To Set Our House In Order By Margaret Laurence Analysis

1038 Words3 Pages

The short story “To Set Our House in Order” by Margaret Laurence displays the elements of fiction in a compelling way. The story is set in a town made up by Laurence called Manawaka and is located in Manitoba. This represents the town that she grew up in called Neepawa. The story is based during the Great Depression, which has many effects on how their family functions. This, in turn, makes the whole MacLeod family need to live with Grandmother MacLeod in her large brick house. The story is told by the main character Vanessa who is reflecting back on a memory of when she was ten. Throughout the short story plot, conflict, character, theme, and symbol, which are all extremely important elements of fiction, are depicted.
The plot of the short …show more content…

They are what the author wants the reader to understand by the end of the story. The most prominent theme in the short story is the idea of order. All that Grandmother MacLeod wants in her house is order. Some symbols of order throughout the story include the hair brushes because Grandmother MacLeod did not want them touched or moved. Another symbol of order was the brick house the whole MacLeod family lived in. It was her house and she wanted everything in it to happen her way, and her way had order. By the time the end of the story came around, Vanessa discovered that not everything in her life will have order. Vanessa learned that her Grandmother had reasons for how she acted and why she wanted everything a certain way. Another important theme in the short story is family. No matter what is thrown at the MacLeod family, they manage to get through it. The house is also a symbol of family because since the Great Depression made times very rough the whole family came together to get through it. One more major theme is the idea of death. Grandfather MacLeod and brother Roderick both passed away and Vanessa’s mother had a miscarriage. The death of Grandfather MacLeod had big impacts on Grandmother MacLeod because she lost her way of life. She did not have him to provide for her anymore. Grandmother MacLeod also lost her son Rodrick. His death had large effects on both her and Ewen. Ewen believes it was his fault because he had blinded his brother with an airsoft gun. A symbol that represents the theme of death is the mother having a baby. Before her most recent pregnancy she had a miscarriage, and for this baby she had to have a cesarean. In this time having a cesarean was very dangerous for the mother and the baby. In some cases, a cesarean would lead to

Show More
Related

  • Repetition and Metaphor in the Short Story, Eleven by Sandra Cisneros

    477 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the short story "Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros, a young girl named Rachel is characterized. Through a specific incident, Cisneros shows how Rachel does not act as old as eleven ideally should. Through repetition and metaphor, Cisneros alludes to Rachel?s personality and childish views.

    Read More

  • The Kitchen House By Kathleen Grissom: An Analysis

    978 Words  | 2 Pages

    conduct themselves distinctly. Evil and wicked people tends to hurt and harm others with no

    Read More

  • Sandra Cisneros Eleven

    782 Words  | 2 Pages

    The short story Eleven by Sandra Cisneros, focuses around the main character Rachel as an insecure developing girl who lacks the experience to handle everyday encounters. Rachel, an eleven year old girl truly encapsulates the thoughts that are present within an adolescent. The lack of confidence in herself, excessive fear of being judged, and ideas of growing up are ideals that are relevant within each and every one of us. The reader is able to relate to Rachel because her feelings and experiences that are described by the author are similar to what most people have been through and are currently experiencing. The characterization of Rachel is expressed through the author’s usage of point of view, imagery, and repetition.

    Read More

  • Ellen Foster

    748 Words  | 2 Pages

    basis of the plot and themes of this novel. The fond memories she possessed of her mother and the harsh ones of her father are reflected in the thoughts and

    Read More

  • The Development Of Escape In Margaret Laurence's A Bird In The House

    1078 Words  | 3 Pages

    Vanessa finds freedom as the novel concludes when she drives past the Brick House as an adult; she finds her escape in the very thing she wished to escape. Grandfather Connor is characterized as the antagonist to Vanessa as he often seems uncaring and distant. When his daughter, Edna, and later Vanessa, bring a boyfriend to the Brick House, he is unable to “be nice, for her [his wife's] sake” (75). Due to these intentional similarities and links between the Brick House and Grandfather Connor, the fact that the house is described at the introduction and the conclusion of the novel as something that Vanessa carries within her heart and as a “hurt.

    Read More

  • The Half Husky Analysis

    1191 Words  | 3 Pages

    Vanessa resides in a safe, clean environment, in a brick house, south side of the tracks. Vanessa’s mom keeps the house neat and tidy which results in Vanessa’s life always being in order. The brick house shows the wealth in the MacLeod household because bricks were uncommon on the prairies and also were expensive, especially during this time period (depression). Furthermore, the Macleod’s were a middle-class family, as they “could afford only one load” of birch wood because “it was expensive.”.

    Read More

  • Use of Literary Techniques to Characterize Rachel in Cisneros’ Eleven

    570 Words  | 2 Pages

    In “Eleven”, written by Sandra Cisneros, Cisneros uses literary techniques such as diction and imagery to characterize Rachel’s character during her transition from age ten to age 11. These literary techniques help to describe how Rachel feels in certain situations while also explaining her qualities and traits. Through the use of these literary techniques Cisneros also collaborated on Rachel’s feelings when she was other ages and how she felt at that time during her life.

