In the story, "The Endless Streetcar Ride into the Night and the Tinfoil Noose," the author Jean Shepard describes how all people are born as equals, although somewhere down the stream of life we separate and go on to become either "Official people" or "onlookers" (86). .
He goes on to use a life experience to better describe this. When he was fourteen years old, his best friend Schwartz asked if he would go on a blind date as a favor to him. Although Shepard promised himself never to go out on a blind date he made an exception for his friend. Shepard describes it as "Human Charity" (88).
As most people believe, a blind date is something to be dreaded, so Shepard thought he was doing his blind date a favor by going out with her. But once he meets his "blind date" he is surprised to see that she is a beautiful girl.
As he proceeds to make small talk with the girl he notices that she has no interest whatsoever in carrying a conversation with him. That is when he realizes that she is on a blind date with him. .
Shepard describes that moment by saying he felt himself getting fatter and thinking "I am the one they"re being nice to!" (90). That was the day that he discovered that he was "to become eternally part of the accursed, anonymous Audience?" (86).
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Response.
From reading the story "The Endless Streetcar Ride into the Night and the Tinfoil Noose," Jean Shepard (author) thinks that people fall into two categories, spectators or the main attraction. Or as he states, "One crowd goes on to become the Official people, peering out at us from television screens, magazine covers.". . . . And the rest of us go on to become . . . just us. (86). .
Shepard explains through his experience that there are certain moments in ones life, moments when you realize the truth about the role that you play in this life. He explains how the moment you realize you are a spectator you can't believe it especially when you thought of yourself being a different way.
