Cassandra Teo Filus TSL3102 Literary Criticism 22 January 2014

Three Hours between Planes: F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940)

Question 1a: (15 Marks)

i) As a women Nancy, is a wife to Mr. Gifford. Nancy was unable to pursue her
temporary attraction towards Donald as she felt that it was her duty to fulfill her role
as a good wife to Mr. Gifford. The evidence is in line 3, ‘… that isn’t being a good
wife, she said after a minute’. This shows that women must obey their husband.
Meanwhile, Donald is a man and a widower. He is less concern of her condition and
took advantage of the chance on the absence of Nancy’s husband. As he said to her
‘Kiss me once more’, but she rejected him by diverting the subject. This shows that
man is less concern of the consequences of their actions.

ii) From the cultural criticism perspectives, there are two events that reflect the
westerners. One of the events in the story that clearly distinguishes the eastern and
western culture is habit of drinking alcohol as a company for loneliness. Mrs Gifford
uses whisky to compensate her loneliness. This can be found from the story, ‘Have a
highball? She asked. No? Please don’t think I’ve become a secret drinker, but this
was a blue night’. Another event shows the complete distinction between western
and eastern culture is their openness in expressing their feelings. The way they show
their feelings towards each other is too uncluttered which is unacceptable in eastern
culture. Donald Plant asked Mrs. Gifford to kiss him and to never tell her husband. In
the short story Donald said ‘Kiss me once more, he said inconsistently, but Nancy
had turned a page and was pointing eagerly at a picture.’ In Eastern culture, it is not
proper for a woman to kiss a man of no bonds.
Cassandra Teo Filus TSL3102 Literary Criticism 22 January 2014

Question 1b: (10 Marks)

i) In my opinion they were in love before, but Nancy didn’t seem to recall that
man and thought that Donald Plant was Donald Bowers but she dated both of
them in the past. The evidence is ‘Wouldn’t it be awful if we fell in love
again?’ She needs to forget the moment as she is currently Mr. Gifford’s wife.
A wife needs to be loyal to her husband at all cost.

ii) The old photographs are the object of the turning point of the story which
reveals the truth of the current situation. Whereby, Nancy had mistaken
Donald Plant as Donald Bower. Donald Plant said ‘And that isn’t me. That’s
Donald Bowers.’

iii) The usage of the dialogue in the extract made the story easier to understand
and for us to examine the story line. The dialogue of the story is also very
direct and it conveyed the meaning of the story very clearly.