Text Analysis

1. Theme

The simple virtues exists in the hearts of poor laboring people who see to remain untouched by the modern money-oriented culture.To take it easy and relax. Life could be much happier.

2. Structure

1) Part 1 (para. 1-165 ):Provide adequate background information about the setting, introduces the main characters and presents the conflicts.

2) Part 2 (para. 166-328): Describe how the conflicts are resolved.

3. Previewing questions

1) Where does the story take place? Is there anything unusual about this barber shop?

2) Where did Harry come from? How did he decide to settle down here? What is his life philosophy?

3) What do you know about Clark and his family? Do they get along? Why does he quarrel with his wife?

4) What do you know about Miss McCutcheon? Do you think she will stay in O.K.-by-the-sea long?

5) What do you think of the writer? What do you think makes him hang around in this small barber shop for such a long time?

4. Further discussion

1) What is the setting of the play? Does the setting have any significance?

O.K.-by-the-Sea: not a perfect place, but one where you can be happy as long as you relax and take it easy

2) Who are the main characters in the play? Do a character analysis.

Harry the barber, generous-hearted, broad-minded, understanding working man, “take-it-easy” life philosophy

Miss McCutcheon, new teacher from California, uptight and struggling to fit in

3) What are the major conflicts of the play?

✔Clark Larrabee & his wife

✔Clay’s wish to find a pearl and the faint possibility

✔Miss McCutcheon’s choice between stay and leave

✔Miss McCutheon’s wish to help the children and the way she does it

4) What is Harry’s role in the conflicts? What makes him the protagonist?

He is embodiment of human goodness and simple virtue of common working people. He is a character where all conflicts converge and who serves as catalyst to all their solutions.

5) How are the conflicts resolved?

✔Clark decides to make up with his wife.

✔The writer buys the oyster.

✔Clay realizes maybe there is no pearl in the oyster.

✔Miss McCutcheon decides to stay.

✔Miss McCutcheon learns from Harry how to help troubled children

●Writing devices: Symbolism

The use of one object or action (a symbol) to represent or suggest something else.

In Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, the "A" that Hester Prynne was forced to wear represented not only that she was an adulteress, but also the first letter of the name of her illegitimate child's father, the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. It is also used to represent “Angle”.

There are several ways to recognize symbolism in literature. One is the frequency an object or character is mentioned in a piece of literature — if it is mentioned often, it is probably important. Another way to find a symbol is to look at how much detail is used in describing an object. These two methods give clues that the writer wants you to infer something about a particular object.

Find out the symbolic meanings

Symbols in the play

Pearl: hope and faith

Sea: the life

OK.-by-the-sea: life isn't perfect but by taking it easy it can be more fun.

Beachcombing: looking for the value in life.

●Sentence paraphrase

1. You may turn out to be the one man hidden away who will bring merriment to the tired old human heart.(4)

2. He sold me the shop for seventy-five, and threw in the haircut.(18)

He sold me the shop for seventy-five dollars, and in addition, he gave me a haircut free of charge.

3. Clark Larrabee, come home. Your fishing tackle’s in the closet safe and sound. The fishing’s good, plenty of perch, and bass. (53)

This does not read like an advertisement. It’s more like a boy talking to his father from the bottom of his heart, trying to get him home by recounting the things they enjoyed together. Simple but touching.

4. Miss America, I Presume. (57)

Probably because in the small town, it is unusual for a woman to appear in public places in swimming suits, Harry calls Miss McCutcheon Miss America.

5. I must say I expected to see a much older man. (84)

I expected a man older than you are to have such an idea that I should teach cooking. This is an old-fashioned education program.

Harry is taking this up in a teasing way by pretending to take this as a compliment rather than a criticism that she thinks he looks much younger for his age.

6. It’s never too soon for any of us to face the truth. (176)

Any of us should face the truth, the earlier, the better.

7. … in as much as only one oyster in a million has a pearl in it, truth favors the probability that this is not the millionth oyster… (178)

(formal) used to introduce a phrase which explains why or how much another part of the sentence is true

Because only one oyster out of a million has a pearl in it, it is not likely that this oyster will be just that one. The chances of finding a pearl in an oyster are vey slim.

8. Clay believes there’s a pearl in this oyster for the same reason you and I believe whatever we believe to keep us going.(215)

We have the courage to face the world with all its obstacles and difficulties because we have our faith/belief/hope. It’s the same with Clay. He believes there’s a pearl in the oyster because it gives him hope that his father will come home.

9. There is something to be said for going to a barber shop once in a while. (264)

There is a pretty good reason for…

It is not bad to have a chance to have a haircut in a barber shop occasionally.

10. You might have done me the courtesy of waiting until I had come back before opening it. (309)

You should have waited until I came back before you opened the oyster.