Essays on The Painted Door

The Painted Door is a short story written by Canadian author Sinclair Ross. The story is set during the Great Depression on the Canadian prairies. The story's protagonist, John, is a farmer who lives with his wife, Ann, on a farm that is failing due to the drought. John is a hard-working man, but he is also a proud man who is not willing to ask for help from his neighbors. Ann is a woman who is bored and unhappy with her life on the farm. She is also frustrated with her husband, who she feels is more interested in his work than in her. One day, John leaves the farm to go to town to buy some seed, and he tells Ann to stay home. Ann is bored and frustrated, and she decides to go for a walk. She walks to the nearest farmhouse, which is owned by her neighbor, Steve. Steve is a widower, and Ann is attracted to him. She flirts with him, and he flirts with her. Eventually, they end up having an affair. Ann feels guilty about cheating on her husband, but she is also excited by the adventure. When John returns home, he finds that his wife is not there. He assumes that she has gone to the neighbors' house, and he goes to look for her. When he arrives at the neighbors' house, he finds that Ann and Steve are in the midst of an affair. John is angry and disappointed, but he does not say anything. He simply turns and walks away. The story ends with John walking back to his farm, alone. The message in The Painted Door is that life is often difficult and unpredictable. People must be careful not to take their loved ones for granted.