The lesson on the literatury work “Adventure” widened my horizon.

Sherwood Anderson’s
portrayal of Alice Hindman, a woman trapped in the societal expectations and her own
unfulfilled desires, really haunted me. I was also impressed by how Anderson captures the
emotional isolation Alice experiences over 11 years. Despite the great love of a 16-year-old girl
for Ned Currie, he abandons her, leaving her clinging to a ideal future that never materializes.

One of the most memorable aspects of the lesson was understanding Alice’s desperation. The
need to feel loved and touched drives her to irrational behavior which is running naked through
the rain. It’s both sad and profound that she tries to connect with a stranger, only to realize that
“many people must live and die alone, even in Winesburg”. The society might call her a
“damaged goods” because of her long-lasting grief and a wild behavior, but morally and literally
that just makes her a normal human with basic needs, yearning for connections and breaking
free from her loneliness.

The class discussion also had a very interesting question that is “If you were Alice, what would
you do to help you out this tragedy?”. There was a classmate named Luan stated that the
rooting possessiveness of Alice is one of the main factors contributing to her prolonged broken
state. He pointed out the line about the furniture in her bedroom with which she became so
attached that nobody could touch them. It leads to suffering as things change. In line with
Buddhist philosophy, which teaches that nothing truly belongs to us and that everything is
subject to change, failure to accept this reality inevitably leads to suffering, as seen in Alice's
case. I suggest that Alice should practice detachment, releasing her expectations and imagined
ideals in order to focus on the present moment. The more she relinquishes these attachments,
the greater peace she will attain.

1. I don’t entirely agree with this characterization.

“Damaged goods” suggests that Alice’s value is diminished and no longer worth-existing
in the “market” which is the society at that period of history. She has given herself to a
man emotionally, and physically without marriage, which makes her seem like a fault in
the eyes of society, especially in small-town life like Winesburg. Moreover, Alice’s
prolonged emotional waiting combined with her inability to move forward, and a “wild,
desperate mood” when naked running through the rain, contribute to a sense of being
emotionally “damaged”.

Despite the fact that her emotional wounds are severe, it does not mean that she is
“damaged” in a literal or moral sense. These emotions and experiences make her deeply
 human rather than a goods that is entirely broken. Anderson portrays her as a woman
who yearns for connection and meaning. Alice’s actions, such as running through the
rain naked, symbolize her desire to break free from her loneliness, though society might
perceive these actions as the behavior of someone damaged. In reality, she is trapped in
societal expectations and personal disillusionment, but this doesn't diminish her worth.

The author’s portrayal of Alice is more empathetic rather than labelling her “damaged
goods”.

2. Yes, she is the one to be blamed for being so naive and possessive about her so-called
love, reinforcing the idea that this love will last forever. This causes a severe tragedy
throughout her spring years when reality cannot meet the delusion and the burning
desire.
On the other hand, that suffering she has come through is not solely from her, but also
from multiple factors, including societal expectations. The social norms of her time,
which limited her opportunities as a woman, play a significant role in her sense of
isolation and emotional stagnation.

3. The ending line “to face bravely the fact that many people must live and die alone, even
in Winesburg” reflects the core isolation in Winesburg, a close-knit community, where
one might follow the norms to expect strong interpersonal bonds between a man and a
woman. This contradiction highlights the loneliness remained in Alice’s personal struggle
and the unfulfilled desire.
Besides, “bravely” facing this truth also implies the necessity of accepting solitude
without despairing or losing hope. To me, this is a development of the character because
it shows that she is now different from her 5-minute-ago self. Alice accepts the fact that
not all people’s lives meet their own expectations, particularly in this small town. She
might still feel alone, but she is now no longer desperately looking for a man to comfort
her, to love her. Maybe in the future, she will learn to love herself, and let herself be
loved by her.

4. “Adventure” is a deeply ironic title. Alice’s life is marked not by thrilling exploits, but by
quiet, internal turmoil. This adventure is not a journey outward into the world, but a
journey exploring inward. The title emphasizes that even the most ordinary lives, like
Alice’s, contain profound internal journey. She discovers what love is, goes through all
the emotional stages, suffers from tragedy, and meets herself in this adventure. Alice’s
brief attempt to break free from her isolation by running naked in the rain is her version
of an adventure.