Short Story- "Early Autumn" by Langston Hughes

[Ms. Knarr]

Open your textbook to page 844 and read the short story following.



Remember, you cannot use the questions listed or you will lose points!

[deannazaha]

1. I found that the overall meaning of this short story is that we must carefully review the choices we make in life so that we will not regret them in the future. In the beginning of Mary and Bill's relationship it was said that something not important had come between them, perhaps a silly argument. Mary, without really reconsidering her past feelings for Bill, as we get from the word "instinctively," had married another man. Now as they meet up years later we see that she regrets her decision to let her true love go, as it had said in the story when she first saw him, "unconsciously, she lifted her face as though wanting a kiss, but he held out his hand," she longed for what she had lost, meanwhile Bill has learned to move on and live with their past decision. Also we find out later that she has named her youngest child after Bill. The author, Hughes, perhaps was trying to portray that we should think over our decisions, because by making decisions hastily we could regret them in our future. Also he shows us that many people make decisions that they will regret, but they must not dwell on them. In the story it had mentioned that Mary "found herself desperately reaching back into the past." Once you make a decision that permanent, you must accept the choice you have made and make the best out of it rather than live in the past. Langston Hughes' title, "Early Autumn," may refer to the fact that the spontaneity of youth is over in their lives. This is the autumn of their lives- they are getting older and things are slowing down. They are settled with families yet live in the bitterness and coldness of their past decisions, as autumn is also a bitter and cold season. Hughes also tries to show us that we must always consider what we truly feel will make us happy in the long run. We will always live with our past decisions, so we might as well think about them to make certain that we will not regret our choices.

2. I really enjoyed reading this piece because I feel that it speaks the truth. I can easily relate to this poem because making decisions is a part of everyday life, and by dwelling on wrong decisions that have been made in the past, one will never be able to be happy. This poem shows that we must move on from our rash decisions of the past and rather try to be happy with their outcome. We must try not to regret our choices and not live in the past for otherwise we will not be able to move on and enjoy the rest of our lives. Therefore, in order not to make a wrong choice on a life-altering decision, we must always carefully consider their consequences.

3. A) Does Bill miss Mary as much as she misses Bill? What in the story may hint this to us?
B) What leads us to believe that Mary is still in love with Bill?
C) Why does Hughes seem put an emphasis on the people coming between Mary and Bill, "people they didn’t know"?
D) Do you think that if they had given each other their addresses that they would have gone to visit one another? Why or why not?

[samentwistle]

1. Deanna wrote that the lesson behind this story is the fact that you must think about decisions before you make them, and I completely agree. Being that Mary had gone off and married another man that wasn't Bill, was a mistake on her part. Once she saw him again, her feelings came flooding back, and Mary realizes that she has made a mistake. Bill, who has learned to move on past Mary, is living happily and freely with no regrets, unlike Mary. Hughes, as the author, is trying to show that humans should not make hasty decisions, especially when they are in love. By Mary running from Bill, and making a hasty decision, she is not happy in the end, and Hughes having Bill moved on from their love, he exemplifies this awareness. Hughes also mentions the idea that Mary is still stuck in the past, and by mentioning this he is trying to show the reader that they should move on from the past and embrace the future. This story, as Deanna said above, shows that everyone should consider their decisions, before a final, and important decision is made.

2. I enjoyed reading this story. I loved how a life lesson was very prominent within the writing. I agree with Hughes' idea that everyone should think about an important decision before one is made. Putting thought behind your decisions is a very important part of life, and making sure that you are happy in the end and not regretting your choice is also very important. Being that the story was very relatable made it a very simplistic read and I really would reccomend this story to other readers.

3. 1) In responce to Deanna's 2nd question, the sentence in the story that says "unconsciously, she lifted her face as though wanting a kiss, but he held out his hand," shows that Mary is still in love with Bill. Also by doing it unconciously, it shows that Mary is re-living what she used to have and that she wants everything to be back the way it used to be. 2) Do you think that Bill, even though he has moved on, will come back to Mary?

[bradoconnor]

1. Both Deanna and Sam have made great points about "Early Autumn" by Langston Hughes and I completely agree with almost every point they had made. The fact that Bill and Mary may have had a silly argument is no reason for the two to split up. I believe that the break up was mostly Mary's fault because she had numerous chances to ask for forgiveness. Early in the argument, I'm sure they could have easily have said sorry to each other and moved on, but Mary ran off and married another man while Bill waited to make sure they were finished before marrying. Hughes is exemplifying the severity of our choices in life and how permanent they may be. We must always think carefully about the decisions we are about to make because that choice may change our lives entirely. Whether we decide to regret our choices or accept them and live on are completely up to us.

2. This is one of the best short stories I have ever read. It is to the point and is straight forward with its meaning of how the choices we make change our lives and it is important to carefully contemplate the consequences before we make he decision. I agree with Hughes in him saying, if we make a wrong decision it could end up ruining our lives. Likewise if we make a right choice, that could be the choice that makes our lives happy and enjoyable.

