In the text, "Rebuke" by L. H. W in the modernist magazine, "Good Housekeeping Magazine" Vol. 51, No 2, made in August first 1910 on page one hundred twenty-seven, it ineffectively displays a social situation in that time period. The passage briefly talks about how a old Clergy-men on the way back from a vacation is trying to help a thirteen or fourteen year old girl with boredom after they are being transported for over a day. In the text itself, it describes this benevolent clergyman, that could not bear this young girl looking out of a window for twenty-four hours by trying to give her something to read. It is a confusing message as the only thing that comes out of the story was the man asking,"Wouldn't you like something to read?" And then the girl obstinately reacted with,"She drew herself up stiffly."(modjourn). It is hard to describe the exact subtext of the story as it is so short, and the same time the actual message of the story. The author seems to be claiming that the Clergy men is being rejected from helping the girl even though he had good intentions. It could be assumed that the social context would be that a young girl by herself traveling is not a good situation for her, and that she seems to be distrusting of the clergyman. It is ineffective in it confusing presentation, and the shortness being a downfall of the story whether that be the author's fault or not, still hinders the narrative of the story as a whole. Maybe there is a underlying societal context that is needed to understand the text more clearly at a first glance, but looking at it through a more modern lens through the lack of knowledge makes it difficult.

Citation

“Modernist Journals: GOOD Housekeeping. VOL. 51, No. 2.” Edited by James Eaton Tower, Modernist Journals | Good Housekeeping. Vol. 51, No. 2, https://modjourn.org/issue/bdr472197/.