Character Study

April Wheeler:
April is a emotional, confused, and dramatic character. She is an average suburban wife and mother, and she acts in a failure of a play. Not only does April work in the drama department, but she also creates the most unnecessary drama in every aspect of her life. One day April despises her husband and swears that she will leave him, the next day she is passionately in love with her husband, and then the next day she is quietly depressed and unsatisfied with her life. She even tells her husband that she does not love him; "I don't love you and I never really have, and I never really figured it out until this week, and that's why I'd just as soon not do any talking right now" (Yates 358). Part of me thinks that April is a dynamic character because her emotions are constantly changing, but it is almost like a cycle that she goes through, and that makes me think of her as a static character. Throughout the novel the reader learns that April suffered from a very difficult childhood with absent parents and a lack of attention. Now, these childhood memories seem to haunt every decision that April makes. Also, April is very pretentious and believes that she lives among people that are not worldly enough to understand her. For this reason, she wants to move to Paris with her husband and kids. April has a false sense of reality and is similar to a child in the way that she throws many tantrums and always tries to appear more mature than she actually is.

Frank Wheeler:
Frank is an average businessman who lives a dull life. Nothing seems to excite Frank, and he longs for a more interesting job in a more interesting world. Throughout the entire novel, Frank complains of his job, "Actually it's sort of a stupid job. I mean there's nothing - you know, interesting about it, or anything," (Yates 255), but he never does figure out what he wants to do. Frank is madly in love with his wife, April, but he is not the most faithful of husbands. He has an ongoing affair with a younger woman who works at his office. Despite this, Frank loves his wife, mostly because she makes everyday a new adventure. April drives him up and down, left and right, and Frank is always too angry or in love to be bored. Like April, Frank longs to move to Europe and "find himself", because he thinks that Americans just aren't good enough to be associates with. Frank remains a static character throughout most of the novel, but at the end of the novel he goes through a drastic change. April dies, and because of this, all of the life is sucked out of Frank. He was at first an enthusiastic, lively man, but he changes to a hollow, lifeless man.

Mrs. Givings:
Helen Givings, the Wheeler's real estate agent and neighbor, is the town busybody. She has to know everything about everyone, and she is constantly full of gossip. She also judges everybody, and it seems as though nobody can live up to her standards. I think that she is one of the most amusing characters because she is so fake. Shortly after April dies she says how much she didn't like the Wheelers, but before she only sucked up to them. "Oh, I was very fond of the Wheelers, but they always were a bit - a bit whimsical, for my taste. A bit neurotic. I may not have stressed it, but they were often very trying people to deal with, in many ways" (Yates 462). I think this quote exemplifies her true nature of being two-faced. But later in the storyline, you learn that Mrs. Givings lives an imperfect life; her husband is just a man that she settled for, her son is in a mental institution, and she doesn't have any real friends. After learning this, I realized that the reason she is so involved in others' lives is because she is so dissatisfied with her own life.

John Givings:
John is the son of Helen, and he is a young man who suffers from a serious mental disorder. John is rude, he has no self-control, but he has a way of always saying the truth. The novel is full of lies and secrets, and John Givings is one of the greatest secrets, because it was such a scandal to have a retarded son. Ironically enough, John is the character who sheds new light on all of the other characters and reveals facts and traits that others want hidden. At one time John says, "I get the feeling she's female. You know what the difference between female and feminine is? Huh? Well, here's a hint: a feminine woman never laughs out loud and always shaves her armpits. Old Helen in there is feminine as hell," (Yates 260). This quote fits in with all of John's other quotes; they are rude and inappropriate, but they are surprisingly true.

Milly Campbell:
Milly is April's best friend and the one constant, sweet, and pure character in this book. She truly loves her friends, family, and life, and she only has people's best wishes at heart. "Milly Campbell dropped her shoes and squirmed deep into the sofa cushions, her ankles snug beneath her buttocks and her uplifted face crinkling into a good sport's smile" (Yates 78). There is always the air of innocence and purity around Milly, because her heart is so kind. Milly is the one ray of hope for living a truly happy life.

Shep Campbell:
Shep is Milly's husband, and he is best friends with Frank. All through the book, Shep longs for April Wheeler because he thinks that she is so elegant and perfect. One time with April, "he would forget everything - his wife, his fear, everything - and go for her all the way," (Yates 347) and that is just what he did. This only happens once, but Shep swears that he is in love with April. I think that Shep represents the stupid fool who always wants what he can't have, and never really appreciates what he does have. He is a foil to his wife, because she appreciates everything surrounding her and only has pure thoughts.

