Analysis ”the Right Time to Fly” by Shirley Golden

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However, we do not know what Marcus is going to do next: “…he lifts his gaze to where the radiator remains. And damn it, he must be at the oddest angle because it looks just like a pair of wings.” (ll. 168-170)

Characters

The most important characters in the short story “The Right Time to Fly” by Shirley Golden are Marcus and Suzy. In what follows, we will look at their outer and inner characterization as well as their relationship.

Marcus

Marcus is one of the main characters in the short story, whose point of view the narrator uses frequently.

Outer characterisation

From his outer characterisation, we find out has been working for ten years at a landfill, a place where waste is gathered and scraped. The man is twenty-nine but looks older than his age from Suzy’s perspective:

“See, old man mentality. Suzy.”

He holds out his hand. “Twenty-nine. Marcus.” (ll. 76-77)

Also, Marcus used to be married and had a boy, but most probably his wife had left him after his boy had accidently fallen off the balcony when Marcus was supposed to watch him (ll. 85-90).

Some of his physical traits are only presented at the end, through his reflection in the water and through the photos Suzy took of him: “In the water, his reflection hits him, clear and hard. He’s a ghoul, a shadow. He feels ancient – she was right. He needs a hair cut too.” (ll. 154-155); “In the next he is closer, eyes narrowed, mouth in a tight line, looking mean. Lastly, there are shots of her injury with him in the background, plaster in hand, his expression different, softer.” (ll. 159-161)

Inner characterization

Marcus’ inner characterization initially introduces us to a rather serious, grumpy man, irritated by the student trespassing to take photos at the landfill. His stiffness is indicated by the way he interacts with her: “Don’t care. I’m this close to chucking that thing on the heap with the rest of the junk. How many times do I have to tell you, this is a restricted area?”” (ll. 15-16)

From Suzy’s perspective, he has the manners of “an old man” (l. 71).

Also, the way the setting is described from Marcus’ perspective indicates that he is not capable of seeing beauty in the landfill as Suzy does, and cannot understand her desire of taking photos of waste: “Damn it, why can’t she take photos of nature, of things of beauty?” (ll. 37-38)

During the second interaction with Suzy at the barge she is temporarily occupying, we discover Marcus feels guilty for the death of his son: “Her words, sharp like a slap: 'Just watch him.' Marcus sulks after another row. Ben plays by the window. Then, an empty space instead. The flutter of net curtains. Silence.” (ll. 91-94)

Furthermore, he acts much more nicely with Suzy, loosening up, trying to understand her. He even helps mend her injury, which leads to a reconciliation between them:

“Hey, Suzy. That barge you’re on, it’s programmed for demolition in a month – thought you should know that.”

“You know, you’re not half bad,” she says. (ll. 148-150)

His change of attitude towards Suzy also suggests that he might be attracted to the young girl: “Part of him hopes she has moved on. Part of him is sorry not to see her.” (ll. 151-152)

In the end, Marcus develops because of his interactions with Suzy, who manages to inspire hope in him, to make him change his perspectives and see beauty in the landfill, as well as the fact that he can still start over his life: “…he lifts his gaze to where the radiator remains. And damn it, he must be at the oddest angle because it looks just like a pair of wings.” (ll. 168-170)

Suzy

Suzy is the second main character in the short story, but an episodic one in the life of Marcus. Her character is rather static; the only thing that changes about her because of the action in the story is her opinion of Marcus. She initially sees him as an “arse-wipe” (l. 13) but realises that he is not “half bad” (l. 150), eventually.

Outer characterization

The woman’s outer characterization indicates that she is a nineteen-year-old student of photography and arts with “cowboy booted feet” (l. 9) and wearing a “slung-on denim jacket” (l. 10). She also has a “pixie face and a heap of rust-colored hair” (l. 51), and is deemed attractive by the other landfill workers: “'I’d like to sort her… ' ” (l. 25)

Furthermore, it is also implied that Suzy’s father is either dead, or her parents are separated: “'You sound like Mum’s latest bloke – what a bore.'” (l. 102)

Inner characterization

Her inner characterization reveals a typical youngster student, who does not care much for rules (she trespasses the landfill) and is still figuring out what adult life is about and what she wants to do: ““I’m nineteen. I’ll be… I’ll do whatever I like.” She shakes her head. “Don’t you remember how to wing it, how to have fun?”” (ll. 103-105)

Suzy is quite straightforward in expressing her opinions about Marcus and comes across as free-spirited and unconventional because she chooses to stay in a barge and thinks she can find beauty in a landfill: “Imbedded in the tangle is a radiator half-folded, its corners point towards the sky. “It’s like a pair of wings, waiting for release, for the right time to fly,” she says.” (ll. 113-115)

In the end, the fact that she leaves the landfill barge but leaves Marcus an envelope with photos of him and an encouraging message, indicates her sympathy for the man and her desire to help him, even if only through a kind word: “On the back, scribbled in bubble letters: Not too old to start over. He tucks the photos inside his pocket.” (ll. 161-163)

The relationship between Marcus and Suzy

The relationship which develops between Marcus and Suzy is crucial for the development of the plot and implicitly, the short story’s themes.

Initially, the two characters are in conflict because of their external position: Marcus is a landfill worker, and Suzy is a trespassing