Content

The Story of An Hour.......................................................................................................5

Sample essay 1:................................................................................................................... 8
Sample essay 2:.................................................................................................................12
Flight.................................................................................................................................... 15
PLOT SUMMARY...............................................................................................15
CONFLICTS:....................................................................................................... 16
SETTING.............................................................................................................. 17
CHARACTERS.......................................................................................................... 21
POINT OF VIEW..................................................................................................... 27
Topic: Analyze the symbolic characters in “Flight”...........................................39
A Rose for Emily.............................................................................................................. 42
CONFLICTS:............................................................................................................ 44
Man vs. the society:......................................................................................... 44
Man vs. Man.......................................................................................................45
Man vs. himself.................................................................................................46
SETTING................................................................................................................... 47
Time setting....................................................................................................... 47
Place setting...................................................................................................... 48
Culture setting..................................................................................................48
CHARACTERS......................................................................................................... 49
Miss Emily:......................................................................................................... 49
Mr. Grierson:......................................................................................................57
Homer Barron:.................................................................................................. 58
The townspeople - New South:.................................................................... 61
POINT OF VIEW:.................................................................................................... 66
THEMES:.................................................................................................................. 66
FIGURARIVE LANGUAGES:.................................................................................67
A Critical Analysis of “A Rose for Emily” William Faulkner’s....................... 80
Emily defeats time..........................................................................................................82
The Boarding House...................................................................................................... 85
4. SETTING.........................................................................................................88
Physical setting: Mrs. Mooney’s boarding house, Mrs. Mooney’s parlor,
Doran’s room...........................................................................................................88

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 Social setting.......................................................................................................... 89
5. POINT OF VIEW............................................................................................91
6. CHARACTER ANALYSIS.............................................................................93
2. Authoritarian and concern for reputation................................................ 95
3. Strategic and self- interest.............................................................................97
4. Lack of empathy and emotional sensitivity............................................ 100
5. Manipulative...................................................................................................... 101
B. Characteristics of Polly Mooney........................................................................102
C. Characterization of Bob Doran.......................................................................... 108
Questions and answers:..............................................................................................124
Quality............................................................................................................................... 127
Plot summary:..................................................................................................127
CONFLICTS:.......................................................................................................... 130
Man vs. Himself:............................................................................................. 130
Man vs. society: MAIN...................................................................................132
SETTING:................................................................................................................ 133
Place................................................................................................................... 134
Atmosphere/Ambience................................................................................ 134
Time mentioned in the story:..................................................................... 135
CHARACTER ANALYSIS...................................................................................... 137
Mr. Gessler (Young brother)........................................................................ 137
CHARACTERISATION:...................................................................................138
Mr. Gessler (Elder brother of Gessler): minor character - flat - static
- shoemaker - the older one in Gessler brothers.................................149
The Narrator: main character - round - dynamic - loyal customer151
CHARACTERISATION:................................................................................... 151
The Englishman: minor character - flat - static - new owner of Mr.
Gessler’s shop.................................................................................................. 157
POINT OF VIEW....................................................................................................157
THEMES:.................................................................................................................159
Commitment:...................................................................................................159
Competition: between small businesses and big firms.......................162
Integrity: The tragedy of the Gessler brother signifies that human
values are threatened by material gain................................................... 163
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGES:............................................................................... 164

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 Metaphor:......................................................................................................... 164
Simile:................................................................................................................ 165
Hyperbole......................................................................................................... 166
Personification................................................................................................166
Parallelism........................................................................................................ 167
Climax:............................................................................................................... 167
Symbolism........................................................................................................ 168
Onomatopoeia.................................................................................................169
Imagery..............................................................................................................170
Analysis............................................................................................................................. 170
To Build a Fire.................................................................................................................175
CONFLICTS:.................................................................................................................... 180
4. Character analysis (main & minor)....................................................................183
- The man - protagonist.................................................................................... 183
- The dog - main character...............................................................................192
- The nature - main character/antagonist.................................................. 196
- The old man from Sulphur Creek - minor/major character............... 199
- The boys - minor/major character............................................................. 201
5. Themes.........................................................................................................................203
6. Point of view - Third person omniscient.......................................................206
7. Setting...........................................................................................................................207
8. Figurative language................................................................................................ 208
Discussion........................................................................................................................212
Nature’s Role in The Open Boat and To Build a Fire....................................... 214
Bible in to build a fire.................................................................................................. 215

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In the realm of literature, where masterpieces shimmer like constellations in the
night sky, “name of the story” written by (author) is one of the brightest stars
that has touched the hearts of readers around the world with its timeless
themes and poignant ending. The story follows the main character - …, who
(appearance), (their journey). Throughout the storyline, thesis statement
including …. .

In conclusion, "Name of the Story" by (Author) stands as a testament to the

enduring power of literature to illuminate the human condition. As readers
journey alongside (Main Character), we are reminded of the profound impact of
(themes mentioned in the thesis statement) and the universal truths they unveil.
Through the evocative prose of (Author), we are transported to a world where
empathy, resilience, and redemption converge, leaving an indelible mark on our
hearts and minds. As we bid farewell to (Main Character) and reflect on their
journey, we are enriched by the profound wisdom gleaned from their triumphs
and tribulations. "Name of the Story" remains not only a masterpiece of
storytelling but also a guiding light that continues to inspire and resonate with
readers across generations.

4
 The Story of An Hour

“Perhaps it is better to wake up after all, even to suffer, than to

remain a dupe to illusions all one’s life.” (Kate Chopin) → It
means that we need to be realistic, we need to face reality, we
shouldn’t hide away, we shouldn’t be too dreaming, we have to
be ready for an unexpected situation. Don’t dream about the
future and don’t feel so regretful for the past.

AUTHOR:

● Kate Chopin (1850-1904)

● She was entitled “A Woman Ahead of Her Time” → must have been a
very good, prominent, genius, outstanding person

→ Reasons:

+Kate Chopin was outstanding because of her strength. While she was a
female living in the American Society of the 18th and 19th centuries, she
was strong enough to support her family financially, and good enough to
earn a living, at that time, not many American females had jobs to do. She
could be the breadwinner of a big family with a lot of ladies. And more
important than that she chose a very difficult career for women - she
chose to become a writer. At that time, we had a lot of male writers, but, in
this field, female writers were not welcomed. Literature was believed to be
the world for male writers but too shy, and could not publish a lot of good
books. Surprisingly, female writers could publish a lot of good books,
novels, and stories. Kate Chopin’s novels and stories are still included in
many university programs all over the world, so we can see how good she
is.

