The Temptations of Two Response

The theme of Rodger's essay The Temptations of Two is that the experiences that scare you or caution you the most are the most rewarding. This is shown by the excerpt, "safety is not why I go. There are many reasons, too obvious to mention, to venture onto the river. But always, the post-play feeling, the tantalizing heat that spreads." This shows how the safety of trip is not the attention grabbing factor, the rush of the moment is what makes it more special than safe trips. Two uses of Rodger's language that struck me as effective were (1) "but she's much stronger because she works all day pounding nails, ripping out ugly cabinet fixtures, and making magic in people's kitchens and bathrooms." I enjoyed this excerpt because it was a very unique and interesting way of saying she worked on kitchen and bathroom remodels. It painted a more vivid picture but still maintained to get the point across. (2) "I had seen the river only as a playground where sailboats skimmed on windy weekends and where some came to fish. That sound and image had thumped me out of my happy complacency, had made the river infinitely more interesting." I liked this passage because it demonstrated the simplicity of the river before she saw the ice melting and then the sense of wonder after she saw it.