Jonas Lund Møller Engelsk 12 15/01/2024

The Arcade - an analytical essay

In the delicate dance of life, fear of intimacy can cast a shadow over the authentic expression of
oneself. The fear of opening can blur the true colors of self-expression. Concealed behind masks,
we forfeit genuine connections, leaving care and understanding concealed. The longing for
authentic bonds carries on, but fear delays openness. Exposure to our true selves becomes the
procedure for genuine connections - a courageous act of shedding fear and embracing authenticity.
This essence is the foundation for establishing genuine bonds and orchestrating the charismatic
dance of authentic intimacy. This emotional struggle is addressed in Alan Gillespie’s short story
“The Arcade” (2020) where we meet Bill and Gaynor as they navigate the complicated terrain of
emotional conflicts, revealing the complex dimensions of human relationships and resilience.

The short story has a third-person narrator, primarily focusing on Bill’s perspective. The narrator
provides no access to Gaynor’s thoughts or emotions except through Bill’s observations, which
suggests that the narrator is rather restricted: “Gaynor, the man smiled. Thank you for coming. I’m
Bill” (l. 8). Despite focusing on Bill’s viewpoint, readers are kept in the dark about his inner
thoughts and feelings. The lack of information about the characters underlines the characters’
unwillingness to reveal their true selves. This highlights the lack of genuine understanding between
Bill and Gaynor, as the readers are also denied a true insight into their characters. Furthermore, the
story also begins in medias res as we are thrown directly into the events of the story: “So we went.
All the railings are covered in them. From all over the world. It was sunny – remember, darling? –
and the padlocks were glittering. Like diamonds. Like stars” (ll. 65-66).

Bill and Gaynor, the main characters in Alan Gillespie’s “The Arcade”, contribute to an appealing
narrative enriched by their personalities, life experiences, and attitudes towards dating. Bill, an
elderly man on a first date with Gaynor, initially presents himself as confident and charming,
evident in his playful interactions and approach to making the date memorable: “He stepped back
and made a theatre of appraising her outfit and said that she looked perfect” (l. 10). However,
beneath this surface lies a vulnerability tied to the loss of his wife, revealed through his discomfort
when discussing her death. Bill’s avoidance technique involves telling fictional stories, using them
as a shield to screen his true emotions and to possibly avoid being vulnerable with Gaynor. Despite
Jonas Lund Møller Engelsk 12 15/01/2024

his effort to establish a deep connection through their date, the story concludes with Bill feeling a
sense of disappointment as Gaynor hesitates about meeting again. In contrast, Gaynor appears as a
character marked by skepticism and a preference for traditional dating. Her guarded nature becomes
visible when Bill asks about her dating history, prompting a defensive response that suggests a
hesitancy to share personal details, possibly rooted in past disappointments or fear of judgment: “I
don’t know. I’m not used to this” (l. 193). As the date progresses, Gaynor begins to appreciate Bill’s
charm and playfulness, participating in the imaginative storytelling. Despite her enjoyment, she is
hesitant about committing to another meeting. Her discomfort with commitment and the excuse of
missing her bus in the end hint at a deeper fear that might be holding her back from establishing a
genuine emotional connection with Bill. The greater contrasts between Bill and Gaynor become
especially evident in their approaches to dating, dealing with loss, and communication styles. Bill
embraces adventure and originality, while Gaynor leans towards more normal dating norms. Their
contrasting communication styles contribute to the complexity of their interaction. Bill uses playful
storytelling as a form of communication, potentially as a way to mask his vulnerability, while
Gaynor initially presents a more guarded front, progressively revealing her past experiences. These
complexities underline the challenge both characters face in forming a genuine emotional
connection, as their unique personalities and emotional baggage overlap.

Gillespie uses a rather informal language, featuring a lot of dialogue. Bill tells a made-up story
about his engagement in a natural way, using short, incomplete sentences that represent the
conversation. One may argue that this text fits the genre of “Literary minimalism”. This can for
example be seen, when he says, “So we went. All the railings are covered in them. From all over the
world. It was sunny – remember, darling? – and the padlocks were glittering. Like diamonds. Like
stars.” (ll. 65-66). Gillespie also includes Scottish words that add a geographical and cultural
nuance to the text. The term “wee”, meaning small, suggests not only physical size but also a local
Scottish identity. When Bill describes something as “inside a wee love-heart” (l. 63) or “a wee
blank patch on the fence” (l. 67), it conveys not just size but also a sense of intimacy and locality.
Furthermore, Bill uses two similes to describe the engagement scene: "The padlocks were glittering.
Like diamonds. Like stars" (l. 66). These poetic comparisons make an effort to give the story a more
magical and entertaining expression. This fits with Bill’s goal of creating a perfect and romantic life
story for himself and Gaynor.
Jonas Lund Møller Engelsk 12 15/01/2024

The delicate dance of life and the continuing fear of intimacy serve as central themes in the short
story. The reflection on life’s complex steps introduces a universal struggle with vulnerability,
setting the stage for the characters Bill and Gaynor to represent these challenges. Bill becomes a
symbol of guarded reservation, reflecting the fear of emotional exposure that many struggle with.
On the other hand, Gaynor demonstrates the courage to walk through life’s uncertainties, accepting
vulnerability as a fundamental part of the dance. Their contrasting paths offer a view of society,
illustrating the clash between those affected by fear and those liberated by authentic connections. In
essence, the narrative explores the impact of life’s delicate dance on the human psyche, urging
readers to confront fears and actively participate in the complex beauty of intimate relationships.