+The choices of themes in her works. She didn’t write about love simply as
a lot of writers do, she didn’t write about the beauty of women, their daily
life, or their feelings in a simple. She exploited things like desire, wish,
disappointment, ambition, and even kind of rebellion (cuộc nổi loạn). They
are sensitive and difficult topics to write about, develop, characterize, and
choose acting and many other elements of these kinds of topics. Kate

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Chopin was successful, she could have a good plot, setting, and point to
feel, especially her character. This is Mallard in “The Story of an Hour”
who was an outstanding woman and she was a very female character that
we cannot have the second one in literature. So she was the first and the
only character who was depicted excellently.

STORY:

● A short story written on April 1894

● originally published in Vogue on December 6, 1894, as “The Dream of
an Hour”
● controversial during the 1890s because it deals with a female
protagonist who feels liberated by the news of her husband’s death.
● In Unveiling Kate Chopin, Emily Toth argues that Chopin “had to
have her heroine die” in order to make the story publishable
● April 19, 1894 - Chopin writes “The Dream of an Hour” → makes
readers think of bad things and good things happening when we are
sleeping, and when we wake up, everything disappears, we don’t
need to worry so much about the bad and good things in our
dreams, we don’t need to care about the sweet things or nightmare
because they are the illusion ⇒ may sound like a big illusion of a
woman who was dependent and useless, seeking for freedom in a
negative and passive way.
● Then, renamed “The Story of an Hour” → story readers think of the
reality of life, and the situation of many other women in this society.
⇒ Make readers know that this short story is not about Mrs. Mallard
- an individual in the community. It is about many other women all
over the world who suffer in their married life, their husbands,
desire freedom and happiness but couldn’t have it. And it is not just
women, it’s also the way we treat the weaker - the females, it’s about
human rights, freedom, happiness, and marriage. So the story was
out of date in 1904, and the story is still very updated in era modern
times all over the world.

PLOT SUMMARY OF “THE STORY OF AN HOUR”

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 ● On the Spring day at home, Mrs. Mallard got the news of her
husband’s death in a gently way because she had heart troubles →
exposition
● She cried a lot
● Then, she went upstairs alone and locked herself there
● In her own room, she locked out of the window and began to feel
happy
● She tried to beat her happiness back but failed → conflict
● She whispered “Free! Free! Free!” and then, continued “Free! Body
and soul free!” → climax
● She went downstairs and saw her husband standing in the doorway,
alive
● She got shocked and died
● The doctors said she died of joy → Conclusion

CHARACTERS

● Name: Mrs. Louise Mallard → She is Louise Mallard but she wasn’t
introduced by the writer as “This is Mrs. Louise Mallard”, Kate
Chopin had Mrs. Mallard only, but when her husband was
introduced, he was mentioned with his full name “Brently Mallard”
→ Kate Chopin indicated that our main character was a dependent
woman, and even the name - she couldn’t have her own she has to
take her husband’s last name for her identity. When she felt free
“Free! Body and soul free”. When she realized it was time for her to
start her life without her husband and that she didn’t need to be
quite dependent on him. Then, she could be free, a single woman
again, she returned to be Louise, she was not Mrs. Mallard anymore.
That is why after her body felt so free, she was introduced to
readers thanks to the conversation between Mrs. Mallard and her
sister - Josephine. We knew that she was Louise and her name was
introduced, so the writer wanted to say that she could bring her
identity back, after her declaration of Independence, after her
statement of freedom. She brought her identity back. She became
Louise again, she became self-reliant again.
● Job: Housewife → She was a housewife, this is a piece of
information that is very interesting, and if she had not been a

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 housewife and she had a job to do, she would not have suffered
from marriage life (got up early, did a lot of housework, didn’t have
much, didn’t get any payment, needed to depend on someone else
financially, felt lonely and bored, so which such a life of a housewife,
it was terrible for Mrs. Mallard → she got the news of her husband’s
death → she was so happy secretly inside → It meant that her
housewife life ended with his death, and she felt happy inside but
she was afraid of such feelings, she scared of her illumination, she
tried to beat her happiness back.
● Appearance: Young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke
repression and even a certain strength (”She was young, with a fair,
calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength.
But now there was a dull stare in her eyes, whose gaze was fixed away
off yonder on one of those patches of blue sky. It was not a glance of
reflection, but rather indicated a suspension or intelligent thought”)
→

+Young: the youth represents a nice appearance, which means this girl
must be a lively girl with a lot of facial expressions on her face. In
contrast with the “young”, she has a calm face → not suitable with such a
young girl. That is the reason why she has repression and strength.

+Strength: The strength she has is the one to handle all the sorrow in her
marriage life.

Sample essay 1:
The short story "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin is a cornerstone of
feminist literary theory. The narrative initially focuses on Louise Mallard's
tumultuous response to learning of her husband's passing. Readers are
first introduced to Mrs. Mallard, a lady with a weak personality who has a
heart issue. And, her sister Josephine informs Louise as quietly as she can
that her husband, Brently Mallard, has passed away in a train accident
because she is afraid that the news will overwhelm Louise and worsen her
condition. Louise shuts the door to her bedroom when her initial sobs of
grief have subsided. Louise can see trees waving in the fresh spring wind
outside her window, smell rain outside, and hear street noises and bird
melodies coming from surrounding buildings' eaves. Louise understands

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that she will no longer be bound by the strict laws and conventions of
marriage, which make people act obstinately and blindly. Towards the end
of the narrative, unaware of any train disaster, Brently Mallard suddenly
materializes in the doorframe, causing Mrs. Mallard to tragically perish
from "of joy that kills," according to the medical professionals. Kate
Chopin examines the issue of women's lack of independence in the 19th
century in "The Story of an Hour" through backdrop, symbols, and irony.
Chopin uses a very specific conceptual and visual backdrop in the
introduction of the story to intensify the intensity of an hour. Only one
hour of Louise Mallard's life is depicted in the story, from the minute she
finds out about his death until the moment he unexpectedly comes back
to life. The structure's condensed length and intensity reflect the intense
hour Louise spends considering her newfound independence. This is
evident through the fact that, “Kate Chopin's thousand-word short story,
"The Story of an Hour," has understandably become a favorite selection
for collections of short stories as well as for anthologies of American
literature" (Berkove 1). Moreover, Louise's heart condition only serves to
reinforce the 19th-century expectation that women should be delicate
and subservient. Because of her physical vulnerability, Richards and
Josephine, among others, are more likely to hide her emotions and
overprotect her. Another illustration of a conceptual backdrop is provided
by the era as Kate Chopin's famous short story "The Story of an Hour"
which Susan Cahill calls "One of feminism's holiest texts," was published
in 1894. It is incredibly succinct but captivating. Domestic patriarchy is
portrayed in the novel as a patriarchal power structure that controls and
restricts the bodily experience of women. And as the story develops, a
visual backdrop is created because it is particularly interested in
exploring how a nineteenth-century lady was required to act in intensely
emotional situations. Because of her heart disease, Louise Mallard is
physically frail, reinforcing the prevailing idea of the time that women
should be submissive and uninterested. Yet, given the assumptions about
women made in the diagnostic, one could counter that Louise's weakness
is actually imposed by the diagnosis of her heart problem (Distel 1).
Moreover, Chopin incorporates a number of symbols within the narrative
that relate to the central theme. The first allegory in the narrative is
"Louise's frail heart," which alludes to her fragile emotional state. Louise is

