Discussion Question
The Collins English Dictionary describes an epiphany as “a moment of sudden insight or understanding.”
The first-person narrators of “Cell One” and “New York Day Women” and the protagonist of “Everything That Rises Must Converge” all experience an epiphany as a direct result of tensions arising in their respective stories. All three epiphanies are prompted by interactions with and events surrounding a family member.
For this discussion, I would like you to choose one of the three stories we read this week and describe the moment of epiphany that the narrator or protagonist of that story experiences. In your initial post, tell us what you think the narrator or protagonist realizes in his/her moment of epiphany. As you brainstorm, consider the following questions:
What is the direct cause of the epiphany? What lesson is learned, or what insight is gleaned? How is this character altered as a result of this epiphany? What will never be the same?
Keep in mind that the stories do not explicitly describe and explain the nature of the epiphanies—that is for the reader to figure out by reading between the lines. This also makes things fun and interesting, as there is no single right answer, only well-argued conclusions.
To support your claims, please use at least one piece of directly cited textual evidence from your chosen story. In the title of your post, please include the name of the story you chose, along with your name. So, for example: Cell One: Shelley Bingham. This will make it easy for students to identify which story you chose to analyze.