3. 1) Answering Sam's question, I believe that Bill is happy and will continue with his life as if he had never seen Mary in Washington Square. I believe that Bill is happy with his choice to move on and marry someone else because he thought hard about that decision. 2) Is Bill uneasy that Mary lives in the same city as him? what hints to this?

[nickchiarello]

The overall meaning of this short story is to think twice before making a life changing decision. Mary for instance, was too quick to end the relationship with Bill over a small quarrel. She realized after she saw him in New York City years later, that she wanted to be with him again. She was older now, and their age difference became more significant. Living life in regret, Mary wished she could be back with Bill but because of her quick decision to separate, the wonderful couple that once was in Ohio could never be again. So always think things out thoroughly before you act.

2. This is easily one of the most influential short stories that i have read. It brings about a really good message that will stick with me throughout my life. It is very important to make decisions that will be the best for us and that will benefit us the most. If we make decisions too quickly and without thought, it could jeopardize our entire lives.

3. (Question to #4) Deanna, i think that if they did give their addresses to each other Mary would definitely visit Bill. In the end of the short story, she loved Bill and still wanted to be with him, she even named her youngest son after him. Bill however, might visit her once in awhile for he did not miss Mary as much as she missed him. I think that the feelings Mary displayed, would predict that she would come over to Bill's house everyday!
Question- Do you think Mary should still chase after Bill and try the relationship again? Or should she let it go and keep on chasing pavements.

[deannazaha]

1. I am glad to see that all of our views on this story are very similar. I do see Nick's point when he answered my question by saying that Mary would have gone to visit Bill. She does seem to still be in love with Bill even though many years have passed and they have grown apart in different lives. So I would have to agree with him that although Marty would have happily gone to see Bill again, Bill might not have wanted to see Mary as often since she was a relationship in the past.

2. In response to Brad's question, I do feel that Bill is slightly uneasy about living in the same city as Mary. It obviously must have hurt him when she left him and got married so it must've taken a while for him to get over her. Now knowing that they live in the same city might just bring back bitter memories for him. when Mary had said that she is currently living in New York, Bill's response, "'Oh' — smiling politely. Then a little frown came quickly between his eyes," hints a slight uneasiness at the fact that Mary lives in the same city as him. My question: Do you think that they actually wanted to meet each others' families, or just see one another and how they've moved on?

[Katie Mustillo]

1. I agree with everyone on the overall meaning of this short story. A person has to think very carefully about their choices and not make them without giving them much thought because they could be a mistake and not what the person wanted in the end. Bill and Mary were very happy together and then they ended their relationship over something silly. Then Mary went off and married another guy without thoroughly thinking about it. She then had already made two big mistakes. Then when they met up again, she really knows that she made a big mistake because she's not over it, but Bill is. She wanted a kiss, but he just held out his hand for a handshake. One can really tell that Bill has moved on, but Mary certainly hasn't. She continues to dwell in the past when really she needs to move on and accept what she did because Bill did, however she won't fully be able to because she named her youngest boy after him. Mary now has to live with her decisions and not dwell on them because she had the chance to make the right decision. She shouldn't forget it, but learn from them. People should always consider their options before making a final, important decision.
2.I really liked this poem because it has a good overall meaning and life lesson. It helps you in your everday life because there are decisions that you must make all the time and you have to consider all the aspects and options before making your final decision. One can really connect to what Hughes is trying to get across to the readers. If you make a bad decision, you have to live with it and not dwell on it. If you make a good decision, then be proud of yourself. I agree with the whole concept Hughes was trying to say.
3. Answer to Deanna's QB: What leads us to believe that Mary is still in love with Bill is that throughout the whole story she's dwelling on her past and regreting the decision of letting Bill go. "Unconsciously, she lifted her face as though wanting a kiss, but he held out his hand. She took it," was a line that hinted that she still loved him. This shows she she still loves him because she wanted to kiss him because all her feelings were coming back and she knew she made a huge mistake because she still loved him.
My question: Do you think that Bill and Mary will have an affair and get back together?

[maureen]

1. I agree with everyone else on this short story. As I read it I felt the author was trying to convey to readers that as life goes on people will come to a place where they have to make a decision and since no one can see into the future to what decision is the best for them, they might have regrets in the future. The author gives the readers a train of thought on how much one choice we make today can affect the path which we travel on for the rest of our lives and how with each decision we make we should think how it affects the people in or lives.

2. I really liked this short story, because it made me think of my own future and how the decisions I make today can really affect the rest of my life. It made me realize that the people who I choose and don't choose to be in my life is what will push me into the direction I will go in. I enjoyed reading this story and I loved how well the author, Langston Hughes, conveyed the emotions of the woman in the short story. You could tell that she looked at the character, Bill, with regret and wished that she had a moment to be stuck in their past together and to move on to the future with him in her life. This story shows how important decisions can be sometimes and that many times in a person's life they will look back and think if they did the right thing or not.

3. To answer Katie's question, I do not think that Bill and Mary will have an affair, because Bill seems to be very content with his life and even smiled when mentioning his family. I think that Bill might have to much resentment towards Mary for leaving him many years ago and only sees her as a ghost in the past.

Q: Do you think that the reason Hughes used such common names as Bill and Mary is to make the characters less formal so that a reader may connect it to their own life easier?