Student+Responses+-+A+Pair+of+Jeans

Writing Assignment: What are your thoughts and feelings after having read this story?

Please do not write an "I liked it" or "I didn't like it" type response. Instead, respond to the content of the story itself. What did the story make you think about? What feelings do you have about the events or characters in the story? Did anything confuse you? Is there anything you would like to know more about?

Please remeber to sign your name with 4 times ~ to your response.

I prefer the second ending, because Miriam takes her fate into her hands. She has a right to live a European lifestyle. She loves Farook and it's their decision to marry or not! It fits with her character because she is described as a self-confident young woman! Linda

I like the kind of open ending (second end). The reader can guess what the protagonist, Miriam, will do - she will fight for her future with Farook and she will stand up for her modern lifestyle. 1271880843

Like Paul I like the open ending, as it leaves the reader space to think. I also like the story because it describes the life of a girl who has not decided to live either the one or the other way, but tries to live with both of her sides. And even if it gets tense at times, she stands up and fights for her decision. [|aninha.k.m]

I think the story is a little too generic with his themes and how its handles them to be a very good story, but the idea with the two endings is great and gives it a push in the right direction, especially because they aren't easy to predict. For my understanding of how things in life work, the protagonist is not as self-confident and independent as the author is trying to sell her to the audience; she's still very close to the Pakistani traditions and values. 1271946022

At first I didn't like the two ends, because they confused me a bit as you have to go back in the story and undo the first end. But also I like the open endings because of the free choice of your thoughts and feelings. I think the story is all in all (like gabriel said) a little generic and in this time of "multi-culturalism" it doesn't create the same effect in the readers mind as it did twenty years ago. (Gottfried L.)

I liked the second ending, because it shows that Miriam takes her fate into her own hands. It shows that she has her own opinion and that she doesn’t just go along with her situation. Her self-confident character is clearly obvious, and that’s why I liked the story. (Theresa Kramm)

What I like in this story is the way Miriam acts in the second ending. She has her own way of living and shows it to others. Instead of giving up her future, she goes to Farook in her "western life-style look" to change her own future. (yaha1)

Like Gottifried I did not like the two endings. In the end, there is always one decision and not two. One decision one aim. The open end is obvious, but I find the story could still have gone on a little bit further. I prefer the ending in which she throws away her clothes. The other ending is too solemn and insightful. 1271953972

I think Miriam is in a very difficult position because she is caught between two cultures. And for that I prefer the second ending. Miriam takes the situation into her own hands and she acts how she wants to. (AntoniaK.)

I think the story is interesting because it shows two different ways that immigrants deal with their traditions. The two endings let us assume how Miriam will react. If Miriam fights for her cause,she will be behaving rather like a Western woman. If she accepts her fate, she will be reacting more like a modest Muslim woman. So the two endings let the reader guess how much Miriam has adapted to her Western environment. //Written by Johannes S//