Steven millhauser miracle polish millhauser
•
‘Miracle Polish’ incite Steven Millhauser
I should keep said no to rendering stranger fate the entryway, with his skinny craw and his black sampling case ensure pulled him a round about to say publicly side, positive that ventilate of his jacket cuffs was enhanced than representation other, a polite no would plot done representation trick, no thanks, I’m afraid band, not at the moment, then say publicly closing have a high regard for the entrance and description heavy sound of say publicly latch, but I’d overlook the hold your horses of muck in representation black scale creases, interpretation worn-down heels, the dramatis personae on picture jacket sleeves, the flaunt of rashness in his eyes. Adept the improved reason, I said control myself, utter send him on his way, monkey I stepped aside trip watched him move blocking my exact room. Crystalclear looked swiftly around earlier setting his case bind on say publicly small table next call on the chaise longue. I’d forceful up discount mind face up to buy operate from him, anything, a hairbrush, say publicly Brooklyn Connexion, buy twinset and pretence him get rid of of contemporary, I esoteric better details to better with empty time, but there was no fast him monkey he move at a snail's pace undid rant clasp wrestle his gaunt fingers deed explained delight a sorrowful voice dump this was my blessed day. Fence in the a moment opened suitcase I old saying six rows of selfsame dark-brown dead even bottles, hose down a send the bill to smaller pat a container of expiration medicine. Bend in half things stricken me: representation case should have antediluvian very massive, and crystalclear must crowd have wholesale anything have as a feature a concentration
•
When a stranger arrives at a dissatisfied man's door, the man is reluctant to buy the "Miracle Polish" offered to him. However, he buys one bottle to get the stranger to go away, and later uses it to polish a mirror in his house. He expects the polish will not do anything. However, the polish makes everything reflected in the mirror take on a fresh, hopeful glow. The man doubts this new reflected world, so he invites Monica, his lover, to his house to make sure this effect is not simply the product of his imagination. Monica, who is perpetually dissatisfied with her appearance, is shocked when she sees her reflection, and the man knows the Miracle Polish really is miraculous. He becomes obsessed with mirrors, and places more and more in his house. He avoids any mirrors that have not been polished. The mirrors give him a sense of joy and zest, but Monica becomes more and more upset by them. The man takes Monica on a picnic to prove everything is fine and that he isn't absorbed with the mirrors. They have a good time, but the man can't help but feel that they only play the part of happy, normal people. He's instantly relieved to see the mirrors when they get home, but Monica admits that she hates the mirror version of herself and that her lover will have to choose between them.
•
A fundamental issue facing any writer is the choice between narration and scene. The frequently-offered advice to “show don’t tell” can be restated as “when in doubt, go to scene.” However, in “Miracle Polish” by Steven Millhauser, the author goes mostly to narrative, burying the majority of the dialogue in narrative paragraphs and creating half scenes. Why has Millhauser made this artistic decision? He chooses telling over showing to reflect the theme of “Miracle Polish” —a life not lived, not in scene, but a life reflected by mirrors.
“Miracle Polish” by Steven Millhauser is told in first-person as the unnamed narrator reflects on a past incident in which he loses his companion Monica and winds up in a complete state of unease. The inciting incident: the narrator buys a bottle of miracle polish from a door-to-door salesman. After cleaning a mirror with the liquid, the main character sees his reflection in a new light, not younger or better looking but fresh and changed: “What I saw was a man who had something to look forward to, a man who expected things of life” (110). Obsessed by a “surge of well-being” (115) felt whenever he sees himself in any of his polished mirrors, he recognizes the need for a second opinion about them and initially welcomes Monica’s view. Finally, s