One of the hardest things in life is stepping out of your comfort zone.
The day that you step out of your comfort zone anything can happen, and that is intimidating; who says that you will like the change? But at some point everybody will have to take the leap, and in the personal essay “My Little Bit of Country’ we hear the story of Susan Cheever, and how she was forced to take the leap. My Little Bit of Country” is build up chronologically, so in the start of the story we hear about Cheever as a young girl, “my earliest memories are of summer mornings in Central Park” (11. 2), and at the last page she has two children at their twenties. We can also see that the text move forward in time with these quotes, “Later in my life”, (1. 140), and mt’ears later, I raised my children in Central Park”, (11.
159-160). As a result of this Structure we are able to see how her life formed, and we can follow the changes that occurred through the years. Cheever is very fond of New York City which she describes as, a romantic place, a place of dreams” (11. 37-39) “the magical city/’ (1. 86), and these quotes are just a fraction of those that she uses.On every page she has a positive adjective or a description which glorifies the city. She is particular fond of Central Park.
Central Park is her “full-blown love affair” (1. 70). New York and Central Park is her home. Her parents decide to “migrate” out of the city and into the suburbs. She does not like the decision of movinb which she often states in the personal essay. Also, by the fact that she takes every opportunity she has to take the train back to the city, and later in her life, she moves back into the city, and has children which she swears to raise in Central Park, clearly supports her desire for the ity.Cheever has to step out of her comfort zone, and make up a life in the suburbs even though she does not want to.
It is a tough time growing up especially for Cheever, therefore one of the themes of the essay will be ‘growing up’. Parts of the essay focus on her childhood, and her longings for city life she was forced to leave. A central part of the essay is therefore ‘country vs. city’. The main contrast in the personal essay is city life versus suburban life. Cheever has definitely made up her mind of what she prefers; she chooses the city life second to none.It is not that she hates the suburbs, although she may find it a bit dull, too quiet and she finds it a bit terrifying, “l have to confess that in the real country, far from other people and the cozy hum of electric generators and the clatter of traffic, I am often frightened.
The nights are impossibly dark, and animal noises from the deep woods, terrify me. Nature in the country is not so cute. I feel utterly defenseless. ” (II. 284-295) this is her description of the “real” country.
Here is her description of New York, Central Park, “l long for the safety of the city, where nature is so eautifully and spectacularly kept on a leash. … ) I long for the natural wonderland that is wild enough to delight and tame enough to enjoy the wonderland called Central Park” (295-305) in other words, the city is where she belongs. She has enough country in Central Park; it is hers little bit of country. It is not everyone, though, who would consider the city as an ideal place to live. On the website goincountry.
com we can see some of the benefits by living in the “real” country. One of the main points is the fact that there is a lot of nature, and this has a positive and calming effect on your ody.You are also able to break away from other people, which can de-stress and reduce tension. The text claims that there is a higher interest of living in the country among families with children. This was also the case for Cheever. Her parents, after having born their second child, chose to migrate out of the city and out to the country. Though living up in the country is good for mind and soul it is not ideal to everyone.
Cheever finds it too quiet and lonesome. She has gotten use to be around other humans, and the separation does her no good.The personal essay “My Little Bit of Country’ is from the anthology Central Park (2012). The readers of these kinds of stories can therefore be New Yorkers, and those who are interested in New York.
Maybe they want to read how others see their homes, and those who live in the suburbs can read about New York City. Another type of reader can be the parents who think about moving to the suburbs, but have not yet made up their minds. This way, they can read how a typical child of New York reacts when forced to leave the city.
Susan Cheever loved her magical childhood in the big city, and hat made her who she is; a city-dweller. Her identity was formed in New York when she was a child, and getting moved out of her safety-zone to the suburbs has made her think of the country life as something unsafe. She needed her little safety-zone which in her case was Central park; her own little bit of country. Some people want pure nature and wide open spaces in the country while other people want the loud, busy city life; but no matter what, everybody needs something that defines their identity and something secure to hold on to; a little bit of country.
