The Girls in Their Summer Dresses

by Irwin Shaw

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What symbols are present in "The Girls in Their Summer Dresses" by Irwin Shaw?

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In "The Girls in Their Summer Dresses," Irwin Shaw uses symbolism to highlight themes of objectification and disconnection. Michael's focus on women's physical attributes symbolizes his shallow, objectifying nature. The "rope" symbolizes Frances's desire to cling to Michael, while his weight gain suggests a shift towards self-indulgence. The summer dresses represent youth and vitality, contrasting with Michael's middle-aged discontent. These symbols underscore Michael's disregard for Frances and his yearning for lost youth.

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Irwin Shaw uses synecdoche, the literary technique of using parts to represent a whole, to symbolize how Michael Loomis reduces women to the parts that catch his eye and his interest. Michael objectifies all the women that he looks at in the streets of New York by referring to their parts; examples include "country-girl complexion," "hatless girl with the dark hair," "her belly was flat," "her hips swung boldly," "their furs and their crazy hats," and "red cheeks." It is not the intellect or personality of women that interest him—it is purely aesthetic and sexual, though he is quick to tell his wife, Frances, that he has not touched another woman in the five years that they have been together.

In his conversation with Frances, Michael recalls when he was first attracted to Frances, she was wearing a green hat. His roving eye and what it alights on define him...

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and symbolize his shallow personality; he is restless and unsatisfied, and he can't assure his wife that he will never stray.

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In Irwin Shaw's short story, "The Girls in Their Summer Dresses," there are several uses of symbolism.

First, as the story progresses, we learn that Frances is desperate to keep her husband close, even as she senses him moving away—as he watches every attractive woman they pass. Frances announces that she wants to keep Michael to herself for the day, but this is simply symptomatic of a deeper concern. The image of a "rope" symbolizes how Frances needs to feel connected to Michael—even to hold him against his will:

"Also, I slept all night, wound around you like a rope."

The fact that Michael is gaining weight may be symbolic of a deeper change, a movement toward a more self-centered lifestyle that comes from indulging his whims, and does not include Frances. However, Michael's response when she notes that he is "getting fat" and she loves it, seems to indicate that he resents her "worship" of him: a lack of self-respect on her part whereby she will take whatever he dishes out (to a point) and be happy for it.

"I love it," she said, "an extra five pounds of husband."

"I love it, too," Michael said gravely.

Michael does not seem to appreciate this "devotion," perhaps feeling the challenge of wooing and winning his wife's affection (after five years) has left him feeling unfulfilled. If so, the challenge of gaining the attention of other women may appeal. Michael has obviously put a lot of thought into his constant "oggling" of women:

"...the handsomest women, out to spend money and feeling good about it, looking coldly at you, making believe they're not looking at you as you go past."

The summer dresses that Michael refers to (as this husband and wife walk in November) may "represent freshness, youth, and vitality," while reminding Michael of his approach to middle age, and a sense of loss he may experience in that women don't respond to him in the way they did when he was younger.

As with other stories by Irwin Shaw, this one touches on the theme of lost or disappearing youth.

Michael may be caught up in the past—when he was part of the game he witnesses all around as they move along. In not feeling as connected to that part of his life, Michael watches women and "wants" them, doing so in the presence of his wife—showing how little regard he has for her feelings, and how strong his desire is to please himself.

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