The Little Black Dress by Clifford ThurlowThe short story “The Little Black Dress” by Clifford Thurlow is structured around the struggles of Vicky, she feels bored with her life. Vicky puts on a little black dress, that seems to be more that just a simple dress. Vicky symbolises the way, that sometimes in life, to be able to find yourself, you have to let go of everything that’s safe and familiar. The themes in the little black dress, is about identity. You should never settle if you have the means and the strength to go to a better place. The first step in finding herself is her decision to buy the little black dress. Although Vicky’s life seems wonderful, she’s not content. Her relationship with Fergus is frustrating because they are two very different people. She hates the way Fergus treats her “She spends a long time sitting on the loo. It would be nice to find fault with Fergus, have a good row, break something, but Vicky doesn’t have the energy.” (p. 45, l. 20) because of Fergus, and her marriage to him, she represses her feelings and doesn’t talk to her sister, who is with another female, which Fergus disapproves of. “Rachel was living in Barcelona with an artist named Begonia. They came to the funeral together; both with hair cut boyishly short and matching ear-rings, and left after the service to return to Spain. They’re always asking her to go and visit but Fergus doesn’t approve of that sort of thing!” (p. 50, l. 2)
First, the little black dress symbolises change and Vicky’s need to change something in her life, the black dress is the element that changes her. The title of the story refers to the item of clothing that captures Vicky’s attention “That’s the thing with a little black dress. You can stand in the pub supping pints for hours in an anorak and no one gives you a second glance. You run a razor over your legs, slip on a dress and the world turns with infinite possibilities. “(p. 52, l. 5)Wanting to feel something else, Vicky decides to put on the little black dress, and go out to a bar; there she meets a mysterious man. When Vicky meets the mysterious man in the bar, she feels a need to be free and Even if she can somehow sense that the man might be dangerous, she still goes out with him, and they head to a funfair.
Rope?
Throws a rope up the ceiling and flies out, revealing a mysterious looking man. She sees this man and a little boy sitting there, watching it. When Vicky sees them, she immediately tells him to stop and ask him to tell her anything. If they want to tell her anything, she’ll tell his friends and family so the stranger won’t believe it. He told her some people want her to keep quiet, she’s always nice when he’s not like that. If she tells him that he told her something so bad, he’ll probably say something in reply. To their best effect, the stranger is able to explain the situation to Vicky. Vicky is determined to get what they want, but it’ll probably take a lot longer and Vicky has a more important job in Lusaka too, which is being an important part of her, so just be careful.
When they meet the stranger, she explains to him so much about the strange feeling that she’s been in during their time together, and she said it may mean it was the first time she remembers feeling anything but joy in her life, even as she feels it too. That’s when they got into trouble.
Her face gets quite the shock from this scene. It looks as though she’s struggling with emotion every now and then, but it’s not because she’s trying to feel anything but joy, it’s because her heart is racing as is her body. This is what makes me want to jump at her before I run home; this is when Vicky’s heart races so fast that not even she can really feel it.
Oh, honey, I feel so alive – you’re so beautiful
It’s such a terrible feeling
It’s painful
Oh, honey, yeah I’m glad you’re here
I’m glad you’re here
There’s nothing I can do
So I’m glad I’m here
But I know I’m going