Structure

The short story “Hope” by Jonathan Santlofer has a linear plot structure. The story begins in medias res with the characters driving somewhere on a Sunday morning (l. 4). Suspense is created by the mention of their car being followed (l. 19) since readers do not know why.

Apart from a couple of flashbacks, the plot is chronological. The events in the story leading up to Hope’s abortion and its aftermath create a conflict between Hope and Artie. In the first flashback (ll. 95-99), Artie remembers Hope telling him her period is two months late, and him “asking around until he got a name” (l. 97), followed by making the appointment with an illegal abortionist. Hope’s thoughts and feelings during the drive, when she thinks she wants to jump out of the car...