Struggle In 'Swimming Upstream And Traplines'

Anna Nguyen

Mr. Frattarelli

NBE3UE-01

26 October 2015

(Creative title) In “Swimming Upstream” and “Traplines” the problems that the characters face differ, however they both experience the same feeling of being trapped and being constantly lost through their struggles. This theme is evidently present through the lifestyle of Will in “Traplines” because of the repetitive, negative lifestyle that he and his friends are forced through every day. Will and his friends are trapped in a community with little to no options on how to live their life which is why they are forced to spend a majority of their time at the Rinkydink, “I leave the Rinkydink and go for a walk, I walk and walk and end up back in front of the Rinkydink. There nowhere else to go. I hung out with Craig, who hasn’t left the pool table” (Robinson 467). The negative routine that Will must face every day has also contributed to him feeling trapped. Most of the negativity struggles that Will encounters is found in his home from his family because of the poor living conditions, violence, and drug abuse. The history of abuse, Will’s father abuses Eric and Eric abuses Will, has created a trapped environment for Will because he is constantly experiencing both physical and emotional pain. The feeling of being hopeless

She thought of all the things she should have done to prevent Simon’s leaving. She should have placated Tony; she should have lived alone; she should have pretended to be straight; she should have never became an alcoholic; she should have never loved; she should have never been born. Let go! She cried somewhere inside her. ‘Let go!’ she cried aloud.” (Swimming Upstream 161)

Anna May is trapped in her internal conflict because she blames herself for everything and she can’t seem to let it go. In both stories, “Swimming Upstream” and “Traplines” the characters are faced with the daily struggles and obstacles that leave them feeling trapped and hopelessly