground and lose a strong family relationship that had once held them together. The title “Separate Kingdoms” symbolizes the separation between the family members and what needs to be done to pull the family back together. The word, “Kingdoms”, symbolize the difference between the human and animal kingdom. This imagery was used because of the way Colt was acting. For example, while Colt was sitting in his chair, he was watching Animal Planet, a T.V. station the he does not even like. Colt screams at the television almost like an enraged animal. Colt then says to Jack, “‘you know what separates us from animals?’ And I said ‘Our brains?’ He held up his thumbs and wiggled them. ‘Opposable thumbs.’” (Lakin 654). Colt says this to mock his situation, saying that because he has lost his opposable thumbs, he might as well not be human. Through Colt’s words the reader can see that there is not only a physical loss but also an emotional loss because he is no longer able to work. His work is what defined him. For instance, Colt was almost never at home but at work and because of this lost his connection with his family. Colt never spent time with his son which cost him the once close relationship he had with his son. The “Separate”, in the title, is represented by the two separate columns on each page. Laken wrote the story in two columns, representing the two different perspectives and the separation within the family. One column is told from Colts perspective and the other column is told in his son’s perspective, Jack. The separate columns show the separation between the two of them and the struggle to make them one. Colt’s perspective shows in first person how he and his past actions are affecting the family. Jack’s perspective shows from an outsider looking in on Colt how exactly his current actions affect the family. By using this interesting technique, Laken hopes the reader can get a more compelling look as to how Colt’s misfortunes are ultimately tearing the family apart and the relationship between father and son. Another technique she uses to better convey the relationship is the way she combines the two columns in certain instances. Several times Laken combines the columns by having Jack’s column cut into Colt’s column as if the two are doing the action at the same time. For example, when Colt sits down to talk to the lawyer, Harris, the column that represents Jack’s perspective cuts into Colt’s column. Jack is playing the drums and the sound of the drums makes a “Duh Guh Duh Guh Duh” (Laken 648) sound. These words cut into Colt’s column letting the reader know that as Colt is talking to the lawyer, Jack is playing the drums at the same time, causing stress on Colt. These strategies allow the reader to experience the rift between father and son. By combining columns and using the two perspectives, Laken lets the reader become more aware about what is happening and the controversies between the family members. Combining the two columns immerses the reader into the moments where both Colt and Jack share a common experience. This brings some unity within the story. To oppose this view, Laken uses two perspectives as a means by which to draw the audience’s attention to the strife within the family. Though the story can be looked at as bleak, Laken creates a story of contrast. One instance that summarizes Lakin’s mission is when Jack bandages his thumbs and tries to experience life without them as his father does every day. Through her compelling story, one can learn to appreciate that even in the bleakest and darkest of moments, a glimmer of hope emerges. Her writing strategies enable all to take away a thought provoking look on family, loss, and live after crisis.

Work Cited
Laken, Valerie. "Separate Kingdoms." The DK Handbook. 2nd ed. New York: Longman, 2010. 643-61. Print.