    Read More

  • Holly is a Runaway

    746 Words  | 2 Pages

    Holly Janquell is a runaway. Wendelin Van Draanan creates a twelve year old character in the story, Runaway, that is stubborn and naive enough to think she can live out in the streets alone, until she is eighteen.She has been in five foster homes for the past two years. She is in foster care because her mother dies of heroin overdose. In her current foster home, she is abused, locked in the laundry room for days without food, and gets in even more trouble if she tries to fight back. Ms.Leone, her schoolteacher, could never understand her, and in Holly’s opinion, probably does not care. No one knows what she is going through, because she never opens up to any one. Ms. Leone gives Holly a journal at school one day and tells her to write poetry and express her feelings. Holly is disgusted. But one day when she is sitting in the cold laundry room, and extremely bored, she pulls out the diary, and starts to write. When Holly can take no more of her current foster home, she runs, taking the journal with her. The journal entries in her journal, are all written as if she is talking to Ms.Leone, even though she will probably never see her again. Over the course of her journey, Holly learns to face her past through writing, and discovers a love for poetry. At some point in this book, Holly stops venting to Ms. Leone and starts talking to her, almost like an imaginary friend, and finally opens up to her.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Jane Howard's Essay In Search Of A Good Family

    817 Words  | 2 Pages

    Journalist, Jane Howard in her argumentative essay, “ In Search of a Good Family “ emphasized the markers of a good family. Howard's purpose is to give her opinion on families, because she thinks human being should not be alone. She adopts an educated, factual and knowledgeable time in order to appeal to similar feelings and experiences towards the whole country. Howard uses many rhetorical question, metaphors , repetition, and allusions to help her pull her argument together Howard argues how essential is to have a good family. All human being need a family , clan or a tribe in order to survive in the real world. No matter where you are or what are the circumstances you are going through. You would always have somewhere or someone to fall back to.

    Read More

  • Relationships in "The Girls in Their Summer Dresses"

    997 Words  | 2 Pages

    “The story employs a dramatic point of view that emphasizes the fragility of human relationships. It shows understanding and agreemen...

    Read More

  • A Pair of Tickets by Amy Tan

    1117 Words  | 3 Pages

    influence all her life and struggles to accept her true identity. Through the story you can

    Read More

  • Mary Jane Minkin Maternal Health

    1570 Words  | 4 Pages

    “In the last ten years, we have started regularly practicing to react for emergencies that rarely happen, so that we are better prepared and have better outcomes when the time comes,” they stated. Furthermore, Moxley and Fernandez aim to cut down on unnecessary c-sections, which increase the maternal risk of having complications during childbirth. They state, “The statistics indicate after the first C-section, repeat births will be done via C-section 90% of the time. Since the risk of complications increases with C-sections, we want to make sure that the C-section is medically needed.

    Read More

  • Cesarean Delivery vs Vaginal Delivery

    1062 Words  | 3 Pages

    Worldwide, the rate of cesarean section is increasing. According to the CDC, in 2012 the rate of cesarean sections comprised 32.8% of all births in the United States (CDC, 2013). Between 1996-2009 the cesarean section rate has risen 60% in the U.S (CDC, 2013). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 50% of the 137 countries studies had cesarean section rates higher than 15% (WHO, 2010). The current goal of U.S. 2020 Healthy People is to reduce the rate of cesarean section to a target of 23.9%, which is almost 10% lower than the current rate (Healthy People 2020, 2013). According to a study conducted by Gonzales, Tapia, Fort, and Betran (2013), the appropriate percentage of performed cesarean sections is unclear, and is dependent on the circumstances of each individual birth (p. 643). Though often a life-saving procedure when necessary, the risks and complications associated with cesarean delivery are a cause for alarm due to the documented rate increase of this procedure across the globe. Many studies have revealed that cesarean deliveries increase the incidence of maternal hemorrhage and mortality and neonatal respiratory distress when compared to vaginal deliveries. As a result, current research suggests that efforts to reduce the rate of non-medically indicated cesarean sections should be made, and that comprehensive patient education should be provided when considering an elective cesarean delivery over a planned vaginal delivery.

    Read More

  • C-Section

    1217 Words  | 3 Pages

    Cesarean birthing method can be voluntary as well as involuntary. When a cesarean is chosen in advance it is usually because the mother has a history of infection, which could be transmitted to the baby when it is delivered through the birth canal; the mother has severe to...

    Read More

  • Female Empowerment In The Color Purple By Alice Walker

    1840 Words  | 4 Pages

    The novel follows the protagonist, Celie, as she experiences such hardships as racism and abuse, all the while attempting to discover her own sense of self-worth. Celie expresses herself through a series of private letters that are initially addressed to God, then later to her sister Nettie. As Celie develops from an adolescent into an adult, her letters possess m... ... middle of paper ... ... bservations of her situation and form an analysis of her own feelings.

    Read More

More about To Set Our House In Order By Margaret Laurence Analysis

Open Document