What is the most terrifying thing
that you have ever seen in your life; what are you going to do with
that? The short story "Bluffing" by Gail Helgason describes a
grizzly attack in Jasper National Park. One of the main characters, Liam,
claims that he ran away from the bear so that his girlfriend Gabriella would
remain safe. Is he telling the truth? Is he bluffing? Liam is
unpredictable and a difficult person to understand. Gabriella on the other hand
is committed and wants to continue living her life with Liam. He shows
how unpredictable he is when he discloses his plan to go to New Mexico for
three months along with Clive for three months during the winter, leaving
Gabriella. This news shattered her dreams of continuing to live together.
Annoyed, she simply "[pushes] herself off the rock and [strides] as
fast as she can without running." Gabriella doesn't pay any attention to
Liam until she comes face to face with a grizzly bear standing twenty paces
ahead. However, Liam is unaware of the situation that lies up ahead and even
though Gabriella cautions him not to come forward he does. The grizzly watches
her movements and "she knew if she retreated to quickly, the bear could be
on her like a cat on a wounded bumblebee." On the other hand Liam had a
different idea. He started to retreat. The bear instead of pouncing on
Gabriella ran straight after Liam. The rest of the story remains unknown until
Gabriella finds Liam. Finally, when she sees him at the hospital his first
reaction is a false smile and a arrogant remark that "[he] wasn't trying
to run away" and that he sacrificed his life for her. There is no way to
be fully convinced whether he is bluffing or telling the truth, accept that
throughout the story everything was always about him so why would that change
now. Gabriella feels that he is bluffing and just pays Liam's insincerity back
by returning a smile.
No comments:
Post a Comment