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Alice Munro The Shining House

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The short story “The Shining Houses” written by Alice Munro contrasts disorder, exemplified by Mrs. Fullerton’s ideas about life choices and ways of living, with the order found amongst the residents and community of Garden Place. Firstly, Mrs. Fullerton, a reserved, self-sufficient woman differs from other ladies of the neighbourhood. Her deviations from standard societies rules define disorder. As a widow, she does not succumb to gender typing, claiming that “Sometimes it seems to me about as reasonable a man should go as stay.”(2) Contrary to Mrs. Fullerton’s persona, the ladies of Garden Place, who “sat around the living room, absently holding the balloons”(4) seem almost prop-like, used to support and praise their husbands’ hard

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