Creative Response D: Melanie (Captured by The Indians) & Philip (Killing Babies)

[ Phone call to Philip's clinic - phone conversation Between Philip and Melanie ]

Philip:Hello?

Melanie: Hi, Philip? It's Melanie.

Philip: Oh, hello! Have you told Sean the big news yet?

Melanie: Not yet. I keep meaning to, but I never seem to be able to fit it in to our schedule...so many things have been going on around here. How's your brother? Has he coped with all those crazy protestors yet?

Philip: Yeah, hes doing his best, kinda tough to come from such a sweet life in cali to here you know? Well, have you come to a decision about the baby?

Melanie: I don't know. I'm not sure if Sean would want to keep it, we want to get a few things settled, and he's so busy with school and his degree - we just dont have time. But what scares me the most is those crazy people that you face everyday - I don't want to deal with that kind of pain and pressure...I'm really scared...

Philip: Well, I completely understand your worries. However, this decision is your own, not Seans or the protestors - it's your body.

Melanie: I know, that's the hard part about it. I have to be the one to say whether or not a baby gets to live or not. It's so hard.

Philip: Just spend a while thinking about it, and TELL SEAN MELANIE! Plus, I think I have a story that should help you out with your choice.

Melanie: Haha, well?

Philip: Well, my brother, Rick, mentioned this young girl walking into the clinic the other day, strong girl, right through the protestors harsh remarks and evil stares. He was impressed with her independent courage, at such a young age, you know?

Melanie: Right, I completely agree.

Philip: So, he called her! Just to tell her that he fully supports her and is proud of her courageous acts. How crazy, huh?

Melanie: Yeah, that guys nuts! haha! But, I do see his concern. Walking into such a different aptmosphere with all those nut bags and witnessing young women taking this kind of pressure and treatment can be quite a shock. I guess I can relate to him you know? He keeps a lot of his feelings inside - doesn't share a lot - only when he's pushed over the edge.

Philip: Very true. Well, Just stay strong Melanie, I'm sure whatever you decide should be the right choice.

Melanie: Thanks for all your help, really, you've been a great friend.

Philip: Not a problem. Oh and Melanie, stop beating aroung the bush and tell Sean for God-Sakes!

Melanie: I'm trying my best! Haha, Talk to you soon buddy.Thanks again.

Philip: Anytime.

Creative Response B

Q: Why Does Melanie and Sean listen to Dr. Brinsley-Schneider lecture about human life?
A (T.C. Boyle): Sean is a doctor and Mel is with him. He is interested in what Dr. Schneider has to say about human life. Dr. Schneider talks about how humans are no where close to extinct and that the world is survival of the fittest. Anyone who is under par with everyone else disserves to not make it in the end.
Q: Why are Sean and Melanie not married even though Sean says he wants his Ph. D first?
A: Sean and Melanie are just close friends for now and as the story goes on the trust between the two of them isn’t good enough to be married yet. This and Sean will have his Ph. D in six months and he doesn’t want many interferences.
Q: Why doesn’t Mel tell Sean she is pregnant?
A: She tries her best to tell him. She is afraid that Sean might leave his because they are not married yet and Sean doesn’t want more to deal with in his life. Mel tries to tell him during the entire story but never gets a good time.
Q: Why is there a train killer in the book?
A: The killer is there to make the story more exciting. It brings in a source of worry and conflict in the story. Eventually a man brakes into the apartment building and because they live by a train they think it is him.
Q: Why is the gun Sean owns significant?
A: Sean thinks of the gun as protection and if needed, he will use it on the train killer of anyone else who comes close. Mel thinks of the gun as an insecurity in her life. This comes out then Sean is fighting someone who they think is the train robber. Sean drops the gun and tells Mel to use it, she hesitates and then doesn’t. She is afraid of what could happen from using it.

