Monday, May 18, 2009
I imagine Lisa as someone that doesn't take no for an answer. She is manipulative and just plain mean, although she can appear as the essence of kindness. She will be nice to a friend when in her company but complain about her to other friends. If confronted, she will deny doing such a thing and convince you that it must be the other person causing the problem.
She probably married a wonderful man that thinks she is perfect. Her step-children however are painfully aware of the reality of her demeaning and demanding personality. She treats them as second rate and expects them to do more than their share of household responsibilities. In front of her husband, she is always careful to treat everyone in the most appropriate manner leaving her husband to wonder why anyone would take issue with her. If the children try to tell their father of her cruelty, they are not believed and she makes life more miserable. She can switch from the nastiest tone to the voice of a songbird in an instant with the answering of a ringing phone.
Of course her house is always presentable because she demands it of the children, although it is never good enough. The child she shares with her husband of course is not submitted to the same treatment. She only wears the finest clothes her credit cards will allow, which means the majority of her wardrobe is actually knockoffs. Her closet is organized and uncluttered. She is a master of returning items she no longer wants, usually well past the deadline. The manager of the store will usually give in to her demands to avoid the inevitable and familiar scene. s
She can't tolerate those that smoke. You can always find her with an assortment of gum and mints in the only authentic designer case she owns which is reserved solely to hold her minty treasures. She is quick to share her treats, reinforcing her obvious facade believing that it impresses.
She rarely drives the sporting equipment filled van. She prefers her regularly detailed used Mercedes. It is old but not a previously popular model. No matter though as just the name is of importance and she always refers to it as "the Mercedes".
Her fake nails are always manicured to a gaudy perfection which gives her a self-believable justification for not being able to perform any duty she finds distasteful.
(I can't do exercise 27 yet) I look forward to seeing how this character develops. I do not know anyone quite like this although I have experienced many of the feeling she invokes in others I think.
She probably married a wonderful man that thinks she is perfect. Her step-children however are painfully aware of the reality of her demeaning and demanding personality. She treats them as second rate and expects them to do more than their share of household responsibilities. In front of her husband, she is always careful to treat everyone in the most appropriate manner leaving her husband to wonder why anyone would take issue with her. If the children try to tell their father of her cruelty, they are not believed and she makes life more miserable. She can switch from the nastiest tone to the voice of a songbird in an instant with the answering of a ringing phone.
Of course her house is always presentable because she demands it of the children, although it is never good enough. The child she shares with her husband of course is not submitted to the same treatment. She only wears the finest clothes her credit cards will allow, which means the majority of her wardrobe is actually knockoffs. Her closet is organized and uncluttered. She is a master of returning items she no longer wants, usually well past the deadline. The manager of the store will usually give in to her demands to avoid the inevitable and familiar scene. s
She can't tolerate those that smoke. You can always find her with an assortment of gum and mints in the only authentic designer case she owns which is reserved solely to hold her minty treasures. She is quick to share her treats, reinforcing her obvious facade believing that it impresses.
She rarely drives the sporting equipment filled van. She prefers her regularly detailed used Mercedes. It is old but not a previously popular model. No matter though as just the name is of importance and she always refers to it as "the Mercedes".
Her fake nails are always manicured to a gaudy perfection which gives her a self-believable justification for not being able to perform any duty she finds distasteful.
(I can't do exercise 27 yet) I look forward to seeing how this character develops. I do not know anyone quite like this although I have experienced many of the feeling she invokes in others I think.
3 Comments:
Your description of Lisa is great - I totally can picture her tapping those nails in impatience.
This is a terrific examples of the power of story "archetypes" -- your update of Lisa's life taps into a storyform -- a common plot -- that has played an important role in so many stories -- from the earliest oral tales to contemporary novels: the "evil stepmother." What this says, I think, is something about where those archetypes come from -- we tell stories about these kinds of people because they are real, and can cast long shadows over our lives!
Christine, that's great!I'm glad I was able to create an image in someone's mind with words. I was afraid I was going on and on about my poor little hurt feelings.
Ray, I love the way you said that people can cast long shadows over our lives. So True, So True! Those are excellent words to describe relationships from our pasts. Shadows. The impressions they leave are intangible realities whether for good or bad. Shadows? hmmmm I think I like it. I may even borrow it.
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