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complexly described in the text: "She was young, with a fair, tranquil face,
whose lines whispered repression and even a certain power," but she is
also frail and ill. Louise's characteristics as the ideal feminine are
reinforced by these apparent contradictions: she is youthful and unwell.
She becomes extremely submissive and dependent as a result of the
combination of these qualities (Distel 5). She is faced with a choice: she
either risks her health by enabling herself to fully experience human
emotion, or she can suppress her feelings in order to continue leading a
life that is in some way compromised. The institution of marriage thus
limits Louise's independence in ways that are reflected by her heart
ailment, for just as marriage limits Louise's ability to exercise her
freedom of choice, so does marriage prohibit her from living the life she
would otherwise live. Louise is seen as a fragile woman with heart illness
by everyone around her, including her sister Josephine, her husband, and
Richards, her husband's friend. It is interesting that, despite her weak
appearance, the overwhelming sense of freedom is hard for her to
withstand: “she was striving to beat it back with her will—as powerless as
her two white slender hands would have been”. Chopin's line dispels the
stereotypical image of a woman with a heart condition who is "powerless"
and has "two white slender hands" and can't handle the shock of learning
of her husband's untimely death. Chopin's contemporary perception
offers a whole different perspective on what a weak lady is incapable of
overcoming (Arima 6). Another influential symbol may be seen in the
"window" that Louise is sitting in her bedroom. She is abruptly exposed to
freedom through the window. The fact that the window is open
represents Louise's sense of possibilities, the revitalization of her senses,
and consequently, her sensation of being alive. She detects the crisp
aroma of rain entering from outside. She notices the wind-swept trees
and stretches of blue sky in between dense clouds. A street vendor
attempting to sell his wares, snippets of a far-off tune, and the sound of
birds can all be heard. Louise comes to appreciate her own freedom and
independence as well as the possibility that she can pursue a life of her
own by sitting in front of this open window.The sensations and sights of
the "new spring life" help her connect with her own longing to erupt into
a new sort of existence (Arima 7). The home of Mr. Mallard, which Distel
claims parallels the disciplinary frameworks that Foucault investigates in

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Discipline and Punish, is another crucial symbol. Brently Mallard's
dominance is centered in the Mallard household, and Louise's
subordinated position within the family is reinforced by the home's
physical layout. According to Foucault: Disciplinary power, on the other
hand, is exercised through its invisibility; at the same time, it imposes on
those whom it subjects a principle of compulsory visibility. In discipline,
it is the subjects who have to be seen. Their visibility assures the hold of
the power that is exercised over them. It is the fact of being constantly
seen, of being able to always be seen, that maintains the disciplined
individual in his subjection (Distel 2). According to Foucault's definition,
Brently's use of disciplinary power is subtle, if not completely
undetectable. Nonetheless, Louise's relief at her husband's passing
indicates a relationship in which she was the subservient Other in the
family. As was indicated earlier, Louise herself appears unable to decide if
she loves her husband. She becomes the hypervisible object of invisible
disciplinary power due to her function as the wife of a subtly domineering
spouse. She doesn't appear to have any control in the Mallard home, yet
she serves as its center because Brently Mallard's dominance depends on
her being a submissive subject and a docile body (Distel 2). In the
conclusion of the story, Chopin also introduces an irony, which she
supports with evidence from the narrative itself. Despite the short length
of the story, Chopin incorporates clues to irony on several different
occasions. In reality, Louise is ill on both an emotional and bodily level, as
Chopin mentions. The first line of the narrative informs us that "Mrs.
Mallard was suffering from a heart ailment." The phraseology is
ambiguous, but the remainder of the narrative gradually clarifies the
nature of the heart issue. When she "abandoned" herself in her room by
herself, the word "free" "escaped" her lips in a whisper. It's important that
the words "abandonment" and "something escaping her" come together
initially. Following that, the connection between anything departing her
and abandonment is important. The next two sentences of the passage
make plain what was then in her heart: "She didn't pause to consider
whether or not she was being held by a terrible joy. She was able to
dismiss the notion as being inconsequential thanks to her clear and
elevated perspective ." Brently is in the dark at the conclusion about
Louise's journey of self-discovery. Although it is not his fault, Louise gets

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the sensation that she will never completely be free from his presence.
The fact that Louise's marriage and, consequently, her husband are still
alive makes Louise's death the only way for her to achieve independence.
Of course, the fact that she passed away reinforces the notion that she
was weak, and the irony only heightens because the doctors' claim that
she passed away from "a joy that kills" isn't wholly false. She doesn't pass
away because she experiences joy once more, but rather because she
quickly loses it after only briefly possessing it (Berkove 3). Perhaps
Larsson's analysis of the composer in Critical Survey of Short Stories
provides the best description of Chopin's importance to contemporary
readers. According to him, her concern with women's roles in society and
marriage, her reluctance to conflate guilt with sexuality, and her
narrative attitude of sympathetic detachment make her as relevant to
modern readers as her noted ability to describe character and scene
(Hicks 2). "The Story of an Hour" defies standard assessments of gender
binary and power relations. Although Louise is a submissive body and
Brently is an authoritative figure, She is also mistreated by Richards' and
Josephine's proxies. The story attacks the institution of marriage as well
as the inherent oppression of women that it entails. Themes, symbolism,
and literary devices are examined in The Story of an Hour analysis, a
short story by Kate Chopin that depicts the complicated and frequently
conflicting feelings of a lady who learns of her husband's death and then
finds him alive. The narrative highlights the oppressive character of
nineteenth-century marriages as well as the contrast between freedom
and imprisonment, hope and despair, and life and death. The narrative
also contrasts the protagonist's emotions with the scenery, and the
conclusion includes a shocking turn of events.

Sample essay 2:
Topic: Analyze the meanings of at least three symbols in “The Story of an
Hour”.

“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin follows the main character called
Mrs. Mallard, a woman with complex emotions and desires after receiving
the news of her husband’s tragic death on the railroad. The story's power
lies in its subtle symbolism, enabling readers to connect with the

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narrative on a profound level. The three major symbols in the story are
the open window, Mrs. Mallard’s heart trouble and Mrs. Mallard herself,
which helps convey two of the main themes of the story: “freedom” and
“the oppressive nature of marriage”.

