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The Night Nurse

            After reading Joyce Carol Oates story " The Night Nurse" it was obvious that the main plot was that of revenge. The author did a wonderful job using rising action to set up the plot in the beginning of the story. As the story begins with the main character Grace Burkhardt collapsing of an unknown ailment, you can sense the fear that has enveloped her entire being. The author's excellent use of exposition to set up the background information for the remainder of the story was also quite extraordinary. .
             As the story progresses you are able to see the transformation of Grace from that of a woman of great confidence to a person suffering from great internal desperation. You are able to feel the conflict that is raging within her as she suffers from the unknown reason for her collapse and admission to the hospital.
             As the second character nurse Harriet is introduced into the story, the author does a great job of establishing the conflict that was the main focus of the piece. The way that she ties Grace and Harriet's relationship of 20 years ago is the key to the climax of the story. It was how she brought in the subplot of revenge, it presented a way for Harriet to payback Grace for was she felt was her total disregard for her as a person and a friend during their college days decades before. Grace's request for assistance was ignored by Harriet the night nurse to show Grace what is was liked to be ignored. .
             The resolution of this story shows that the worst pain a person can withstand, is being the person that is left out of life, isolated and alone.
            


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