The Short Story Series #2: Haircut

#2: Haircut by Ring Lardner

A simple day, a simple haircut, a story that will shake the town. Could a death really be more than it was thought to be? Don't think this is a serious, morbid, story - it's not.

What I most enjoyed about "Haircut" was the narrator. In the beginning of the story, I could clearly envision myself sitting down for a haircut and the barber doling out the story of Jim Kendall, the comical, somewhat mischievous, and recently deceased town jokester. It was so easy to get lost in the story, and it was such a quick transition back to reality, with the last line - "Comb it wet or dry?" I also appreciated the normal, somewhat comical life story of Jim. The sudden climax at the end was a bit predictable, but enjoyable nonetheless. The first person narration added a special touch to the story, as it was recalled entirely from the memories of the barber, who was purposely unbiased. 

Point of view serves as the perfect complement to Lardner's "Haircut," mostly because it adds a very realistic touch to the story. First person is usually very simple, but I believe it is slightly more complex in this situation, merely because the entire story is memories not in the form of personal anecdotes, but as accounts of the rude and humorous feats of the deceased Jim Kendall. Symbolism was also present throughout the story, through Jim Kendall. He represented the common man, one who has made mistakes in his life, but takes the days as the come, making the most of them, although not always in the most productive way.

My favorite character would probably be the narrator. That barber could be anyone. But he is merely represented as a common man, just passing the time, telling the new man in town of the recently deceased most popular man in town. He was unbiased, simple, and relatable, and that is what made him so likeable. I certainly would not mind sitting down for a haircut with him because he was the type of person who you could listen to all day. I envisioned him as an old man, full head of white hair, somewhat like Ernest Borgnine. His smile lit up the room, his grandchildren loved him. He was just one of those characters that you could read like the front page of the Sunday times.