Mrs. Mallard's heart problem symbolizes her internal conflict

and the emotional suffocation she has experienced in her marriage. When
Mrs. Mallard is enlightened by a revelation of liberation, "her bosom rose
and fell tumultuously," indicating that her heart is racing uncontrollably.
This physical reaction signifies the intense conflict stirring within her as
she confronts her awakening desire for freedom and the fear of defying
societal expectations that demand she be a devoted wife grieving her
husband's death. Moreover, the mention of Mrs. Mallard's heart ailment
right from the outset of the story suggests that her physical condition
may also mirror her emotional strain resulting from a potential lack of
fulfillment in her marriage. Later on, when Mrs. Mallard's sister,
Josephine, pleads for admission, fearing that the news will worsen Mrs.
Mallard's heart trouble, Mrs. Mallard asserts ‘"I am not making myself ill."’
This suggests a positive shift in her well-being, as the vision of being
uplifted from the oppression of her marital role alleviates her emotional
exhaustion and, by extension, her heart condition. The heart affliction's
symbolic representation of Mrs. Mallard's internal struggle and emotional
turmoil is essential to the essence of the story.

The open window serves as a symbol of Mrs. Mallard’s newfound

freedom. More than just a physical opening, it represents a break from
the enclosure of her marriage. Through it, she glimpses a world bursting
with life and possibility, a world she can finally explore on her own terms.
The "new spring life" in the trees mirrors her sense of renewal as she
contemplates an independent future. Furthermore, as she leans against
the window, she inhales “The delicious breath of rain.” The rain, often
seen as a cleanser, becomes a metaphor for Mrs. Mallard being washed
clean of her restrictive past and embracing the possibilities of freedom.
Moreover, the symphony of sounds - the peddler's call, the song, the
sparrows' chirping - alongside the clear blue sky peeking through clouds,
creates a vibrant, multi-sensory experience. This stands in stark contrast

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to the potentially stifling atmosphere of her marriage, highlighting the
vastness and vibrancy of the independent life that now awaits her. The
open window, as a timeless symbol, effectively underscores the theme of
"freedom".

Mrs. Mallard represents women stifled by 19th-century societal

expectations who yearn for freedom. Described as a young woman "whose
lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength,” her "lines" are
more than mere wrinkles; they may signify the emotional toll of
suppressing her true feelings. To delve further, Mrs. Mallard's repressed
emotions can be matrimonial discontent, arising from the "powerful will
bending hers.” This phrase suggests her husband's dominance and
control, treating her as a mere extension of himself, and imposing societal
expectations of her role as a dutiful wife. The longing for independence
felt by women oppressed by a male-centric society is also evident in Mrs.
Mallard. As she contemplates a future without her husband, she
symbolically "opens and spreads her arms out to them in welcome." This
gesture portrays her deep yearning for a future where she can be free
from the constraints of marriage, reclaim her autonomy, and pursue
personal fulfillment. Through her symbolism, Mrs. Mallard plays a crucial
role in conveying the theme of "the oppressive nature of marriage".

To encapsulate, the three major symbols in "The Story of an

Hour" by Kate Chopin include the heart trouble, the open window, and
Mrs. Mallard. The heart trouble symbolizes her internal struggle and
emotional turmoil, the open window represents Mrs. Mallard’s emerging
liberation, and Mrs. Mallard embodies women suppressed by
19th-century societal norms who desire independence. Together, these
symbols powerfully convey the two key themes “freedom” and “the
oppressive nature of marriage”, prompting readers to reflect on the
importance of personal autonomy and the challenges faced within
societal expectations.

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 Flight

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

1. Background information: Doris Lessing (1919-2013)

● Full name: Doris May Lessing
● Original name: Doris May Tayler
● Pen name: Jane Somers
● A British-Zimbabwean novelist
● One of the major fiction writers of the second of the 20th century
● One of the vividly representative literary figures of our times
● “A feminist” writer
● Focal topics:
○ Communism
○ Racism
○ Feminism
1. Notable works
● “Children of Violence”
● “The Cleft”
● “The Golden Notebook”
● “The Grass Is Singing”
● “The Memoirs of a Survivor”
● “The Sweetest Dream”
● “Time Bites”

PLOT SUMMARY

● In the late afternoon of a summer day, the old man was taking care
of pigeons in his garden
● He got angry when he saw his granddaughter Alice waiting for her
man
● He caught his bird back and confronted Alice
● He asked her many questions and got angry with her manner
● He conflicted with Alice and asked his daughter to be on his side
→ conflict
● He became miserable when knowing that Alice would marry the
next month → conflict

15
 ● He cried → climax
● Then, he got a present from Alice’s lover and he changed his
attitude
● He put his present into the dovecote and released his favorite bird
with the observation of the young couple at the gate and his
daughter on the veranda
● He watched the bird soaring its wings in the sky and Alice crying
in the shadow of night → resolution/conclusion

“Flight” is a short story about an old grandpa living with his family in
South Africa. Much to his chagrin, his granddaughter Alice plans on
marrying the postmaster’s son - Steve. In a childlike manner, Alice’s
grandpa harshly criticizes their upcoming marriage and refuses to let go
of her last granddaughter who he fears will leave him. Eventually, Alice’s
grandpa learns to accept Alice‘s marriage and realizes the importance of
moving on in life. The story begins when an old man was playing with a
young pigeon. Then, he sees Alice waiting for Steve, and the old man
argues with Alice about her behavior. The old man feels that his youngest
granddaughter is still much too young to be married and is not willing to
let go of her. His attitude seems grumpy but deep down inside it hurt him
very much to see his granddaughter growing up and with her boyfriend
Steven. In an effort to stop the marriage, the old man comes to complain
to his daughter, Alice’s mother. But the young girl’s mother has a totally
different point of view as she believes that her daughter found a good
home and she is old enough to get married. As for the young girl herself,
she feels nothing will ever change even if she got married. She will always
love her grandfather. When Steven gives the old man a present of a new
pigeon to take care of, the old man realizes he can let his favorite pigeon
go and take flight. At the end of the story, when the old man agrees to let
go of his granddaughter, he takes out his favorite pigeon from the cage
and lets it fly away. This symbolizes that he has learned to let go of his
beloved granddaughter and is letting the young take its first flight into
the real world.

CONFLICTS:

1. Man vs Himself /Herself

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 ● The Grandfather: This conflict is strongly present in the
grandfather. He struggles with his possessiveness towards Alice and
his inability to let go, representing the wider challenge of accepting
the inevitable changes that come with life.
● Alice: While not explicitly explored, Alice likely experiences internal
conflict balancing respect for her grandfather with her desire for
independence and a life of her own.
1. Man vs Man:
● The Grandfather vs Alice: This is the central conflict of the story.
Their opposing desires and views on her marriage create constant
friction and arguments.
● Generational Conflict: The most prominent conflict is between the
traditional values of the grandfather and his modern outlook of
Alice. This clash highlights changing social norms and the
challenges faced by different generations regarding marriage and
family dynamics.
● The Grandfather vs Lucy: Lucy's frustration with her father's
behavior and her attempts to reason with him create another layer
of character-based conflict.
1. Man vs society:
● The story subtly suggests a conflict between the grandfather's
traditional views and the changing social landscape. His disapproval
of Steven's family might hint at his resistance to evolving social
norms regarding marriage and class.

