In “The Semplica Girl Diaries,” the story’s narrator is keeping a diary, which becomes the text of the story. One of the first things noticed in the story is that the dad, who is the diary’s author, does not always write in complete sentences. “Am getting off track, due to tired, due to those fighting cats.” (pg.110) It is difficult to say if this is because of his culture, lack of time, or just his way of taking notes to correct later for his book. However, he does make notes to himself in his diary. He is writing for someone to read in the future; yet, the text, in some ways, is a repeat of history.
Dad faces the dilemma of “keeping up with the Joneses.” After winning $10,000 on a scratch lottery ticket, he decides to fix up the yard for his daughters’ birthday. This includes buying SG’s to hang in his yard. While using the underprivileged or misfortunate for menial tasks has been done throughout history, these SGs are strung out as lawn ornaments. Eva has sympathy for the Sg’s, and her dad explains that they are living a better life than they previously had. He also explains the procedure of how they are strung together. “Drew human head on napkin, explained: Lawrence Semplica = doctor + smart cookie. Found way to route microline through brain that does no damage, causes no pain. Technique uses lasers to make pilot route. Microline then threaded through w/ silk leader. Microline goes in here (touched Eva’s temple), comes out here (touched other). Is very gentle, does not hurt, SGs asleep during whole deal.” (pg.142)
There is much irony in this story. The dad wants to “do better” for his family as do the SGs.“ Filipina (Betty) has little brother “very skilled for computer,” parents cannot afford high school, have lived in tiny lean-to with three other families since their own tiny lean-to slid down hillside in earthquake.” (pg. 135) Dad’s effort backfires when Eva releases the SGs and now dad deeper in financial debt than he had been before winning the lottery. In the end, the parents make a sacrifice to keep Eva from having to confess to the police that she released the SGs. “Pam and I discuss, agree: must be like sin-eaters who, in ancient times, ate sin.” (pg. 161) There was also irony in that the kids were not allowed to watch “I, Gropius,” where men touch women’s breasts, exploiting women, but the SGs were acceptable.
I initially thought that the fragmented format of the story was just the narrator’s way of saving time while writing, but I think it’s interesting that you mention culture as another possible reason; now that the narrator is living more luxuriously than ever before, it is possible that he just doesn’t want to be bothered with writing out extremely detailed accounts of his busy new life.
I hadn’t thought about the gendered element of Semplica girls’ existence. I think there’s definitely something to be said about the usage of foreign women as literal decorations. Do you have any further thoughts on the subject?