"In the Waiting Room"

"In the Waiting Room" is a short story by Elizabeth Bishop, first published in The New Yorker in 1979, and later included in her collection The Complete Poems, 1927-1979. The story revolves around a young girl's experience in a Dentist's waiting room, where she undergoes a transformation of self-discovery, influenced by the works of Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and Virginia Woolf. This narrative is often compared to the works of James Joyce, T.S. Eliot, and Wallace Stevens, who also explored themes of identity and consciousness. The story's exploration of the human psyche is reminiscent of the works of Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, and Jean-Paul Sartre.

● Introduction

The story "In the Waiting Room" is a seminal work of 20th-century literature, often studied alongside the works of Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and William Faulkner. Elizabeth Bishop's unique narrative voice, influenced by Marianne Moore, T.S. Eliot, and Wallace Stevens, sets the tone for a introspective and psychologically complex exploration of the protagonist's experience. The story's use of imagery and symbolism is reminiscent of the works of Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, and Edgar Allan Poe. The narrative is also influenced by the Modernist movement, which included writers such as James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, and Ezra Pound.

● Plot Summary

The plot of "In the Waiting Room" follows a young girl, accompanied by her Aunt Consuelo, as she waits for a Dentist appointment in a waiting room filled with National Geographic magazines. The girl's fascination with the magazines, particularly the images of Volcanic eruptions, African tribes, and War scenes, sparks a series of introspective and imaginative episodes, influenced by the works of Joseph Conrad, Graham Greene, and George Orwell. As she flips through the pages, she begins to question her own identity, comparing herself to the people and landscapes depicted in the magazines, much like the protagonists in the works of Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Martin Heidegger. The story's narrative is also influenced by the works of Søren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Simone de Beauvoir.

● Themes and Symbolism

The story "In the Waiting Room" explores several themes, including identity, consciousness, and the human condition, all of which are central to the works of Existentialist philosophers like Jean-Paul Sartre, Martin Heidegger, and Albert Camus. The National Geographic magazines serve as a symbol of the girl's growing awareness of the world beyond her immediate surroundings, much like the symbolism in the works of James Joyce, T.S. Eliot, and Wallace Stevens. The images of Volcanic eruptions and War scenes represent the turmoil and uncertainty of the world, while the African tribes embody the exotic and unknown, much like the themes explored in the works of Joseph Conrad, Graham Greene, and George Orwell. The story's use of symbolism is also reminiscent of the works of Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, and Edgar Allan Poe.

● Literary Analysis

Literary critics, such as Harold Bloom, Terry Eagleton, and Julia Kristeva, have analyzed "In the Waiting Room" as a prime example of Modernist literature, characterized by its use of Stream-of-consciousness narrative, Imagery, and Symbolism. The story's narrative structure, which blends elements of Realism and Surrealism, has been compared to the works of Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, and Kafka. The protagonist's inner monologue, influenced by the works of Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and Lacan, provides a unique insight into the human psyche, much like the works of Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, and Jean-Paul Sartre. The story's exploration of the human condition is also reminiscent of the works of Albert Camus, Simone de Beauvoir, and Søren Kierkegaard.

● Historical Context

The story "In the Waiting Room" was written during a time of great social and cultural change, influenced by the events of World War II, the Cold War, and the Civil Rights Movement. The narrative reflects the anxieties and uncertainties of the Post-war period, as well as the growing awareness of Globalization and Cultural diversity, much like the works of George Orwell, Aldous Huxley, and Ray Bradbury. The story's exploration of identity and consciousness is also influenced by the works of Existentialist philosophers like Jean-Paul Sartre, Martin Heidegger, and Albert Camus, who were prominent during this period. The narrative is also influenced by the Feminist movement, which included writers such as Simone de Beauvoir, Betty Friedan, and Gloria Steinem.

● Reception and Impact

The story "In the Waiting Room" has received widespread critical acclaim, with many critics praising its unique narrative voice, Imagery, and Symbolism. The story has been included in various anthologies, such as The Norton Anthology of American Literature and The Oxford Book of American Short Stories, alongside the works of Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and William Faulkner. The narrative has also been influential in shaping the work of later writers, such as Don DeLillo, Toni Morrison, and Alice Walker, who have explored similar themes of identity, consciousness, and the human condition. The story's exploration of the human psyche is also reminiscent of the works of Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, and Jean-Paul Sartre.

Category:Short stories by Elizabeth Bishop