→ These interwoven conflicts create a dynamic and engaging narrative,

prompting readers to consider the complexities of family relationships,
generational differences, and the struggle to balance tradition with
personal growth.

SETTING

1. Time:
● The time setting of "Flight" by Doris Lessing is primarily focused on
a single evening during the late summer.
● While the story doesn't explicitly state the time, various details
throughout the narrative point toward this specific timeframe:

17
 ○ The story begins in the late afternoon: “Content, he rested the
bird lightly on his chest, and leaned against a tree, gazing out
beyond the dovecote into the landscape of a late afternoon. “
○ It references the approaching evening: “A whirr and a spatter
of wings, and a cloud of birds rose into the evening from the
dovecote.”
○ That day marked the end of summer: “Her smile made him see
her, as he had every evening of this warm end-of-summer
month,”
○ No mention of other days: Throughout the story, there are no
references to events happening on other days, further
suggesting the story unfolds within a single evening.

→ Therefore, the time setting is mainly focused on a single evening in

late summer

● This time setting likely holds several layers of meaning:

1. Transition and Endings: Both the ”late afternoon” and the “late
summer” symbolize transitions and endings. The story revolves
around the grandfather's release of the pigeon, which can be seen
as a metaphor for letting go of something cherished. The time
setting reinforces this theme of impermanence and the need to
accept change.
2. Reflection and Contemplation: The quietness and introspective
nature of late afternoon provide a space for reflection. This is
evident in the grandfather's contemplation about his life choices
and the changing relationships around him.
3. Heightened Emotional Intensity: The ending of a day and a season
can often create a sense of poignancy (sadness) and heightened
emotional intensity. This can be seen in the tense interactions
between the grandfather and the granddaughter, adding depth to
their emotional exchange.
4. Shifting Dynamics: The approaching evening can also represent a
shift in dynamics between the characters. The grandfather's initial
hostility towards the boy gradually melts away, culminating in the
release of the pigeon at the end, symbolizing a transformation in
their relationship.

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 5. Open-Ended Interpretation: The lack of specific details allows
readers to connect the time setting to their own experiences. This
creates a sense of universality and allows each reader to interpret
the story's themes based on their own understanding of endings,
transitions, and reflection.

→ Therefore, the time setting in "Flight" contributes significantly to the

story's thematic exploration of transition, contemplation, and emotional
intensity, while maintaining a universal appeal that resonates with
readers across diverse backgrounds and time periods.

1. Place
● The setting of "Flight" by Doris Lessing is ambiguous and could be
interpreted as universal. While the story doesn't explicitly mention
specific locations, subtle clues suggest a warm climate:
1. Warmer climate
● Wooden veranda: This detail points towards a house with an
outdoor living space, potentially common in warmer regions.

“He stumped into the little whitewashed house, hearing the wooden veranda
creak angrily under his feet.”

● Frangipani tree: These trees are native to tropical and subtropical

regions.

“His eyes traveled homewards along this road until he saw his
granddaughter swinging on the gate underneath a frangipani tree.”

● However, the story doesn't offer enough details to pinpoint a

specific country or continent. The author deliberately avoids
specific geographic markers, allowing the story to resonate with a
wider audience across different cultural contexts. This ambiguity
allows readers to visualize the setting based on their own
experiences and understanding.

b. Lack of specific location:

● The story avoids any specific geographical markers like city names,
countries, or landmarks.

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 ● The story can connect with a wider audience across different
cultural contexts.
● Readers can visualize the setting based on their own experiences
and understanding.

→ Therefore, while the climate leans towards a warmer region, the

specific location of "Flight" remains open to interpretation and
universality seems to be the author's intended purpose.

"Flight" by Doris Lessing is a poignant exploration of familial relationships

and the themes of transition, contemplation, and emotional intensity are
intricately woven into its setting. The story takes place over the course of
a single evening during late summer, a time period symbolizing endings
and transitions. The lack of specific temporal markers beyond this
evening allows for a universal interpretation, inviting readers to project
their own experiences onto the narrative.

The setting's ambiguity extends to its geographic location. While subtle

clues such as the wooden veranda and frangipani tree suggest a warmer
climate, the story deliberately avoids specific geographical markers. This
lack of specificity enhances the story's universality, allowing readers from
diverse cultural backgrounds to connect with its themes on a personal
level.

The choice of a warm summer evening as the backdrop for the narrative
serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it reinforces the theme of transition and
endings, mirroring the grandfather's contemplation of his own mortality
and the changing dynamics within his family. Secondly, it heightens the
emotional intensity of the interactions between characters, particularly
the tense exchange between the grandfather and his granddaughter. The
impending darkness of evening adds a sense of urgency to their
confrontation, underscoring the significance of their emotional
reckoning.

Moreover, the setting's lack of specificity encourages readers to focus on

the story's universal themes rather than its particulars. By omitting
specific locations and temporal markers, Lessing invites readers to reflect
on the broader implications of the characters' experiences. The story

20
becomes a canvas onto which readers can project their own
interpretations of transition, contemplation, and emotional intensity.

In conclusion, the setting of "Flight" plays a crucial role in shaping the

story's themes and emotional resonance. By situating the narrative within
a single evening during late summer and avoiding specific geographical
markers, Lessing creates a setting that is both universal and deeply
evocative. Through its ambiguity, the setting invites readers to engage
with the story's themes on a personal level, making "Flight" a timeless and
universally resonant piece of literature.

CHARACTERS
1. Grandfather: main character, round character, dynamic character
● Unnamed: → The central character in the story has no name, “the
old man”. He is anonymous from the beginning to the end. Doris
Lessing lets the main character go nameless to show that what
happens to this character could happen to anyone. Moreover, the
old man seems to be a symbol of the old generation who always
wants to keep their children in their way.

→ the writer wants to create a universal character who represents all the
grandfathers in the world. It means one represents all kinds of
grandfathers.

