Answers to Blister’s Questions:

1. What is being born?

The repeated phrase “something wants to be born” throughout the story is symbolic and open to interpretation. Here are two possible answers:

• Literally: It could represent the literal birth of a new species. Blister and the other women might be carrying a new form of life, and the story hints at a potential connection between the women, the changing environment, and the “blisters” they develop.
• Figuratively: It could symbolize a metaphorical rebirth or transformation. This interpretation connects to the story’s themes of change, adaptation, and the cyclical nature of life and death. The “something” being born could represent a new way of life, a new understanding of the world, or even the acceptance of the inevitable.

Ultimately, Russell leaves the meaning ambiguous, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions.

2. Pity for the man?

The man Blister transports seems pitiful in his fear and desperation. However, Russell doesn’t portray him with complete sympathy. He represents a clinging to the old ways, a refusal to accept the changes in the environment and the women’s evolving role. His presence at the “cemetery” and his fear of death further emphasize this point.

Russell might be using him to symbolize:

• Resistance to change: The man represents those who cannot adapt to the new reality, clinging to the past and fearing the unknown.
• Exploitation of nature: He might represent the old ways of exploiting the environment, which has contributed to the current situation.

3. Blister’s fate?

The story’s ending is deliberately ambiguous. Blister dives into the water, and the final line, “I close my eyes,” leaves her fate unclear. It could be interpreted in a few ways:

• Literal death: She might have drowned, succumbing to the harsh environment or sacrificing herself for something larger.
• Metaphorical transformation: Blister’s closing her eyes could symbolize a metaphorical death, a shedding of her old self and embracing the transformation.
• Open ending: Russell leaves the ending open-ended, allowing readers to decide what they believe happens to Blister.

4. Question for class discussion:

The story raises many questions for discussion. Here’s one suggestion:

• What is the significance of the setting, New Florida, and the environmental changes it has undergone? How does it connect to the characters and the themes of the story?