Haley Byrd

Dr. McConnell
Engl 477-01
Critical Paper
25 February 2016
Lydia Davis is a true post-modern writer. She pieces together various works to
create her own masterpiece. Davis uses emotional pieces, literal writings, pieces based on
everyday observations, and dreams. Throughout her book, Cant and Wont, she pushes
boundaries, uses different writing techniques, and addresses many themes, one theme
being perception. In Daviss stories: The Magic Train, Reversible Story, and The
Cows, perception is exemplified as a main theme through the narrative voice and his/her
understanding.
In The Magic Train perception is presented in how the group of witnesses
judges the two women walking down the aisle of the train. We can see by the way they
look from behind, we can tell by the backs of them, these two women, in their tight
black jeans, their platform heels, that theyre in their teens or maybe their early
twenties (39). The narrator uses the womens clothing and appearance to make a
judgment of their age. His/her perception of them expresses what is expected of such
tight and fashionable apparel. As the story progresses and the women make their way
back through the train car, the narrator is surprised by reality. We can now see their
faces, pale, haggard, with violet shadows under their eyes, under the magical effect of
the train, they have aged twenty years (39). In reading this excerpt, it is apparent that

sights can be deceiving. Ones perception is simply an opinion, and that opinion is not
always the ultimate truth.
Reversible Story is also a great example of this apparent theme in Daviss book.
This story tells the same story twice, however based on narrative ordering, the perception
of the characters and events are vastly different. The first part, Necessary Expenditure,
is quick and to the point. It begins by telling the reader what is happening at the Charrays
home and why: if they improve their cellar, they will pay less for fire insurance, and
lastly includes they have very good wine and some fine paintings, but their taste in
clothes and furniture is strictly lower middle class (61). From this section of the story
the reader gathers that the couple has an expensive collection of wine and by spending
more money, they will ultimately save more. The characters are presented as a lower
class couple that happens to have a hobby of collecting nice things. The concept of the
story comes across as very nonchalant and basic. However, the second section of the
story Expenditure Necessary, explores how detail and imagery influences the readers
perception. In this section, it begins with describing the couple in detail, The Charrays
taste in clothes and furniture is dull and strictly lower middle class. However, they do
own some fine paintings, many by contemporary Canadian and American painters. The
also have some good wine (61). The introduction of the characters changes the readers
perception by making them seem intriguing, thus hooking the readers interest. This
influences the reader to keep going and to see the characters in a different light. By this
characterization one could say that thy Charrays seem more personable. The reader
knows more about the characters and they are introduced in a more likeable manor. The
narrator also gives insight on how the Charrays are renovating the cellar, by enlarging it

(61). This bit of information makes the reader feel more involved and ultimately leads
him/her to perceive the characters on a more valued level. Overall this section focuses on
detail where the first section did not; this story manipulates the reader into developing
different perceptions of the same characters in the same story.
The Cows is a very interesting piece included by Davis and there are many
instances where perception is present, some more superficial than others. That ones legs
are moving, but because she is facing us directly she seems to be staying in one place. Yet
she is getting bigger, so she must be coming this way (120). This is a very basic
representation of perception. The narrator perceives the cow as stationary, but because
she in knowledgeable on the concept of depth, she rationalizes that the cow must be
moving. The shape of a black cow, seen directly head-on: a smooth black oval, larger at
the top and tapering at the bottom to a very narrow extension, like a teardrop represents
a more in depth inference to perception. Not only does this quote describe to the reader
what a cows head physically looks like, but also rises the question of why it looks like a
teardrop. Cows are herd animals and very dependent. They sit in fields or barns for their
entire life without much stimulation. The black color that is noted from the start casts a
shadow of what the color stands for over the rest of the quote, and is further supported by
the teardrop. This represents the gloominess of being confined and dependent on others.
If perceived this way, this story can serve as an awakening for a reader and motivate them
to think about how this concept may be affecting their own life. Cows are defined as
being such sad creatures and it would be miserable to be like that.
Lydia Davis is an exceptional writer. She takes ordinary concepts from life and
morphs them into an interesting read. Some works serve as humor relief, while others

turn on the readers thinking cap. Nearly every work in her book can be linked to
perception in one-way or another; many of her pieces are stories from Flaubert,
describing the observance of and interactions with everyday people and events (289). The
three stories mentioned, The Magic Train, Reversible Story, and The Cows all
signify the theme of perception. While the The Magic Train focuses more on not
judging a book by its cover, Reversible Story expresses how story telling can effect
perception, and The Cows focuses on a more intrinsic level of perception of the world.
Each piece encourages the reader to reflect and make connections with how perception is
influences reality and understanding.