STEAL analysis offers an overview of various internal elements that affects the story. It is an acronym for Speech, Thoughts, Effect on others, Action and Looks.
Note: Additional details for each element, such as textual evidences, may appear after each infographic.
THOUGHTS (additional)
◼ When Carol wants to go to church and wonders if they have a different church there for people who's rich, poor or mixed.
“The church you go to, who goes there? The rich? The poor, or mixed?”
◼ When Carol didn't want to eat the food in the Thai restaurant they went aside from chicken wings.
"She said she found it hard to eat at a Thai restaurant. A friend in Manila had told her that the Thais ate cats and dogs." she also said “I couldn’t tell what kind of meat they used in their cooking except for the chicken wings. And I thought the tea tasted funny.”
◼ When Carol feels that she troubled Ben a lot.
“I’m sorry I keep doing dumb things that make you mad. I don’t know anything about life here. It’s miserable–I’ll never get used to it. It’s a very lonely life, very different from what I expected.”
◼ When Carol wants to thank Ben someday for all the help he did.
“Someday, I’ll be in a position to thank you properly,” she said.
◼ When Carol state her opinion about Bill to Ben.
“I like him, too. But do you think he can still perform? I mean, I don’t want to be stuck with somebody who can only do it once a week or less.”
◼ When Carol can't remember last night and wonders about it because it is an enjoyable evening.
“Do you know what happened to me last night?” she asked directly.
I didn’t answer, I didn’t know what to say.
“Look, it’s okay. I just want to know whether it was a dream or Bill or you. I had a good time last night–it’s been a long while since I had a more enjoyable evening.”
◼ When Carol feels bad to Ben because she's leaving soon.
“I’m sorry to have to leave you. I hope you won’t feel lonely.”
EFFECT ON OTHERS (additional)
◼ Frustration and Disappointment
"My simmering anger finally boiled over when I got my phone bill." This line depicts Ben's frustration because of Carol's behavior: not keeping the her space and the apartment tidy and using Ben's resources, such as telephone and pay-per-view subscriptions, excessively.
◼ Reflective and Understanding (Ben)
"She made me feel mean and selfish. I remembered how it was for me when I first arrived."
This line from the story suggests that Carol made Ben rethink and be reflective of his actions. It made him more understanding of Carol's situation because he, too, had been in the same shoes.
◼ Intimacy and Comfort (Both to Ben and Bill)
"I gave in to the urge to hug her. She hugged me back and I kissed her without being asked like the first time." This passage shows that Carol became really close with Ben especially after expressing their fears and frustrations on each other.
"Please come to our wedding." This passage means that Bill chose Carol to be his wife and be the woman he will be spending the rest of his life with. It also means that Bill found comfort and peace in her.
ACTION (additional)
◼ Carol is enthusiastic and daring. She but in a way she’s also often takes on the easy road or shortcut and tends to make unwise decisions. She wants to have a good and satisfying life, unlike hard-working Filipinos.
"She made her living in Manila as a real estate agent. She said she had been top agent for several months in a row but now the market had gone soft. She decided it was time to visit America and enjoy the bit of money she had saved up over the years."
◼ Carol is a bit reckless and ignorant because this is her first time in a foreign land but in a way she’s also sweet and easy to get along with. She also ready to learn new things.
“I flooded the laundry room.” She had at last tried to use the washer at the end of the hallway. She put two large cups of detergent into the wash and it bubbled over filling the whole laundry room with beautiful bubbles."
“I’m sorry I keep doing dumb things that make you mad. I don’t know anything about life here. It’s miserable–I’ll never get used to it. It’s a very lonely life, very different from what I expected.”
"She put her face on my shoulder and finished crying. “Someday, I’ll be in a position to thank you properly,” she said.
"Our relationship after that incident improved. It wasn’t perfect but she was doing a lot more things around the apartment. Of course, she was also getting used by now to how things worked in America."
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