● Old: → The psychology of the elderly: The old people are much
afraid of loneliness, sickness, poor health, and separation from their
family members. They want to have their grandchildren around,
don’t want to be forgotten, or abandoned, love to be loved, love to
be taken care of, and love to have a big group of grandchildren.
They want to have a family reunion.
● (over) protective: → interferes with her freedom of choice, her
privacy, and her secrets, and he is unfair to her boyfriend. He
secretly follows his granddaughter everywhere. She goes on a date
with Steven, he follows her, observes her, and knows her secret of
intimacy with a young boy, keeps annoying Alice, but she doesn’t
want to be observed → Alice feels annoyed → He unconsciously

21
 creates conflicts, misunderstandings, and gaps. And because of the
family conflicts, the generation gaps, and some misunderstandings,
Alice treats him impolitely → she becomes a kind of rebellious,
disobedient, naughty, and stubborn → these characteristics annoy
the old man, he gets angry → hot-tempered and spiteful
● A bit hot-tempered/spiteful (han hoc): → He appears to want to
hurt the people he loves. He uses many rude words to call Alice -
'rubbish'; 'impudent'. We can say that he is spiteful.- 'Rubbish,' he
shouted. 'Rubbish. An impudent little bit of rubbish!'

NOTE: When the writer did not use “a bit”, it was unfair for all
grandfathers

● Possessive and selfish: → He always wants to keep her, have control

over her, and never let her leave, it shows that he is very possessive
and selfish- He said: `Think you're old enough to go courting, hey?'
or 'Think you want to leave home, hey? Think you can go running
around the fields at night?'
● A bit possessive: but it’s quite understandable because he loves
Alice so much that he doesn’t want to share, it doesn’t mean he is
selfish, it just means that things are so important to him. It’s hard
for him to share.

→ reason why he doesn’t want Alice to get married at her 18 and he’s not
selfish:

● He says that: “She’s eighteen. Eighteen!” → To the old man, Alice is

still a very young girl and she shouldn’t get married at her young
age → she needs to gain more experience, grow up spiritually and
mentally, have strong financial support, be financially independent,
can’t be a good wife, a good mother, can’t enjoy her own
happiness,…

● Marriage life is not giggling, running, kissing, hugging (’But it’s not
like that at all,’ he muttered miserably. ‘It’s not like that. Why can’t
you see? Running, and giggling, and kissing. You’ll come to something
quite different) → means more a lot of duties and responsibilities to
fulfill, a lot of burdens to tackle. You have to earn money, raise your

22
 children up, and take care of 2 families; you have to be independent
and make informed decisions, and no one supports you, no one
shares, just you. And in a marriage, you don’t run around the garden
⇒ family abuse

⇒ All of these, are because he fears that he will have to live without his
granddaughter. He has many grandchildren but they all left him and never
come back. He thought of the other three girls, transformed in a few
months from charming petulant spoiled children into serious young
matrons. Now, the old man just has one granddaughter and she will get
married to Steven, and he will take her away, so he wants to prevent
them. It may also be a case that the grandfather does not like change.
With old age comes stubbornness and a lack of will to change one’s habits.

● Childish and Sensitive: get hurt easily, afraid of loneliness,

sickness

→ Acts like a child who has lost his favorite toy, who wants to be met his
demands

→ “She’s the last,” he mourned. “Can't we keep her a bit longer?”

→ “He stumped his feet alternately, thump, thump, on the hollow

wooden floor”

→ Cries because he knows it cannot be the way that he wants:

→ “His eyes stung”, “Wet spread down over his chin and he took
out a handkerchief and mopped his whole face

→ Needs care and affection:

→ “his wet eyes and his misery”

→ For me?' said the old man, letting the drops shakeoff his chin.'For me?'

● Afraid of his loneliness

● Experienced
● Thoughtful:

23
→ The conversation with his daughter makes him realize that it’s time to
let his granddaughter go, he cannot be selfish anymore, and he has to
think of the girl’s happiness.

→ He cries when he is alone, and he cries harder when he receives the

bird from the teens → tears of acceptance

→ Teaching (your) grandmother to suck eggs → his joke implies that he

accepts and gives up his selfish desire. Shuts the new bird in a box and
takes out his favorite 'Now you can go, he said aloud.

→ In the end, he gives up his selfish desire. Then he shut it in a box and
took out his favorite 'Now you can go, he said aloud The granddaughter →
thoughtful

● Caring and Kind: The old man keeps his pigeons; it shows that he
has a kind and caring nature - “Pretty, pretty, pretty, ‘he said, as he
grasped the bird and drew it down, feeling the cold coral claws
tighten around his finger.
● Love his family → devoted
● Actions: → Now, the old man just has one granddaughter and she
will get married to Steven, and he will take her away, so he wants to
prevent them. He loves his granddaughter a lot but he doesn’t know
how to show his feeling. He doesn't show his feelings by words, he
just uses actions – but in a very unfriendly way. He wants
everybody to take care of him and understand his private thoughts,
but he can’t speak out. The old man has to decide whether to keep
his granddaughter or let her go - He stumped his feet alternately,
thump, thump, on the hollow wooden floor and shouted: 'She'll
marry him. I'm telling you, she'll be marrying him next!
● He loves his granddaughter a lot but he doesn’t know how to show
his feeling. He doesn't show his feelings by words, he just uses
actions – but in a very unfriendly way. He wants everybody to take
care of him and understand his private thoughts, but he can’t speak
out. The old man has to decide whether to keep his granddaughter
or let her go.
1. Alice: main character, round character, dynamic character
● old man’s granddaughter

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 ● favorite granddaughter/the last
● young
● childlike, childish, immature
● innocent
● cute/lovely/pretty: Appears as a delightful and happy girl, waiting
for his boyfriend
● Compared to frangipani trees like the flowers of it
● carefree: her action: swing, run, laugh
● a bit naughty/rebellious/disobedient: make him sad…, find him
annoying → Why his objection to her marriage
● sympathetic: tries to cheer him up
● responsibility: She cries at the end she is happy to marry the man
she loves with her grandfather’s approval and mother’s support. Too
happy → cry

⇒ Tears of sadness: leaving her family, they miss her, they will be lonely,
feel thankful and grateful for her grandfather’s understanding → helps
her to enjoy her life

● irresponsible/stubborn and disobedient: step out the gate without

saying goodbye.

→ From the gate the girl shouted: 'Go and tell! Go on, what are you
waiting for?' She finds her grandpa old-fashioned. She is rude towards
him, ignoring his reprimands and the threats that he will tell her mother
she is waiting for her boyfriend.

⇒ The old man's granddaughter (Alice) is a carefree, young girl- 'She's

eighteen. Eighteen. She is in love, but her love somehow makes her
selfish. From the gate, the girl shouted: 'Go and tell! Go on, what are you
waiting for?' She finds her grandpa old-fashioned. She is rude towards
him, ignoring his reprimands and the threats that he will tell her mother
she is waiting for her boyfriend. 'Tell away!' she said, laughing, and went
back to the gate. However, she is also loving and considerate. This is
shown when she gives her grandpa a bird. At the end of the story, Alice
cries because she feels happy that her relationship will be turned into a
new leaf, but she also regrets that she lost his childhood and will have to
leave her home. She was staring at

25
1. Steven: minor character, flat character, static character
● He is an Alice’s boyfriend.

