In Aimee Bender’s fascinating short story “Call My Name,” a multifaceted character goes beyond seeking sex or a parent. A metro audition finds the confident, pushy protagonist exploring potential relationships. The anecdote shows that she acts out of a desire for honesty. This protagonist’s unconventional subway exchanges with boys demonstrate her wrath and aggressiveness. This risky pursuit hides a complex network of urges that defy society. The wealth from her late father’s innovation reveals her personality and motivations. Her refined tastes, notably her appreciation of elegant clothes, show her yearning for self-expression. Her ability to waltz reflects her passion for elegance, tradition, and deeper relationships. Meeting the shy man reveals unforeseen weaknesses, questioning the protagonist’s aims. This analysis examines the protagonist’s complexity and inner need for connection and validation beneath her brave exterior.

Boldness and Aggression as a Facade

The protagonists conceal their objectives under their arrogance. Her secret subway audition shows her craving for connection and defying social standards. Though his strategy concerns finding a partner, the protagonist wants a deeper relationship. She holds a secret audition for those who can make her “breathless and weak” and disclose her essence. She needs a deep emotional connection because she wants sincerity and understanding, disproving the concept that her boldness is physical (Bender, 1998). The protagonist’s wealth influences her risky lifestyle, interactions, and need for approval. Her elaborate lifestyle is funded by her late father’s invention, allowing her to express herself with luxury. She loves costly clothes to convey her desire for independence. The protagonist seeks approval with wealth and elegance. Her extravagant persona may be an attempt to fill her father’s emotional void. Aimee Bender’s “Call My Name.” protagonist’s objectives and journey are complicated by wealth and external validation.

Elegance and Self-Expression

The protagonist of “Call My Name” expresses herself through fashion by loving costly outfits. Her dress shows her complexity and desire to express herself outside traditional boundaries. She deliberately wears maroon satin, a floor-length V-back dress, and matching sandals with criss-cross straps. Its carefully picked ensemble suggests a desire to portray oneself as a person of substance who chooses her narrative rather than being restricted by social standards (Bender, 1998). The protagonist’s love of expensive clothes mirrors her inner world and yearning for a polished persona. Waltzing, as a symbol, elevates the protagonist. This ancient dance represents her deeper desires and longing for meaningful connections. Waltzing represents her desire for intimacy beyond private auditions. The protagonist waltzes to communicate her longing for a soul dance and harmony. She wants beautiful, meaningful partnerships with this emblem. She seeks partnerships that mirror the grace, history, and meaningful exchanges of waltzing to show her diverse character.

Seeking Genuine Connections

The protagonist’s interaction with the shy man shows her compassion and willingness to understand others in her search for meaningful connections. She suggests the bashful man smoke out the window for his safety and empathy. This moment shows her character beyond self-centeredness (Bender, 1998). Asking about the shy man’s preferences and conversing demonstrates her genuine interest in his thoughts and experiences. It contradicts the belief that her fiery demeanor is a facade. It suggests meaningful connections based on shared thoughts and experiences. Here, the protagonist connects with people outside of her desires.

In her desire for meaningful connections, the protagonist prefers call-responsive creatures. The choice represents her desire for relationship responsiveness. She respects pets that know their names for mutual recognition. This preference reflects a more profound emotional need for resonance and reciprocation in her interactions. She seeks deeper interactions than auditions (Bender, 1998). This symbolic yearning for responsiveness demonstrates the protagonist’s desire for emotional connections outside society. The protagonist craves recognition and affection from dogs, showing her fragility despite her independence. Her need for emotional resonance shows her complexity and defies prejudices, making readers relate to her need for meaningful connections.

References

Bender, A. (1998). Call my name. The North American Review, 283(1), 24-27.