“At the age of twenty-five, Peter married Sharon Mendelson, a classmate he’d met in a women’s studies seminar at Middlebury. Naturally, it was a secular ceremony taking place in a meadow in Vermont. The young couple not only wrote their own vows, they walked down the aisle arm in arm and gave each other away under a pergola as a bearded friend played the Wedding March on a mandolin. Since Sharon was an only child, when she became pregnant a year later, Peter took her name to ensure the Mendelson line would carry on. (Such was the state of chivalry exemplified by the fine young men who attended liberal arts colleges in the early 1990s.)” (Amor Towles, Table for Two)
Writing Exercise: Character as Social Context
Techniques Highlighted by the Quotation
1. Social Context as Characterization
The passage uses social and cultural cues (the meadow wedding, personalized vows, mandolin music, surname change) to reveal character traits, values, and the generational ethos of Peter and Sharon. This technique allows readers to infer who the characters are without direct exposition.
2. Subtle Irony and Tone
The playful, slightly ironic tone reflects a nuanced perspective, giving depth to the narration. This tonal complexity shows how a narrator’s attitude toward the characters adds a layer of meaning.
3. Details that Suggest Relationships
The dynamics between Peter and Sharon (e.g., the surname change and shared decisions) subtly illustrate their relationship while connecting individual choices to broader societal themes.
Writing Prompt
Write a 500-word scene that captures the defining moment of a couple’s relationship by integrating these three techniques. The scene should:
• Use social or cultural cues to reflect the characters’ values, relationship dynamics, and era.
• Employ a specific and nuanced tone (e.g., ironic, sentimental, or detached) to guide how readers perceive the characters.
• Highlight subtle details that imply the balance of power or affection between the characters, without direct explanation.
Scenario Starter:
Your couple is making a public decision that reflects their shared identity (e.g., planning an unconventional ceremony, naming a child, starting a business). Focus on the external setting and details that reflect their personalities and relationship rather than explicit dialogue or inner monologue.
Evaluation Criteria
A strong response will:
• Social Context as Characterization: Seamlessly integrate specific, vivid cultural or generational details that reveal personality traits and values (e.g., the types of books on a wedding table or a tattoo artist officiating the ceremony).
Weak Example: “They got married in a church. It was nice.”
Strong Example: “In a converted Brooklyn warehouse with Edison bulbs and thrifted tablecloths, they recited vows from a poem by Rilke, each carefully annotated in pencil.”
• Subtle Irony and Tone: Employ a consistent tone that enhances the narrative voice and provides insight into the narrator’s attitude (e.g., wry, affectionate, or skeptical).
Weak Example: “It was a quirky wedding, and they loved it.”
Strong Example: “Under a banner of burlap reading ‘Adventure Awaits,’ the couple planted a tree together, a move Sharon described as symbolic and Peter nervously nodded along to.”
• Details that Suggest Relationships: Use specific actions, choices, or shared rituals to convey the dynamics between the characters.
Weak Example: “They loved each other deeply, which was obvious to everyone.”
Strong Example: “As they exchanged matching leather bracelets instead of rings, she smiled at his wince—he’d always hated jewelry but loved her principles more.”
Follow-Up Questions for Workshopping/Revision
1. How do the specific details you chose reflect your characters’ personalities and the era they live in?
2. Is your tone consistent throughout? Could subtle shifts in tone make the narrator’s perspective more engaging?
3. What does the couple’s dynamic suggest about their power balance or emotional intimacy? Is it clear to the reader without overexplaining?
4. Could you refine any details to feel more organic or vivid? Are there clichés that could be replaced with fresher observations?
Recommended Reading
Excerpt: “The Third and Final Continent” by Jhumpa Lahiri (Interpreter of Maladies)
This story masterfully combines social and cultural details with a nuanced tone to reveal the protagonist’s character and relationships, particularly within his marriage.
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