● Steven’s appearance in the (42) old man’s eyes:

○ Red complexion: “red brought it for you”

○ Physical appearance: violent-bodied youth
○ His father’s job: “son of postmaster.”
● His character:

○ Thoughtful: Give the old man a present pigeon “Steven

brought it for you”
○ Kind: despite the man’s annoying attitude, he is still kind to
him
● → “We’re glad you like it”,

→ “They watched him as he held it on his wrist, stroking its soft,

sun-warmed back, watching the wings lift and balance.” →“The bird
was proof of it, they said, from their lying happy eyes, as they thrust
it on him. 'There, Grandad, it's yours. It's for you.' ” →“They hung
about him, affectionate, concerned, trying to charm away his wet
eyes and his misery. They took his arms and directed him to the
shelf of birds, one on each side, enclosing him, petting him, saying
wordlessly that nothing would be changed, nothing could change,
and that they would be with him always.

⇒ He is also a man of tender warmth and deep feelings

⇒ And he truly loves Alice

⇒ He is expected to be a fine husband

○ sympathetic: he doesn’t hate the old man but tries to prove to

him that he is suitable for the family, he’s sympathetic.
● Steven is Alice’s boyfriend. In the story, we see him through the lens
of the old men. The old man finds things wrong with him (his red

26
 complexion, his physical appearance, and his father’s job). The
reader is not likely to share this disapproval. Lucy expects him to be
as good a husband as her other three girls have. And he is
thoughtful enough to give the old man a present of a pigeon.

1. Lucy
● Lucy is the old man’s daughter and Alice’s mother. She is depicted
as a woman growing up in her appearance ( “square-fronted” ) her
actions (she looks after her father) and the way in which her father
thinks of her ( “that woman” ). Her husband is absent (perhaps she is
a widow or divorcee, but there is no evidence to tell the reader
more, save that it is Lucy who gives Alice permission to marry). But
we know that Lucy married at seventeen “and never regretted it”.
She tries to reassure the old man about Alice. She has already
agreed to her marrying Steven, and tells her father this in the story

POINT OF VIEW
● Third-person point of view: "Flight" by Doris Lessing is primarily
narrated from a third-person limited point of view (also called
limited omniscient). This means:
○ The story is told by an external narrator, not a character
within the story.
○ The narrator has access to the thoughts and feelings of one
character, primarily the grandfather.
○ The reader experiences the story largely through the
grandfather's perspective, understanding his thoughts,
emotions, and motivations.
○ While the narrator provides some insights into other
characters, such as Alice and Lucy, their thoughts and feelings
are not directly revealed, and we only understand them
through their actions and dialogue, filtered through the
grandfather's perception.
● This specific point of view choice serves several purposes:
○ Focuses on the grandfather's internal conflict: By granting
access to the grandfather's inner world, the reader gains a

27
 deeper understanding of his struggles with accepting change,
his possessiveness towards Alice, and his own mortality.
○ Creates an air of mystery: Limiting the perspective keeps the
thoughts and motivations of other characters, particularly
Alice, slightly veiled, adding a layer of mystery and intrigue to
the narrative.
○ Encourages reader participation: By not explicitly stating
everything, the limited perspective encourages the reader to
actively interpret the story, consider the characters'
motivations beyond the surface, and draw their own
conclusions.
● While primarily focused on the grandfather's perspective, the
limited point of view allows for occasional shifts in focus to briefly
highlight other characters' emotions or reactions. This can be seen
in specific instances where the narrator describes Alice's smile or
Lucy's concerned glances, providing limited glimpses into their
inner states without fully revealing their thoughts.

→ Overall, the use of a third-person limited point of view allows for a

deep dive into the grandfather's perspective, while still leaving room for
interpretation and engagement from the reader.

→ objective

→ limited to the old man

● Time: late afternoon - the end of a summer month → evening →

shelter of night

→ afternoon

→ summer

→ the end of a month

→ evening

→ shelter of night

● Place: house with a garden and a fence around

28
→ house with a dovecote

→ garden

→ fence

→ gate

THEMES

● freedom:

→ The main theme in this story is freedom. To illustrate this theme the
author uses mood, we can see that in the end, the freedom of the birds
makes Alice cry. Also, in the text, the flight of the pigeons symbolizes
freedom. In this short story, the title "Flight" signifies more than one
thing, the flight of the pigeons and the 'flight' of the granddaughter, her
escape to adulthood, and a life of her own, she becomes now free to fly
into the world like the pigeons.

→ The story shows how important it is for Alice to be allowed the

freedom to live her life as she wishes. This theme stems from the contrast
between the action of the old man at the beginning and the action at the
end of the story. At the beginning of the story, the old man brings out his
favorite pigeon and plays with it. He holds out his wrist for the bird to
take flight, then he catches it again at the moment the bird is about to
take flight. The author uses the old man’s favorite bird to symbolize Alice.
The old man wants to keep the pigeon as well as Alice by his side, he
doesn’t want Alice to have other relationships, exactly with Steven. It’s the
loss of freedom. At the end of the story, the old man finally learns to
accept the fact that he has to let go of his granddaughter as a law of life.
That the pigeon flies means that the birds can fly anywhere they want and
Alice can be free to marry anyone she loves without any objection. The
flight of the pigeon and the flight of Alice are flights to freedom.

● changes
● family conflicts
● family love:

29
→ The short story “Flight” shows how much the granddad loves his
granddaughter. At first, the old man disagrees with the fact that his
granddaughter is going to get married early, and he prevents his
granddaughter from having a relationship with Steven by telling Lucy. His
love for Alice is so great that he just wants to keep Alice by his side as the
way he keeps the pigeon in the story. The old man cries after knowing
that her granddaughter is going to marry next month. His tears show his
love for his granddaughter. This is family love. This theme is also proved
by the love of Alice to the old man. A young pigeon that Steven gives to
the old man represents the attention of Alice and Steven to him. A pigeon
is a kind of his favorite bird, so giving a young pigeon as a present to the
old man proves that Alice and Steven notice and pay attention to him and
they know what the old man likes and loves. The young couple still cares
for him and they don’t leave him alone because they give him the right
present. It also shows the love of Alice and Steven, especially Alice to the
old man-the family love.

● generation gaps
● rites of passage
● cycle/rule of life: growing up and leaving home

→ Most people have to deal with growing up and leaving their homes. In
the short story, Alice cannot continue to live with her grandfather, she
must mature and marry in order to establish her own family because this
is the rule of life. Furthermore, young people have to leave their families
in order to live their own lives.

→ The story revolves around Alice and her reactions to her decision to
leave home; her mother, Lucy, sees it as entirely normal and optimistic,
stating that she 'never regretted' her marriage and that her other
daughters had done well.

