SSRJ#3: The Cranes by Peter Meinke

When the story first started, I had a very stereotyped view of the two people in the story. I assumed throughout the first half that these were two young people out to watch the birds. Not only that, but I also considered the weather to be sunny and bright. As the story continued, I quickly found my interpretation to be rendered completely inaccurate as the author revealed the true scene through a multitude of conversation.

Part of the reason that Meinke did not state age was likely to take away any bias that might come with that knowledge or to make the reader focus less of their attention there and more on the other aspects of the story that he was trying to portray. Overall, he used mostly auditory cues with many motion-wrought images to go with it. There was no insight into the characters heads but through what one could determine from their vocal interaction. However, the two characters seemed extremely close as how they expressed themselves was very open. “I just want to watch the birds. And listen to you.” (17) There was quite a great deal of humourus quipping from the man’s side, although eventually he also settled into telling more of what was on his mind and joking less.

It was unsurprising to find lots of other hints and symbols in this story as it was in the “symbolism” category. The main one that sparks to mine is the whooping cranes. Cranes in general are said to represent happiness, long life, faithfulness, and love. Judging by the nature of how they treated each other and the hints at their age, this seems to sum the two of them up quite nicely. Another interesting thing to note about the cranes is that these particular ones were whooping cranes rather than any other type. As a dying species, they could very well represent a fading away of a love. Seeing as the man and woman may not have too much longer to live, this seems to represent the fragility of the rest of their time together. “Suddenly, the two cranes plunged upward, their great wings beating the air and their long slender necks pointed like arrows toward the sun.” (51-2) Yet, like the whooping cranes still dancing in the rain, despite this gloomy prospect, the couple is living life to its fullest while they can.

A more subtle symbolism of their age and the dying out of youth is apparent towards the end of the story in the description of the car. “The hull of the car gleamed beetle-like – dull and somehow sinister in its metallic isolation.” (48-49) Sleek cars generally represent masculinity and/or power. However, the author makes a strong point in showing that this car is anything but. It might represent the fact that at one point, these two were strong and young. Indeed, it’s noted a lot in the way they make little derogatory hints at each other. However, it has since faded away to be left by weakness. The statement about isolation might represent how they feel in the eye of a younger society.

Question: How do you think getting older might have changed the relationship between these two people? Do you think age might have strengthened them or pulled them a little further apart?