Lorrie Moore
p352
If the life of Zoe Hendricks was to be summed up into one word, it would be ironic. To begin, Zoe is completely unsatisfied with almost every aspect of her life, yet she does little to actually change it. She is not happy with her job situation, and the insertion of comments made by students in italics show the toll that it takes on her mental situation. "Just because Professor Hendricks is from Spain doesn't give her the right to be so negative," (354). Zoe is also uncomfortable with her living conditions in her "mint-green ranch house," (357). For some reason, she is restless within the house and cannot seem to furnish it in a manner that suits her. Also, the color of the house implies its ordinariness; mint-green is a pastel, almost bland, color which is suggestive of the boring and simple nature of Zoe's own life. Zoe's wardrobe of "gray-green corduroy" also suggests this idea (356). To add to her plainness, Zoe's physical appearance is not exactly extravagant either.
Another ironic aspect of Zoe's life is that for having such a strong personality, she is incredibly insecure. Her insecurities are so prevalent that it suggests that her sarcastic interaction with others is to make up for her own shortcomings. For example, all of the three men that she dated while in Illinois were pushed away by her own doing. Zoe complains about not having anyone significant within her life besides her sister, yet she is the one who does not allow a relationship to form. Zoe's own misery comes directly from her own doing. To put it in cliche terms, she is her own worst enemy.
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