Shiloh Essay -- essays research papers

Norma jean Moffit is a simple, southern woman, but she is also a caterpillar who is discovering that on that point is more to life than crawling around on the ground. She has with-in her, the power to call on wings and fly away The opportunity to view the macrocosm by and through the eyes of a butterfly. Since Larrys accident, she has come to realize that she has reached a crossroads in her life. If she goes straight on through, complacency and neglect are the only bread ahead. If she veers to either the left or right, there is mystery, knowledge, and change The opportunity for a new life. It would appear with-in the story, she has opted for some change, and begins her adventure in experiencing new things such as "... cooking unusual foods - tacos, lasagna, Bombay chicken." She begins to work on her body, borrowing the whim from Leroys rehabilitation equipment, which would otherwise be collecting dust in a corner of the house somewhere. She begins to take writing cla sses to improve her mind, which further represents her subscribe to for change and something new.She has, in a sense, taken on the masculine grapheme in the household since Leroy has come home. She is the sole provider for the family, working shadow the cosmetics counter at Rexalls. Her body building is indicative of the reversal in her role. When discussing the meaning on their names, Norma Jean tells Leroy that his name means the king. He asks her if he is still king and she "... flexes her biceps and feels them for vexedness." thus showing him that he is not. Furthermore, she drives the nail home by telling him the meaning of her name. "Norma comes from the Normans. They were invaders." She has invaded, and taken over, his position as the head of the household. At the end of the story "She turns towards Leroy and waves her arms .... she seems to be doing an exercise for her chest muscles." I suppose that she was showing Leroy that she is strong enough , or has found the strength to vary him and forge a new path in life. Furthermore, I believe that she was implying that she was never going to find the strength to motorcarry the two of them through this relationship when she stated, early in the story, "Feel this arm. Its not as hard as the other nonpareil." Norma Jean is a woman who had accepted her hymeneals for what it was, until her husband came home. It was than that she r... ...o work at Rexalls, but attends classes during the evening. Eventually, she graduates with a degree in Journalism and moves from Kentucky to Atlanta to take a job working for one of the local papers. She now writes editorials and helps others by answering letters in her advice pillar under the assumed name Norma King.After a divorce that he openly opposed, Leroy sinks into a deeply depressed state. Drugs and alcohol become a constant in his life, and was to Leroy, the only way he could find to lose the harsh reality of his demise. After s everal failed jobs and one arrest for common intoxication he attempts to commit suicide by driving his car into a concrete abutment. His unsuccessful attempt places him into a rehabilitation cracker where he is counseled and eventually cured of his afflictions. During his stay in rehab, his reflections on the bygone forced him to open his eyes and it left a lasting fantasy on him. He is once again ready to face the world and feels as though he has finally started his life over."Shiloh"byBobbie AnnMasonAs interpreted by Mike Bladesvar yvContents=/toto?s=76000015& vitamin Al=NE&b=1&t=940563698yfEA()-->