"Celebration" - A Second Look.
"Disfunctional, disgusting, obnoxious alcoholics" are just some of the words that pop into our heads the first time the short story "Celebration" is read. However, there are many ways to look at this story from a second perspective. The author could lead the reader to events in this story that were inconclusive which left us wondering what happened while the main climax of the story caught our attention. Readers could also think about how this family differs from their family and make comparisons in the way they live their lives and insulting ways of communicating with each other. A third major topic of how this family managed to stay together for ten years could be taken into more consideration with better depth involved.
It was an important concept that we had discussed during the seminar about why the title of the book was "Celebration" and we had discussed possibilities that it could be because they are celebrating going on welfare. The title does give the story a heart-warming perspective but it is only until the introductory paragraph is read, when the reader notices that this story is more on the dark side, rather then a story that would remind the reader of the Garden of Eden after looking at the title. The idea of celebrating because of the family going on welfare gives a partial indication as to what kind of people they are because no ordinary family would celebrate such a humiliating aspect of their lives that they now have to rely on to provide for their family, and they do so by getting drunk. I think this is a good story to read for people or children who have been raised through an abusive family because it makes them realize that they are not the only ones in the world who have been through such misery throughout life and especially considering that Eric and Mabel's kids are only few years old with their whole life still ahead of them.