"How I Met My Husband" by Alice Munro #2

This story also has much suspense. There is suspense when Edie is waiting for the mail as the reader does not know whether or not Chris will write back. There are also many other parts of suspense such as when the quarrel between Alice Kelling, Mrs. Peebles and Edie. There is suspense in waiting for the outcome of this fight. The main suspense in this story is in waiting to find out who will be Edie's husband. The title is what first informs the reader that by the end of the story, Edie will have revealed her husband. First, the narrator allows the reader to believe that it will be Cris, the pilot. Near the end of the story, the narrator begins to lead the reader away from the belief that Chris will be Edie's future husband. This is hinted at on page 145 when Edie says "It never crossed my mind for a long time a letter might not come." This tells the reader that looking back, Edie realizes she was wrong about her belief that Chris loved her. It is not until the last page and last paragraph of the story that the reader is let in on who Edie's husband is. Here, the narrator reveals that it is in fact the mailman who becomes Edie's husband. For me, this was a huge surprise ending and the suspense was effective in making the story enjoyable.

"How I Met My Husband" by Alice Munro

The point of view in "How I Met My Husband" is first person, but it is told from a much later time. This reminiscent story is shown through certain comments that the narrator makes throughout the story. For instance, on page 145, the narrator says "I didn't figure out till years later the extent of what I had been saved from." This shows that looking back on her experience, Edie is much more mature and understands the situation more clearly. Along with this example, there are many more that support the narrator looking back with more knowledge. Also on page 145 the narrator says "It never crossed my mind for a long time that a letter might not come." This shows that the narrator is looking back remembering how niave she was when she thought that Chris would write her back. Also supporting that the narrator is looking back are the past tense words used throughout the story such as "was" "when i went home" and many more show that the speaker is looking back.