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topbob's review
4.0
I can’t quite give five stars—- but this is a wholesome and uncomfortable story about unconditional love, but also the dangers of an early spiritual death (the clay), and I adore the ending. The symbolism was also fun to unpack because I thought the themes were good. Good stuff Joyce!
leah_markum's review
2.0
It seems sweet and simple by itself. Maria is an ordinary soul--though independent for a woman of her place and time--who organizes people's lives and lives tightly herself. She wishes the best for everyone, including feuding brothers she once nursed. She nearly cries over losing a plum cake on the tram, in part because of the two-and-four pence she spent on it, but also because she was so intent on offering it to her family friends. There are Halloween games, plain contrasts between Catholicism and Protestantism like reading the Bible in public after an omen and being surprised that Protestants can be genteel.
However, the story doesn't mean much by itself. I took a hint from someone's review and looked at Sparknotes to get the context. It's part of a much larger work, and Maria is meant to be a contrast to another female lead that's the opposite of her; the other woman emphasizes drama and major decisions. I would likely appreciate Clay more within the original work.
Another point that's important to know is what clay symbolizes. In the Halloween game, Maria touches a heap of clay. I had to look up why the other characters got upset at the young girls that set up the game. Apparently clay symbolizes an early death. Maria takes this literally and visits her Bible, but other sources point out that it symbolizes the death of Maria's soul since she doesn't live freely and feel broader joys.
I disagree. Many people enjoy simple lifestyles, which the story hints at in the beginning. Maria enjoys her small body, caring for others, and devising the best way to get the most done. It's naturally. It's simply her personality. It'd be forced and uncomfortable for her to live, say, for adrenaline or being the center of attention. Perhaps she could use more art, poetry, romance, or some other vehicle to enrich her life, but those things would be additions and not replacements to the traits and habits other analyses suggest make Maria's spirit dead.
I read more in interpretations of this story than the amount of content in the story, so I can't say it stands alone enough for me to like it; just the sweet and simple cliche.
However, the story doesn't mean much by itself. I took a hint from someone's review and looked at Sparknotes to get the context. It's part of a much larger work, and Maria is meant to be a contrast to another female lead that's the opposite of her; the other woman emphasizes drama and major decisions. I would likely appreciate Clay more within the original work.
Another point that's important to know is what clay symbolizes. In the Halloween game, Maria touches a heap of clay. I had to look up why the other characters got upset at the young girls that set up the game. Apparently clay symbolizes an early death. Maria takes this literally and visits her Bible, but other sources point out that it symbolizes the death of Maria's soul since she doesn't live freely and feel broader joys.
I disagree. Many people enjoy simple lifestyles, which the story hints at in the beginning. Maria enjoys her small body, caring for others, and devising the best way to get the most done. It's naturally. It's simply her personality. It'd be forced and uncomfortable for her to live, say, for adrenaline or being the center of attention. Perhaps she could use more art, poetry, romance, or some other vehicle to enrich her life, but those things would be additions and not replacements to the traits and habits other analyses suggest make Maria's spirit dead.
I read more in interpretations of this story than the amount of content in the story, so I can't say it stands alone enough for me to like it; just the sweet and simple cliche.
ziva's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
anastasiarozova's review against another edition
3.0
*Read for class.
Read this for me Translation class. It's a very short story, but for some reason I quite liked it.
Read this for me Translation class. It's a very short story, but for some reason I quite liked it.
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