How I Met My Husband

Alice Munro's How I Met My Husband left me feeling very uncomfortable at several parts throughout the short story.  I do, however, admire Munro's use of characterization.  Every character is given such a unique and clearly distinguishable identity and traits.  When describing Loretta Bird at the dreadful scene in which Edie is being accused of being "intimate" with Chris, it is stated that "She was swollen up with pleasure at being in on this scene" (Munro, 144).  This sentence alone tells the reader that Mrs. Bird is a nosy, gossipy woman.  She thrives in the drama of and rumors about others.  Throughout the majority of the story, Munro described Mrs. Peebles' character to be very snooty and stuck up.  She complained about how she was tied down with children, even though she was unemployed and had hired someone else (Edie) to WATCH her children.  She was always judging farmers of the area in which they were living, and never seemed happy with what she had.  It was, therefore, very surprising when she came to Edie's rescue at the end of the story.  She contradicted her previous, shallow characteristics, and showed great compassion and protection for Edie.