Structure

Title

The literal meaning of the title of the short story “The Rejection” by Woody Allen is revealed from the beginning, when readers learn that Boris and Anna Ivanovich are disturbed by their son’s rejection by Manhattan’s top nursery school (p. 139, ll. 1-3). The rejection takes on catastrophic proportions as the story progresses, suggesting that it is also an important symbol of social status in Manhattan’s upper class. 

First, Boris becomes very concerned about how others will see him (p. 139, ll. 10-13). Boris’ concern is not unfounded, as his colleague Siminov uses an anecdote about another young man who was not admitted into a top kindergarten to warn Boris that Mischa’s life will be ruined (p. 140, ll. 1-23). Then, the family starts to lose both its money and its privileges in society: Armani cancels Anna’s charge account (p. 140, ll. 45-46), Boris is banned from an elite restaurant (p. 141, ll. 5-6), and they end up in a homeless shelter after their second attempt to get Mischa int...