The story "Contents of the Dead Man's Pocket" takes place in an apartment in New York City high above Lexington Avenue in the 1950s.
Tom is staying at home while his wife goes to the movies so he can write a memo out lining his suggestions for a new grocery store display method. While his wife goes out the door, the paper he is working on that contains all of his research notes blows out the window. Then the paper sticks to the wall out side of the building further then Tom could reach. Then he goes out on the ledge to try to get the paper and after dangerously trying to get the paper and getting it he found that the window to his apartment was not shut. After trying for a while he is finally able to smash the glass in the window. After being back in his apartment he sat the paper on his desk.
A variety of foods hanging from the window of a gr...
Chicken hanging from the window of a grocery store...
Jim Norris and wife, homesteaders, Pie Town, New M...As he opens the front door to go join his wife at the movies, the paper blows out the smashed window. Tom just laughs and leaves to go join his wife at the movies.
The problem in the story is Tom Benecke's is the grocery chain manager and while his wife was leaving to go to the movies his memo outlining his suggestions for a new grocery store display method blows out the door.
Tom Benecke eventually gets the paper back and sets it on his desk and gets his coat to go to the movies with his wife and as he opens the front door is paper gets blown out the smashed window never to be seen again and Tom just laughs and leaves to join his wife.
English: An Entennmann's cake donut, bought from a...
Windows opstartscherm in etalage computerwinkel.
Corner Grocery Store
"Contents of the Dead Man's Pocket" (Page: 6)
What the writer says is not bad, but he completely defeats the purpose of this essay by failing to explain what Tom does on the ledge to try to alert someone, anyone to his plight. He is trapped on the ledge of his building, high above Lexington Avenue. And where does the title come from? He drops the contents of his pockets onto the sidewalk below, trying to attract the attention of a passer-by. When he contemplates shattering the window, he knows his situation is desperate. If the glass breaks, he will fall into his apartment, but if it doesn't, the force of his blow will send him off the ledge to his death. The police will investigate, trying to determine why he fell, and the contents of his pockets will be a center of their inquiry. In short, this essay misses the point of the story.
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