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“Shiloh” by Bobbie Ann Mason: The clues to a broken marriage
Within the story “Shiloh” [Bobbie Ann Mason] there were many components that presented itself to prove that the Moffitt’s marriage was failing. Each character showed themselves in ways that seemed to give Leroy’s wife a discomfort at being in her own home such as Leroy persistently offering to give her a log house, yet failed to be on her side for many things such as dealing with her mother. Furthermore, the couple fails to acknowledge the issues within their marriage, for instances the child that they had lost. The issue with their marriage can seem to come from both sides since the wife of Leroy could have mentioned how she felt directly towards him about her struggle within
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Even though his wife “Norma Jean” seems to try to convince him to get one as stated within the text “. . . “things you could do,” she announces. “You could get a job as a guard at the Union Carbide” . . . [Leroy interrupts mid-sentence] “I can’t do something where I’d have to stand all day” (Mason 620) he seems to deny what she offers and even after she tries again he states that he would do something and leaves the subject alone. Another moment is when Norma Jean gets caught smoking by her mom “Mabel” and as a punishment, Mabel mentions this terrible event that happens to a child in which she states that the child must have been neglected. After that scene occurred Norma Jean seems distressed and when she looks for her husbands support he does not side with her. In the text it is clearly stated in the conversation “[Norma Jean states] the very idea, her [Mabel] bring up a subject like that! Saying it was neglect. [Leroy's’ response] she didn’t mean that.” (Mason 622) that only goes on further showing how he fails to comfort her and chooses to end the conversation in those terms leaving not siding with her. It is clear the wife felt very disturbed by the fact her own mom is going off at her because she got caught smoking but to have her husband not side with her is like a betrayal. That shows how …show more content…
If there was more discussed the child and them being able to have a conversation about it then it would also allow them to be open about other things as well. When Mabel mentioned the death of a child Norma Jean was clearly distressed yet even after that and Leroy spoke with her it was as if he wanted to stop the conversation from occurring. Even when he goes on to talk about his dead son he seems distant from even mentioning it and describing the movie. That show how his distance from that is also carrying distance in the relationship. Their deceased child is symbolism to how their marriage was and how they currently are. They may have loved one another at one point but it seemed forced for the sake of their child but after that, they choose to grief within their own ways that seemed to be closed up. Even when they are about to go to Shiloh the situation seems clear when Norma Jean does not consider the marriage as something worth deeming as good but burdening as mentioned when Mabel mentions how it could be like taking a honeymoon yet Norma Responses with ”who’s going on a honeymoon, for Christ’s sake?” (Mason 623) that shows she is clearly not happy with doing what both her husband and mom want her
Bobbie Ann Mason explores a relationship conflict in the short story “Shiloh.” Manson uses a metaphor of craft building as a way to tell the story of Leroy and Norma’s relationship. Craft show how easily an object is build and how a mistake can deform the outcome. In the story “Shiloh, craft building is used to display what takes place between Leroy and Norma. The craft building metaphor symbolizes Leroy wanting to restart his life and Leroy wanting to rebuild his life and Leroy wanting to rebuild his relationship with Norma. The craft building for Leroy to build a Log Cabin also foreshadows the outcome of the relationship.
The Civil War was a major point in American History. It has influenced everyone in America in many ways. The War was conducted in two main areas of the United States. These two parts were in the area east of the Mississippi River and in the area west of the Mississippi River. The control of both of these fronts was vital for victory by either the Union or the Confederacy. On March 8, 1862, a small skirmish at Pea Ridge, Arkansas led to the Union's domination of the west. The Battle of Pea Ridge had a great impact on the civil war by giving control of the west to the Federal forces (Battle).
The Civil War had a very large affect on all of the States. It changed men from gentlemen that went to church every Sunday and never cussed to people who rarely went to church and cussed all the time. Some of the people in the war were also very corrupt and did not do things as they should be done. The way that the enemy was looked at was even changed. All of these things were talked about in "The Civil War Diary of Cyrus F. Boyd".
Shelby Foote's Shiloh is a novel about a real Civil War battle told from the point of view of a few common soldiers, both northern and southern, who fought there. Because he chose to depict the action from these points of view, he limits what can be said of the big picture. If one can ignore that big picture, the book works very well at showing the reader what the experience must have been like for individuals caught up in different parts of the fight. Yet needing to provide some of that picture, Foote has each character present background on specific generals and their actions leading up to Shiloh. This exposition is, for the most part, pretty clumsy and simply detracts from ...
Plot structure in ‘Shiloh’ shows how a small change in a marriage can ultimately make it fall apart. In the exposition, we find that Leroy used to be a truck driver until he got in an accident and injured his leg. His occupation caused him to be away from home often, and Norma Jean became used to being alone. This became a normalcy to Norma Jean, and Leroy being home all the time was something they both had to adjust to. Thus, their problems began. As the weeks go by and Leroy is still not back to work, Norma Jean must become the provider of the house. In the ...
Leroy arrives home from a drive and finds Norma Jean in tears.” (Mason p. 50). Norma
The Battle of Shiloh was an extraordinary event in the civil war timeline and would be a great deal as to when the war was fought at its hardest. The sources I have researched and collected will help me better understand this battle and many other facts I have yet to discover. The Battle of Shiloh is not the most well known battle during the Civil war, but it gives us an idea on how gruesome the fighting was during this time. I view this battle as a turning point for the Union and the continuing losses for the Confederate army as they try to gain back territory. Officers of each side had separate plans, where the Union needed to take the Memphis and Charleston Railroads, and the Confederates just wanted to stop the Union troops from advancing further south(CWPT).
