Structure

The story “The Girls in Their Summer Dresses” by Irwin Shaw follows a traditional plot line, having an exposition, a rising action, a climax, a falling action, and a resolution. We will discuss each of these elements in what follows.

The short story…

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Beginning

In the exposition, readers are introduced to the main characters – Michael and Frances Loomis – and to the context of their walk:

Fifth Avenue was shining in the sun when they left the Brevoort. The sun was warm, even though it was February, and everything looked like Sunday morning (...) Mich…

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Middle

The rising action begins with France’s observation that she spends too little time with Michael, and with their decision to avoid the Stevensons, a couple whom they were supposed to accompany in the country. The couple agrees to spend the entire day together and Frances is excited to make plans:

‘First let’s go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art,’ Frances suggested (…) ‘I haven’t been there in three years and there’re at least ten pictures I want to see again. Then we can take the bus down to Radio City, and watch them skate. And later we’ll go down to Cavanagh’s and get a steak as big as a blacksmith’s apron, with a bottle of wine, and after that there’s a French picture at the Filmarte that everybody says—say, are you listening to me?’ (ll. 34-39)

France’s train of thought is interrupted by a tension point, illustrated by Michael intently looking at another attractive woman:

‘You always look at other women,’ Frances said. ‘Everywhere. Every damned place we go.’
‘No, darlin…

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Ending

In the short falling action, Frances makes her husband promise her that he will never mention another woman’s attractiveness in front of her again. After he promises, they both agree to call the Stevensons and pursue their initial schedule of spending the rest of the day with them:

Frances flicked the corners of her eyes. ‘Another brandy,’ she told the wa…