Creative Response C: Letter to the main character

Dear Melanie,

It seems like you are going through a pretty rough time in your life right now. Especially after the homeless man trying to hurt your neighbor. I think it was very brave what you and Sean tried to do. Being pregnant and still helping to save Sean's life after he's on the ground bleeding was very brave. You may have risked the babies life in order to save his. I think that shows how you view your relationship with Sean. You obviously love Sean very much, and I think after the incident Sean realized this and there was some kind of moment of grace in that. Now that all this is over, I think that it would be a great time to tell Sean about the baby. I understand that you don't think it is the right time because he is still in school, but I don't understand how you can hold back from telling somebody you love something that important. My advice to you would be to tell Sean and see how he reacts. Hopefully it is positive but if not, then just speak to him about it. Your relationship should now be strong enough that you can talk about this without holding anything back. Some other advice I would give to you would be to open up to each other more. I know that is easier said than done, but maybe if Sean knew how you felt about certain things then he would understand why you feel the way you do. For example, if you didn't like that presentation about human life and how are lives really don't matter, then maybe let him know about it. It doesn't have to be an argument, but I think a little bit more honesty will help your relationship. Finally, I really do hope you tell Sean about the baby. As a couple it is something that you should be proud of, and not trying to hide. Maybe it will help open up your relationship a little which will make things a lot easier. Best of Luck and let me know how it turns out.

Theological Response B: Scripture Character Comparison

“Captured by the Indians” has many theological undertones. One character comparison that represents this is the correlation between Melanie and Peter the Apostle. Throughout the story, Melanie continuously struggles to tell Sean that she is pregnant. In chapter 26 of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says to Peter, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times” (Matthew 26: 34). Peter completely denies that he would ever do such a thing, but just as Jesus predicted, he does. Melanie is desperate to tell Sean that she is going to have a baby, but she is nervous about his response. Since Sean is in school, she believes that he will not want her to have the baby until he is done with his dissertation. He is so caught up in his “Theory” that he loses touch with what should really be important. Melanie wishes to have the child, so she tries to wait for the right time to tell Sean so that he will comply. However, in “Captured by the Indians,” she never follows through. Peter the Apostle faces a similar dilemma. While he believes that he has unshakable faith in Jesus, he is told that he will deny being his acquaintance three times before the rooster crows. Peter cannot believe it, and after his third denial, the rooster immediately crows; Peter then goes “outside and [weeps] bitterly” (Matthew 26: 75). Just as Melanie cannot bring herself to tell Sean that she is pregnant, Peter cannot tell other people that he is a follower of Jesus. He was supposed to be the most loyal of Jesus companions and the “rock [on which Jesus] will build [his] church” (Matthew 16: 18), yet he still could not stand by his word and fully embrace his relationship with Jesus. Both Melanie and Peter were scared of what other people thought rather than their own true feelings; Melanie did not want Sean to tell her to abort the baby and Peter did not want to be condemned for being a follower of Jesus. They carry burdens that they know are heavy, but they both cannot fully face their fears (this fear of other people’s opinions of them is also highlighted by Sean, who convinces himself that he agrees with Dr. Brinsley-Schneider’s views on the disposability of human life because of his studies on “Theory”).
One key difference between the stories of Melanie and Peter is that “Captured by the Indians” abruptly ends whereas the Gospel of Matthew continues past this account. The reader never knows when Melanie tells Sean about the pregnancy or what his response will be; however, the reader does know the rest of Peter’s story, and he eventually is crucified just as Jesus was. Both Melanie and Peter are overwhelmed by their situations, but as readers, we do not know whether Melanie overcomes her problem, whereas we do know that Peter does.

Analytical Response C: Story Review

T.C. Boyle’s Captured by the Indians was an interesting story because it made the reader choose sides between the main characters, Melanie and Sean. Sean was focused on the theory of life. He seemed to agree with the harsh lecture given by Dr. Toni Brinsley-Schneider which stated that certain people such as criminals and mentally challenged are not expected to be supported by society because they only impair the success of a population. Melanie on the other hand could not believe this statement to have any truth and often found Sean and his theory hard to deal with. Because the reader was able to understand Melanie’s insights, Melanie’s struggle to tell Sean that she was pregnant became a struggle of the reader as well. I found this connection to be helpful in understanding the plotline of the story. The only confusing part of the novel seemed to be the end when Melanie gives a final account from her book Captured by the Indians. It leaves the reader to interpret how that story related to the life of Melanie, Sean, and their child. The message of the story was that theory cannot compare to the harsh realities of life. This theme is shown as Sean runs outside trying to attack the man who broke into their neighbor’s house. As Melanie views this scene she reflects on the fact that theory cannot help in this situation. It is in this moment that grace is found as Sean steps into a reality in which theory cannot be applied. Melanie also will find grace now that she knows she can no longer wait to tell Sean that she is pregnant. Lastly, this story can be compared to Boyle’s Killing Babies because it involves a theme of the importance of human life and the struggle that often must be overcome to protect it. Also, In Killing Babies the protestors fight to stop the practices at the clinic. Because they are so caught up in the theory of the practice, they cannot see the reality of the harms that pregnancy can sometimes cause the women. Sean is similar to the protestors in that it is difficult for him to see past the theories in his life and he needs an awakening to help him.