Themes from American Literature

Revolutionary Road takes place in a 1950's American town. The setting is crucial to the many themes that can be connected to the text. One significant theme is the idea that every American wants to seem flawless, so they hide all of there problems or troubles. This theme is present throughout all of the novel, because Frank and April Wheeler epitomize the average suburban Americans who seem to live perfectly lovely lives. However in truth, they both have so many issues with each other and within themselves, that they are very destructive. Leading to another recurring theme about how American society feeds off of scandal and gossip, Frank and April cannot forever pretend like they live these exemplary lives. April ends up attempting to give herself an abortion, when she knew it was extremely dangerous, and she dies along with her unborn baby. Frank is an abusive alcoholic who just becomes a hollow man with absolutely no life after his wife dies. When the ambulance comes down Revolutionary Hill, the Wheelers are the center of the town's gossip. What happened to April? Was it an accident? Does Frank know yet? Although the whole town was mourning her death, they were also enjoying, in a rather sick way, that there was a new scandal to talk about. Even Milly Campbell, who is April's best friend, finds great pleasure in dramatizing and telling the story to anyone who will listen. The idea of society feeding off of scandal also connects to the part of the novel when John Givings attacks his parents and the state troopers are called in for help. Obviously this is another sensitive situation, but the word spreads around town like a speeding bullet. Although this story took place in the 1950's, these two universal truths have been around in American society forever and always will be. People want to seem perfect, so they hide all of their skeletons away in a closet; but these skeletons cannot stay hidden forever, and society feeds off of the latest juicy gossip.

Rhetoric Study

One of the key rhetorical devices that Richard Yates uses is imagery. "But oh God, to be there with April Wheeler. To swing down those streets with April Wheeler's cool fingers locked in his own, to climb the stone stairway of some broken old gray house with her; to sway with her into some high blue room with a red-tiled floor; to have the light husky ripple of her laugh and her voice up there ("Wouldn't you like to be loved by me?"); to have the lemon-skin smell of her and the long, clean feel of her when he - when she - oh Jesus" - (Shep Campbell, 208). This passage is a perfect example of the detailed imagery that Yates uses throughout the novel. He goes into such detail to describe just one of Shep's momentary fantasies. Not only does this imagery help the reader understand the scenery and surroundings, but it also allows the reader to get to know the characters better. For instance, from this passage, I have learned that April has cool skin that smells like lemons, she has a light and rather husky laugh, and April's walk contains many swings and sways. Now these details are so little and seemingly unimportant, but they build up throughout the story to create a character so real that you can imagine April standing right in front of you.
This passage is also a great example of the repetition in sentence structure that Yates loves to include. The third sentence is one long sentence that is broken up by many semi-colons, and after every semi-colon there is an infinitive to lead off the next phrase (i.e. to swing, to sway, to have). I think that this repetition creates a very pleasant tone and makes the novel more enjoyable. In my opinion, this passage from Shep is one of the most important passages in the novel, because it sets the stage for future conflict, and it foreshadows that the Wheeler's will spread their dissatisfaction to their friends like a disease. Yates is so clever in how he writes this passage, because he uses rhetorical devices to emphasize the importance. The imagery and the repetition are used exceptionally well and they help convey the significance of the passage.

A Change of Opinion

In an earlier post, I expressed how much I thought Frank loved April and how April was so cold for not loving Frank back. While I still believe this to be true, Frank no longer shines in the light that he used to. I have read further into the story, and it is now very apparent that Frank has been cheating on his wife. So, who could blame April for not loving her husband?
On a personal note, I feel that April has every right to be an awful person towards her husband. Frank has not admitted that he has been having an affair, and I don't even think that April knows he is having an affair, but she still has a woman's intuition. April knows that something is not right and that she deserves more from her husband. Now one could argue that if April had been a little more compassionate towards her husband, then this whole situation would have been avoided. But where can one draw the line at compassionate enough, or not compassionate enough? This is the age-old question that probably every woman who's ever been cheated on asks herself. She might even blame herself. But April Wheeler is different; she does not blame herself for anything. While this can get annoying, I currently have a huge amount of respect towards her character for this reason.
I also think that Yates was trying to express his view of women's rights through April Wheeler's character. He makes her a strong character, who takes care of the household and makes most of the family's decisions. She even is the one to decide to move to Paris, so that she can work while Frank "finds himself". During the 1950's and 1960's, when this book was written, women were increasingly gaining more respect and power. More and more women were going to college and working before they got married. But I think that Yates is trying to express a more radical view of women's rights. In my opinion, Yates is telling his audience that it should be socially acceptable for women to be the ones to bring home the bacon, and that women are in many ways just as strong as, if not stronger than, men.

