Fish Bowl

Yesterday, on Friday, the class had a fishbowl discussion with Tandy, Adventure, and Death. Although my group discussed yesterday, I was not able to provide all the insight I wanted to due to lack of time. As we were discussing Winesburg, Ohio, Anirudh, Aditya, Shannon, and I talked about some of the general events that occurred in the chapter, Adventure.
First of all, I thought that it was strange when Alice Hindman talks about her step-father. She says, "His story is an odd one. It will be worth telling some day." Why does Sherwood Anderson describe him like this to us? What is the purpose? Why not just continue on with the story. This one sentence boggled my mind, because I could not figure out why Anderson had to state just a redundant sentence. It must have SOME significance. If anyone does read this post, please respond, because I have no idea why this occurred.
Additionally, this chapter almost seemed like a fairy-tale to me. Her step-father is a carriage painter, which may allude to Cinderella. Alice became a weaver of carpets. Aladdin anyone? Moreover, this entire chapter is about one girl waiting for her one true love to free her from her loneliness. There is even one sentence that exactly describes sleeping beauty. “Her imagination, .like a child awakened from long sleep, played about the room. Even Shrek relates to this. Additionally, throughout the story, Alice is always seen dreaming for a better life, better future, and in all, better everything. Unfortunately, Alice never finds her prince charming. How sad...
I also noticed another thing. Whenever Alice was on her knees, she was always in a state of embarrassment. Whenever she was praying, she prayed after the fact that she was embarrassed from some realization about herself. "It is not going to come to me. I will never find happiness. Why do I tell myself lies?" In the end, Alice is last found on her knees, when she runs outside nude embarrassed from her own actions.
Finally, I noticed that Sherwood Anderson used repetition in a superfluous manner. “…whispering words over and over… growing louder and louder…” This is another style that I did not quite understand. What was the purpose of this over-use of repetition? I first thought it was to emphasize these scenes more, but later it seemed like something more. There was something that I missed. This repetition has some deeper meaning that I cannot figure out. Hopefully, someone will reply and give me some hint that may allow me to further understand this story.
Lastly, what is the purpose of the last sentence? “…began trying to force herself to face bravely the fact that many people must live and die alone, even in Winesburg.” Why does Alice say this? She is still young and is nowhere near dying. I understand that she has come to terms to her own situation, but why does she say that people live and die alone? Even though she has been in loneliness this entire chapter, she only reaches her late twenties and has plenty of time to make acquaintances. She is not being realistic. Another interpretation I had was that she may end in committing suicide. I guess it’s up to the reader’s imagination to find out.