Jacqueline Pasulka

Creative Response: C

Dear Rick,
I really enjoy the way your mind plays out things, in such detail. You always seem to have an opinion on something, and the good thing about you is, is that you actually show it. Having been through so much in your life, including your fathers death, this incident seems to just top of the bad luck train. I understand moving into your brother's house, of whom you haven't seen since your father's death, is pretty tough. However, with your kind family taking you in, it seemed as though you had some pretty harsh comments to say about them in your mind all the time! It was as though you constantly thought you were better than everyone else around you, like no one can do as good of a job at something than you! Especially since you were coming from such a big and popular city like LA into a smaller more quaint town, you got a run for your money trying to fit in constantly. Your brother, Philip, on the other hand was very open into letting you stay in his home after being sent by the courts, not out of love. Through your change it seemed as though you took care of yourself a little better and learned to love your brother and his family because you felt as though it was your duty. I respected the fact that you wanted to stick up for that girl, Sally, against all those other people rebelling against abortion. It was good that you picked up on things so quickly and learned to cope with the everyday riots, and didn't budge, not one second thought ran through your mind. It was almost natural to you to be able to ignore such strong protest. However, when the time came and you finally stepped up to the protestors, it seemed to take the occasion out of control. But I have to admit, I did agree with your actions on this one, but as they say "two wrongs don't make a right". It's clear you do care about your family, and that you are destined to be set free from your brothers house and the courts rule, but it also takes sacrafice and patience, all of which you need to find in yourself. Good luck with everything!

Rachel =]

Creative Response B (Interview)

After sitting down in an interview with T.C. Boyle, the author of the short story "Killing Babies" I began to understand what he thinks of his own work. I began the interview by asking him what he thought some the main theme(s) are of the story. His response was most interesting. He stated that his goal of the story and some of the connections he wants his readers to make are simple on the outside but have a deeper meaning. He explained the first theme of not judging somebody without completely knowing them or understanding their situation. He used examples such as the protestors in the beggining of the story because they have judged Rick without even knowing him, by calling him a baby killer. Another example he said dealt with all the characters and their pre-concieved notions of one another that are obvious is the story.
I then went on to ask Mr. Boyle about some of the connections he wants his readers to make. He replied that he wanted his readers to make the connection of the two brothers, and how it relates to the Bible. He told me of some biblical stories that deal with two brothers and their realtionship such as "Cain and Abel," and "The Prodigal Son." Finally, I ended the interview with the question of what his goal of writing this short story is. He explained that he wants his readers to just have something to think about, and make their own connections with their lives and the stories. He ended by saying, "this story is more than just words on paper."

Character Map

"Killing Babies" Interpretive Questions (Analytical B)

1. Why does Philip really keep working at the clinic?
2. If he is so offended at being called a murderer, why does Rick do what he does at the end of the story?
3. Does Rick kill himself after? ("and suddenly I felt like pulling out the gun and shooting myself right then and there" [63])
4. What is the significance of Mr. Beard? What does he represent and why is he so hateful?
5. Do you agree with what the protesters are doing? their cause?
6. Why is Rick so defensive?
7. Why does Philip say "Not again. Not today, of all days" (58)? What was so important about that day?
8. What do Philip's kids think about his job? How are they affected? Do they know what his job is?
9. Was Rick's interest in Sally rational? out of line? Why did he find her so fascinating? Was he just curious, or was there more to his obsession?
10. Is Rick spiritual? What role does God play in the story?