Structure
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Beginning
The short story "A Way of Talking" by Patricia Grace begins in medias res with Hera recounting Rose’s arrival and her relief at Rose being the same as ever - outspoken and funny. The family stays up late that night, talking, as Rose makes them laugh with stories and impersonations of the people she knows from university.
The use of the word “kamak…
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Middle
Rose asks Hera about the dressmaker, which brings about a tension point. Hera hesitates a little in describing her as “nice”, prompting Rose to ask what sort of nice (ll. 25-26). Hera then begs Rose not to say anything “funny” when they go there, and not to “get smart.” (ll. 27-28). This foreshadows the climax of the story. In a brief flashback, Hera remembers their mother telling her sister that while she has the brains, Hera is the one with “the sense”.
The tension rises as Hera admits to feeling “funny” (ll. 30-31) about taking Rose to see the dressmaker, Jane Frazer, because…
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Ending
In the falling action, even though she is convinced that Rose is right, Hera argues that they do the same thing as Jane when they refer to people by their white “Pakeha” race. Rose agrees, but replies that “It’s not so much what is said, but when and where and in whose presence.” (ll. 116-117)
Tension falls as Rose tells Hera not to worry, that Jane will still want to be her friend, because “it’s fashionable for a Pakeha to h…
