Complexity and Ambiguity of Haircut :: Haircut

complexity and Ambiguity of Haircut Many critical commentators have pointed out that Ring Lardners exceed build was done in the field of satiric clowning. Sometimes his work was more(prenominal) satirical than comic, and sometimes vice versa. His short taradiddle, Haircut, is definitely an power of the former, because within the satire of Haircut are some undoubtedly repulsive and tragic elements. The story concerns the events in a small unnamed Michigan township as told by a barber while he is excision a clients hair. He tells of the death of Jim Kendall, a practical joker whose comedy and other actions leave virtue much desired, and who is killed by a purportedly accidental shooting during a hunt. The only clear theme of the story involves the satirizing of smug small town values, portrayed through Whiteys narration. In this idea I will show how the character of the barber illustrates these deficient values, and how these format the stage for a traditional interpretation of Haircut -- one where Jim is deserving of his fate. Finally, I will contrast this interpretation with other critical interpretations, which argue that Lardners take is not so clear, but obfuscated by ambiguity. The Small Town neaten and Traditional Interpretation From the outset of the story we observe the uneducated and stupefied qualities of the barber, whose name we learn is Whitey. His muddled language, full of diction and syntax errors, at once make the reader skeptical of his reliability. In the opening sentences, for example, Whitey says You dope see for yourself that this aint no New York City and besides that, the most of the boys whole kit and caboodle all day and dont have no leisure to drop in here and get themselves all prettied up. The conversational language of the small town, alter with slang and bad pronunciation, riddles the entire narration. Whitey says, I bet they was more laughin done here than any town its size in America, and hed be settin in this chair part of the time, and shed divorced him only they wasnt no jeopardy to get alimony and she didnt have no way to take wish well of herself and the kids. This suspicion of Whiteys trustworthiness and character is further characterized by his interpretations of events.