Setting and Language

Revolutionary Road is set during the 1950's in a nice Connecticut suburb. Here, Frank and April live in a comfortable house and have two beautiful children. Their lives seem so perfect and this is largely because of where their lives take place. The very peaceful neighborhood that they live in is so dull and ordinary that it seems impossible to lead a scandalous or different life. I almost feel as if the neighborhood is a cult and every homeowner must conform to fit the cult's standards. But as you read further in the book, you find out that numerous scandals go on throughout the neighborhood, such as the story of Mrs. Givings and her mentally challenged son. And on a humorous note, the women discuss the drama while they pretend to be perfect housewives at book club or some other social gathering. I get this vivid picture in my head of two hypocritical women, sipping wine in their living rooms and gossiping over the latest rumors, while they are guilty of even worse sins and will soon be the latest scandal. The neighborhood's whole mirage of perfection is symbolic of the lives of Frank and April. To any outsider, they seem beautiful, happy, and lovely; but to any insider, there is an unexplainable darkness and desire for a better life.
To go along with the seemingly ordinary lives of Frank and April, Richard Yates speaks in a very ordinary tone and does not try to make his writing too frivolous. The language is straight-to-the-point and simple. Once again, I feel like Yates makes it a priority to symbolize the Wheeler's life in the language and setting. Also, when Frank and April get into fights, the novel's tone and pace abruptly changes. Sentences become shorter and more frank, while words become harsher and more cut-throat. I find it fascinating how Yates adjusts the entire novel's tone and pace to the temporary emotions of the characters.

"I'll Be"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeCJn5O3srs&feature=related
This is the song, "I'll Be", by the Goo Goo Dolls, and I think that this song reflects the feelings of Frank Wheeler. In the chorus of the song, they sing "I'll be your crying shoulder," and the whole song is about love and committment to a girl even when their lives are difficult. All that Frank wants is to be there for his wife and be her "crying shoulder", but unfortunately she won't let him. I think that Frank's desperation to love his wife is expressed very well in this song.

A Strange Relationship

I am not entirely sure of what the main plot line is or who the main characters really are, but I am sure of one thing: the relationship between Frank and April is one unlike any other. Frank is a hardworking man in an extremely dull job who is always wanting a more exciting life. April is a striving actress who brings the drama both on and off stage. While both of them yearn for more adventure, they constantly fight rather than work together to make their lives better. Every other page, the couple gets into an outrageous argument that is far from healthy. Frank drinks until he is sick, and he hits April and basically anything that is around him. April screams so loudly that you would think she is dying, but then she goes into a very passive-aggressive state and bottles up all of her anger. The reader can never truly know when she will blow.
Normally this would seem like just a sad, abusive relationship, but there is probably more love between Frank and April than between most other couples. Frank and April both share the same dream and want to get out of the same life, but they just cannot seem to channel their energies into a positive outcome. Moreover, every time that they get into a fight, all Frank wants is to hold and love April. He tries to reason with her and make amends all because he is so in love with her, but she won't seem to listen. April's character is much more complex, but I know that she has lots of love towards her husband. So despite the drinking, beating, anger, and estrangement, they do have a huge amount of love for one another, and I think that this is what makes them an epic couple.

In The Beginning...

So far, I have read the first four chapters of Revolutionary Road. Now this may not seem like much of a feat, but it actually is due to the extremely depressing tone that I feel every time I pick up the book. Now don't get me wrong, I am very interested in the lives of April and Frank Wheeler. The stories of their perfectly ordinary lives draw me in like a moth to a flame, because I feel like everyone can in some way relate to the characters. Do I not live in the suburbs with a seemingly perfect family? Do I not long for a more dramatic life? In just four chapters I have grown to utterly detest the main character, April Wheeler, because I think that she is an insane woman who will never be satisfied. But then, I realize that the true reason I hate her so much is that she is my biggest fear. I am afraid that I will forever be trapped in an ordinary life with no happiness.
I am at the point of the story when the reader is just beginning to understand the characters and learn how they came to be the way that they are. I can tell that the plot is only going to thicken, and that there is much more to Frank and April than what I already know. I look forward to reading more and discovering even more hatred towards April, which I'm fairly certain will happen.