Hunters and Lovers By Nia Magoulianiti - McGregor
About the Author Nia Magoulianiti-McGregor, a Rhodes University graduate, went back to journalism after getting divorced at 40. She has worked as a radio news presenter, a scriptwriter, and sub- editor, and was, for a number of years, the Johannesburg bureau chief for Femina magazine. Born and bred in Sea Point, she moved to Johannesburg, South Africa during the eighties, and is now a freelance writer and lives and works in Killarney, Ireland.
Setting The story started in bed then had a flashback which took place in a social gathering or a party. Then it moves from one location to another, which unknown.
Knowing the Characters The Man (No Name) Very flamboyant. A businessman that always goes out of town for business trips. Married man. Promiscuous.
Knowing the Characters The Woman/Mistress (No Name) Likes dating. Very adventurous. Also aggressive. Disorganized. Single.
Knowing the Characters The Wife/Imaginary being of the Mistress No distinct qualities or attributes, it only depends on how she wants to be depicted by the woman/mistress. The mistress always imagined her as a very subtle, naive, blonde and very mother-like figure.
The Plot Introduction The story started in bed. In the woman’s apartment. The most significant line was: Woman: Do you love your wife? Man: Yes. Woman: Why are you fucking me then? Man: I don’t know, I can’t answer that. I think it’s about seizing the moment.
The Plot Introduction Then the story was transitioned in a flashback, they are in a party flirting each other and the woman strategically seduced the man towards the parking lot and made him follow her to her apartment. They had some sort of a chase like a “hungry wild lion aiming for the galloping deer”.
The Plot Rising Action After the one night affair, the woman was thinking whether the man will come back again or not. She’s alone in her apartment and talking to herself: “When can I find my match where I don’t have to say goodbye and wait. No abandonment, yet no engulfment” “Should we see each other again? I don’t know. He’s married. He’s damn well married”
The Plot Climax When the woman cried, pleaded, demanded for the man to stay with her and divorce his wife. Woman: “Do you love me?” Man: “Yes, I love you” Woman: “Leave her for me” Man: “No, I cant do that to her” Woman: “Leave her for me, Please come live with me.”
The Plot Falling Action When the man divorced his wife and stayed with the woman. As the man moved into her apartment, he slowly reveals his true character/intentions. The man is now always busy and frequently doesn't have time for her anymore unlike before. He now always criticize her from her clothing to the dirty plates in the kitchen. Man: “Sorry, I didn't think about you” Woman: “Didn’t you?” Man: “No, actually I thought about you a lot”
The Plot Resolution The woman had a day dream, she imagined the husband’s wife following her on her way to the car. The wife took the keys from her hand and slowly, very slowly, she puts a finger in her mouth. Woman: “ It tasted like a cigarette, whisky and woman. Woman who’s been living in my head, in my bed, in my space, for months now” “ I seem to remember him saying something about seizing the moment – Oh yes, I believe he did”
Conflict Man versus Circumstances and Society – The woman/mistress struggles against ideas, practices or customs of other people.
Theme The story is about a married man who was tempted and lived in the world of his mistress. It also depicts the life and other world of the mistress when she’s alone. It unravels the mysterious realizations towards the end of the story. The story doesn't have a definite ending.
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