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The Night Nurse

            After reading Joyce Carol Oates story " The Night Nurse" it was obvious that the main plot was that of revenge. The author did a wonderful job using rising action to set up the plot in the beginning of the story. As the story begins with the main character Grace Burkhardt collapsing of an unknown ailment, you can sense the fear that has enveloped her entire being. The author's excellent use of exposition to set up the background information for the remainder of the story was also quite extraordinary. .
             As the story progresses you are able to see the transformation of Grace from that of a woman of great confidence to a person suffering from great internal desperation. You are able to feel the conflict that is raging within her as she suffers from the unknown reason for her collapse and admission to the hospital.
             As the second character nurse Harriet is introduced into the story, the author does a great job of establishing the conflict that was the main focus of the piece. The way that she ties Grace and Harriet's relationship of 20 years ago is the key to the climax of the story. It was how she brought in the subplot of revenge, it presented a way for Harriet to payback Grace for was she felt was her total disregard for her as a person and a friend during their college days decades before. Grace's request for assistance was ignored by Harriet the night nurse to show Grace what is was liked to be ignored. .
             The resolution of this story shows that the worst pain a person can withstand, is being the person that is left out of life, isolated and alone.
            


Essays Related to The Night Nurse

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... patients that needed her. It was a career that allowed her to meet with families and offer them hope. As I followed my grandma through the day, I realized that I wanted to be a nurse. I wanted to make a difference for people. I wanted to see the smile on someone's face when I helped him or her with their every day needs. I wanted to make a difference and feel good about ... myself. I wanted to become a nurse so that I to could come home at night knowing that I was helping people. Becoming a nurse is rewarding. It is challenging at times, but when you see a patient able ... pride that y...

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2. The Last Legion

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3. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

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4. Nurse Ratched - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

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5. One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest

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6. The Salem Witch Trials

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7. One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest

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8. Oates' Use of Plot Devices in The Night Nurse

... In Joyce Carol Oates' story The Night Nurse', the author does a magnificent job incorporating many, if not all, of the plot devices described in Meyer. From foreshadowing to flash back and the authors use of suspense, readers are held captive from the moment the story begins. Oates integrates plot devices from the opening scene using the technique, in medias res. By plunging the reader into a crucial situation that ... thoughts of what could be construed as miscellaneous fears begin to trickle into Grace's mind. Such as the idea that what would happen if perhaps the night nurse withheld h...

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9. Waking Up in the Hospital

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