then moored

In undertaking the thesis, I focused on the mediums of both traditional and more experimental fiction in order to explore the choices we, the collective of humanity, make. The short-story collection, then moored, composed of both shorts and longer fiction, predominantly explores relationships between human beings and how such relationships react under the pressure of abject guilt, responsibility or obligation, and loss. In my collection, characters struggle with enormous burdens—a superhero commits manslaughter, a woman agonizes over an apartment fire that she may have been accessory to, a mother slowly crumbles under the weight of a husband and child who don’t listen to her—and either allow, or refuse, to let these burdens define them. Some characters break free of their perceived obligations: They leave their abusers, accept the love of a family, let in grief for dead lovers, and find the end of love is not the end of all love. Others succumb and are driven by this negative energy.The collection is organized in an order that represents a thematic journey such as the ones the fictional characters have embarked upon: growing dissent followed by more open discord, self-hatred accumulating into self-destruction, and at last, loss and acceptance, the renewal of love gentling those things we cannot change. I committed myself to research of social and familial disturbances in many cases in order to portray events as close to reality as possible in a fictional world. Largely, the collection relies on the emotional journey rather than fact, but facts alone can support its often hefty weight. Certain stories—e.g., the discovery of the Jenny as featured in the story “then moored”—embellish on history.The collection then moored surmises, through the medium of fiction, that people react to “unbearable” burdens in different ways—some leading to ruin, others to renewal. The stories may be either realistic or hint at magical realism, depending on the content. Likewise, the collection features a variety of point-of-view adaptations, including predominantly second person and limited or roving third person.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Creative Writing/Fiction

Grantor dc:publisher

Bowling Green State University

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Mickael, Melissa Louise

Contributors dc:contributor

• Mayo, Wendell

• Fine Arts
• fiction
• short stories
• collection
• creative writing
• regret
• responsibility
• grief
• guilt
• redemption
• love
• loss

Statement dc:rights

• restricted--full text not available online
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1363302588

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:bgsu1363302588