Clodagh

Clodagh is the main character and first person narrator of the short story. When Clodagh is 23 years old, she comes to the United States from Ireland to pursue a master’s degree in applied analytics (29). Coming to and integrating into New York culture and life overwhelms Clodagh. She is also fatigued by her degree. In order to alleviate these troubles, she takes an anthropology class with a woman named Paola Visintin. Because Paola is Italian, well-dressed, intelligent, and fearless, Clodagh becomes enamored of her. She interprets Paola’s external appearance as indomitability, wisdom, and strength. Therefore, Clodagh starts to meet with Paola regularly. She comes to regard her as her mentor and to share all of her life’s troubles, woes, and questions with her. However, when Clodagh later tells Paola that she has been sexually assaulted, Paola dismisses the issue instead of coming to her defense.

Years...