Journal Posting #10. Aha! Struck by Realization

In both "The Wife of his Youth" and "Learning to Read" create a moment, so unexpected, in which the reader feels enlightened, reaching that moment of complete understanding mixed with emotions and ponderous thoughts. That Aha Moment. Everyone has experienced it, yet people never take the time to identify the process of such a surprising realization. Although I felt more of a surprising and unforgettable moment in Charles Chesnutt's "The Wife of his Youth," both stories easily created that moment. During "The Wife of his Youth," the story makes you believe that the main character will marry the young, affectionate, attractive and lustful woman whom he hardly knows but deeply admires. Throughout the story it is depicted that Mr. Ryder is older with experience, though still desires the young hearted beauty. Even when the older woman in search of her husband came into the story, I never imagined that Mr. Ryder was the husband that she had been in pursuit of for twenty five years. Such dedication and admiration portrays true love, in which Mr. Ryder discovers at the end of the story. Although he was supposed to ask for the young beauty's hand at the Ball, his Aha moment struck him, where true love lasted over lustful desire. For me, the Aha moment didn't occur until the last moment, where Mr. Ryder states "Permit me to introduce you to the wife of my youth." Such a strong statement and perfect way to end the story. Simplistic yet realistic, the statement brings about an Aha moment for the reader. By ending the story this way, the reader, after being struck by this moment, is able to contemplate on the rest of the story and the process of unexpectedness leading up to it. I admit that I spent the next five minutes after rereading the story to find hidden messages that I had missed the first time. Little clues are placed into the story to lead the reader one way in hopes of that Aha moment occurring. Within Frances Ellen Walker Harper's poem, "Learning to Read," the knowledge I had prior to reading gave me the conclusion that she would never learn how to read simply because slaves were not taught how or allowed to learn. Similarly, it was not until the last stanza where I felt emotionally satisfied to hear that she states that she "never stopped till [she] could read/ the hymns and Testament," emphasizing her hard work and dedication to overcome the "unthinkable." With both stories illustrating dedication, admiration and accomplishment, the Aha moment for the reader not only brought about a new way of interpreting the story, but also allowed the reader to be filled with emotional recognition and realization.