An Analysis of Symbolism in a Story of an Hour and Shiloh
Symbolism is widely used in both Story of an Hour and Shiloh, and plays a key component in understanding the story. The stories are similar because theyre both about a wife that is trapped in a marriage. Both of the wives in the stories wanted to be free and go on with their lives, but the endings are very different from one another.
In Shiloh, the author Bobbie Ann Mason, uses symbolism in many different ways. Leroy saw himself as the man of the house, and the author made that apparent with the symbolism shown in the story. Mason used foreshadowing and symbolism to clue the reader into the eventual fate of Leroy and Norma Jeans marriage. You can tell on many different occasions that Norma Jean is ready to move on with her life while Leroy is sitting around getting high and smoking joints, only talking about getting on with his life. I believe that the author is suggesting that marijuana is making Leroy very unmotivated to do anything with his life.
Perhaps the death of their infant was a main reason in why they prolonged their marriage for so long. Norma Jean had enrolled in classes at a nearby community college. That is definitely a symbol of how she wants to move on with her life because shes sick of sitting around living the life that she had with Leroy. Four months ago Leroy was involved in a highway accident in which he was hurt and had to have steel pins in his hip. He returned home to rest and rehabilitate his leg. Leroy came home to his wife hoping she would be the same person he left many years before. When Leroy gets home he made the statement that he is the man of the house.
Order custom essay An Analysis of Symbolism in a Story of an Hour and Shiloh with free plagiarism report
450+ experts on 30 subjects
Starting from 3 hours delivery
He expected Norma Jean to love him in the same way she did when they were younger, but unfortunately for Leroy Norma Jean had begun to move on with her life. This symbolizes the beginning of the end of their marriage. Leroy takes up needlepoint and makes a Star Trek pillow which shows his lack of motivation and drive to move on in life. It is very important to understand the symbolism in the final scene of the story. Looking for a place to picnic Leroy and Norma Jean sit down next to a cemetery where Union soldiers were buried. This symbolizes they death of their life together as husband and wife. Norma Jean walks towards a bluff over looking a the Tennessee River. Leroy tries to follow however his bad leg still hurts and his good leg is asleep. This shows us that he will never catch up with her and their marriage is over.
Kate Chopins A Story of an Hour, is packed with symbols that contribute to understanding what happens to Mrs. Mallard. Many references to spring time as well as her upstairs location and her chair, are both symbols used in the story. The first reference to spring time occurred right after the tragic news that her husband had been killed. This symbolizes a new beginning for Mrs. Mallard. Immediately after she heard the news she went upstairs to her chair and looked out the window.
Trees are aquiver with new spring life. She smells the delicious breath of rain. Sparrows are twittering in the leaves. All of these things symbolize being free and out of the marriage. In the story she loved him sometimes but often she did not. This symbolizes how the many marriages that go without fulfillment these days. In the story the room where Mrs. Mallard escapes to, to be alone, symbolizes the marriage. Mrs. Mallard goes to the room to sit in the chair, but always is exhausted when she sits. This symbolizes how she feels about her marriage as well. Another symbol in the story that was used were the stairs in the house.
Cite this Page
An Analysis of Symbolism in a Story of an Hour and Shiloh. (2023, May 30). Retrieved from https://phdessay.com/an-analysis-of-symbolism-in-a-story-of-an-hour-and-shiloh/
Run a free check or have your essay done for you