The first conflict in this story is between Leroy and his distance from his wife for such a long time. Mrs. Moffitt has been trying to cope with her husbands’ absence by doing other activities such as: working out, going back to school, and visiting with her mother. Another conflict resides within Leroy himself. He has not been there for his wife and he is trying to make it up to her in any way he can. This couple has been through the loss of an infant child in addition to Leroy’s absence. This is another issue that is causing them to experience the conflicts they do. Mr. and Mrs. Moffitt do not speak of this lost child, which causes more conflict between their marriage together. Leroy, once being settled at home with nothing to do, began to work with his hands to construct or design objects. He wanted to build his wife a log cabin as he was making replicas out of toothpicks. I think him wanting to build this house is to prove to himself and his wife that he can still be productive and good for something. The relationship Leroy has with Norma Jean’s mother is quite different. Any time she comes around, he makes jokes instead of having real conversation with her. I think he makes the jokes to ease the tension and to not address real issues that are present. Leroy has also stated that all those years driving in the same neighborhood he did not take the time to notice how much it had changed.
... chapter in Norma Jean and Leroy's life now that they will be apart. There is nothing left in their marriage that can keep them together because according to Norma Jean it was over a long time ago.
The character Norma Jean fits all the psychological characteristics of behavior change in mothers who are coping with life after losing their child to sudden infant death syndrome. The most common symptoms are anxiety and depression (Boyle 933 par.1). She is always trying to stay busy. First she decided to build her own body up. She goes to the gym or does exercises around the house whenever she is home. Second she decided to take night classes at her local community college. She comes home and writes essays of stories she has read. She never seems to be in a relaxed state of being. These are signs of anxiety. The definition of anxiety is uneasiness. She can’t decide what she wants to do with herself. There are many reasons for her depression. She is trying to cope with the death of her child, her empty marriage to Leroy and her less than supportive mother.
This story reveals to the reader how distance and low communication can separate individuals from each other. Leroy, the narrator, is a person that has lived separated from his wife Norma Jean for a lot of time because of the job he has. This has created a gap between the two of them. After the accident when Leroy has to stay in the house to recuperate, they find out that they both really don't know each other. He is having a lot of time on his hands, so he decides to build a model of the house he promised Norma Jean when they got married. This only creates a problem since his wife doesn't want a log cabin. Leroy is finally noticing that everything has changed, that nothing is the same as before. He was to busy or hardly ever in town to realize all the changes that where happening around him. When he tries to get closer to Norma Jean, apparently it separates them more. During their trip to Shiloh, Norma realizes that everything is going back to the way it was before Leroy started his trucking job. This makes her feel eighteen again and she is not willing to do that again. This creates a confusing situation for Leroy because he does not understand why Norma is acting that way. Finally he realizes that all that time apart has created a relationship where Norma pre...
Eliza Wharton has sinned. She has also seduced, deceived, loved, and been had. With The Coquette Hannah Webster Foster uses Eliza as an allegory, the archetype of a woman gone wrong. To a twentieth century reader Eliza's fate seems over-dramatized, pathetic, perhaps even silly. She loved a man but circumstance dissuaded their marriage and forced them to establish a guilt-laden, whirlwind of a tryst that destroyed both of their lives. A twentieth century reader may have championed Sanford's divorce, she may have championed the affair, she may have championed Eliza's acceptance of Boyer's proposal. She may have thrown the book angrily at the floor, disgraced by the picture of ineffectual, trapped, female characters.
The setting in the short story “Shiloh” by Bobbie Ann Mason works well to accentuate the theme of the story. The theme portrayed by Mason is that most people change along with their environment, with the exception of the few who are unwilling to adapt making it difficult for things such as marriage to work out successfully. These difficulties are apparent in Norma Jean and Leroy’s marriage. As Norma Jean advances herself, their marriage ultimately collapses due to Leroy’s unwillingness to adapt with her and the changing environment.
In her final letter to her mother, Eliza admits her wrong doings. She tells her mother she ignored all the things she was told. All their advice fell on her deaf ears. She explains that she had fallen victim to her own indiscretion. She had become the latest conquest of “a designing libertine,” (Foster 894). She knew about Sanford’s reputation, she knew his intentions, and she knew that he was married, yet she still started a relationship with him. And her blatant disregard for facts and common sense caused her unwed pregnancy and premature demise. Eliza Wharton had nobody to blame for her situation but herself. She ignored warnings, advice, common sense, and other options available to her. She chose her ill fated path and had to suffer the consequences.
The death of their son happened before Leroy was on the road all the time. They never really discussed what happened or how it made them feel. Leroy just hits the road and pretty much stayed there until he got hurt. I think this was the beginning of the rift between them. Norma Jean had some resentment for Leroy for leaving her to deal with all her emotions by herself. They were in it together, but never dealt with it together. Now Leroy is back and Norma Jean must see him everyday. She tries to escape from the pain and resentment that she feels by taking up different hobbies. When Leroy was gone she was not reminded that they had a son, she basically started a n...