"The Temptations of Two" Response

In Susan Fox Rogers' piece "The Temptations of Two," she contrasts her experience of embarking on a kayak excursion alone versus with her friend Emily. Her conclusion that adventuring with a companion banishes worry and encourages spontanuity becomes a theme for her story. She writes that when she journeys alone, "the questions never end" (Rogers 162). On her own, she is "alert to every possible danger" and reminds herself of her fears "with every slip or mistake or forgotten piece of gear" (162). After kayaking after dark with Emily, Rogers is asked by her friend, "Would you have done this alone?" (166). Rogers comes to the realization that, were it not for her companion, she would have likely been too hesitant to go through with any of the decisions they had made together that night. Rogers carries this theme into her use of language. She describes Emily speeding away on her bike "like a burst of caffeine" (166). Caffeine supplies fast energy; it can be related to spontaneous action because it fuels momentarily and anyone who consumes it reacts quickly to it. Rogers also writes a description of a riverside factory, creating a transition from eeriness to awe: "The monster had become beautiful" (167). The description makes clear how having a companion can positively change one's outlook on things.