→ Alice is looking forward to leaving her home. She is carefree, swinging

on gates and singing while waiting for her boyfriend. She has everything
in life to look forward to and is unable to understand the feelings of her
grandfather. However, at the end of the story, she perhaps starts to
comprehend the heartbreak that leaving home can cause, and she can
now finally know the feelings of her granddad.

30
→ The old man is very negative about Alice leaving home. He sees it as the
end of his life; he will be left 'uncherished and alone' with his daughter.
We know he was upset when his own daughter went to marry, and every
time one of the girls goes, he finds them 'crying and miserable'.

● law of life: 2 laws:

○ for all interactions: we will be born to be free and pursue our
happiness, not be kept at home, love and care → We can give
advice but not decide others’ life
○ No one goes against the cycle of life: it goes systematically
like a clock, and only 1 direction (born - grow - die) cannot get
back to the past, cannot be born again but can be mentally
young if we change.
○ family reunion: pigeon (homing birds) never leave their nest,
and fly back to their dovecot some days → family will reunite
○ protect your own freedom
● Nature:

→ There are a lot of references to nature. The most obvious is the

pigeons. They appear in the first sentence, as the old man looks after his
dovecote. There are many other references - from their claws to how
they fly. And the story comes to an end with them settling back in the
garden.

→ There are many references to the garden, too - from the 'frangipani
tree' to the color of the soil. These can be detailed, like 'the brittle
shadows of the frangipani tree' or a stream of rich green grass'.

→ Flight includes references to the wider world as well, such as shadows,

sunlight, and sky. Nature is clearly important to both the writer and the
characters: they live in the countryside and it is important to their daily
lives.

● Contrast and Comparisons

→ The story contains a number of contrasts, such as the views of the

different generations on leaving home.

31
→ We also see a contrast between how Lucy and the old man behave: he
is much more like a child. In some ways, even Alice behaves in a more
mature manner: she does not 'thump' her feet or shout like him.

→ There are also a lot of comparisons between nature and the characters.
The most obvious relates to the pigeons. They act as symbols, so the
pigeon at the start is just like Alice: young, the grandfather's favorite, and
'pretty', but straining to fly away.

→ The old man can control the bird by locking it away, but he cannot
control Alice. When he releases the pigeon, it is like releasing Alice. Both
must move away to make their own way in the world.

→ Alice's legs are like the stems on the tree, while the old man's fingers
are 'curling like claws into his palm'. In other words, his fingers are like his
pigeons' claws. Meanwhile, Alice and Steven are 'like puppies on the
grass'.

→ These constant references to nature and comparisons can give the

impression that the characters are simply part of nature. They also make
us believe it is natural for Alice to want to leave home, just as it is natural
for her grandfather to wish her to stay.

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

CRITERIA CHARACTERISTICS

sentence average few short → effects

length

sentence simple with repetition, parallel, and

structure inversion

word choice claw croon wordlessly

figure(s) of simile, metaphor, symbolism, etc.

speech

title flight → birds → all the character

32
 1. Meaning of the title
● The title of the story:

→ The metaphor image of "flight" stands for the human impulse, freedom,
escape, and liberation:

● The flight of Alice: from childhood to adulthood

● The flight of the old man: from reality to his refusing to accept that
his granddaughter is growing up

⇒ multiple meanings as it denotes the real flight of one of the old man’s
pigeons; the metaphorical image of flight representing freedom; the flight
of his granddaughter from childhood to adulthood; and his flight from
reality — refusing to face up to the truth that his granddaughter is
growing up.

1. Figure of speech

2.1. Short direct sentence

● Short, direct sentences are used to stress points and indicate the
characters’ mood.

→ “Pretty, pretty, pretty,” → “Waiting for Steven, hey?” → “Think you're

old enough to go courting, hey?” → “Hey!”

The old man thinks Alice is too young to start dating, and it seems from
his tone of voice that he opposes the relationship between the two of
them. He challenges her to end that relationship in his speech as a
grandfather.

2.2. Diction (=word choice)

The diction plays a crucial role in conveying the story's themes and
atmosphere. Lessing's choice of words reflects the African setting and the
psychological state of the protagonist

33
 ● A first paragraph describing the birds in a positive diction begins
the story: rainbows, young, bright
● Additionally, the garden's tranquility and beauty are emphasized by
“rich, green, blossoms”

The opening scene portrays a peaceful and harmonious setting, with the
old man enjoying the tranquility of his home and the company of his
family.

→ An optimistic introduction conveys the old man's initial state at the

beginning of the story: happy and content

● Old fashioned phrase: “courting”

→ Lessing illustrated the generational divide between the elderly man

and his daughter by using this word.

2.3. Confrontational language:

● Use confrontational language: with exclamatory sentences, show

the old man's anger and disappointment. → “Rubbish. An impudent
little bit of rubbish!

→ “Hey!”

2.4. Direct speech

● Direct speech portrays the awkward relationship between the old

man and his daughter. → 'Waiting for Steven, hey?' → `Think you're
old enough to go courting, hey?'

2.5 Adverbs:

● Adverbs can indeed be used to emphasize the emotions of

characters in literature, adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other
adverbs, often providing additional context or intensity to the
action or feeling being described. In Lessing's story, adverbs were
employed to convey the intensity or depth of emotions experienced
by the characters e.g. 'incredulously', coldly' → 'You've said they can

34
 marry?' he said incredulously. → 'Yes, Dad, why not?' she said coldly
and took up her sewing.

2.6. Metaphor

● Compare the flight (of the birds) to the freedom of the

granddaughter as she moves away from the family and grows up. →
In the title 'flight' → He deliberately held out his wrist for the bird
to take flight, and caught it again at the moment it spread its wings.

● Compare the crooning of the birds to the (66) happiness of Alice →

‘The light happy sound mingled with the crooning of the birds, and
his anger mounted.’

● Compare the image of “his fingers curling like claw into his palm” to
his anger when seeing Alice and Steven → His fingers curled like
claws into his palm.

● In "Flight" by Doris Lessing, the metaphorical description of

sunlight breaking on the doves' grey breasts into small rainbows is a
vivid image that captures the beauty and serenity of the scene. By
likening the reflection of light on the doves' chests to rainbows, the
author creates a poetic and evocative image that conveys a sense of
wonder and awe. This metaphor not only enhances the sensory
experience of the reader but also adds depth to the old man's
observations, highlighting his appreciation for the natural world
and the fleeting moments of beauty in his surroundings.

The sunlight broke on their grey breasts into small rainbows.

● The flight of the birds represents a sense of freedom and liberation

from earthly constraints. Similarly, the granddaughter's departure
from the family symbolizes her journey toward independence and
self-discovery.
● Moreover, in this context, the crooning of the birds can be
compared to the happiness experienced by Alice

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“The light happy sound mingled with the crooning of the birds, and his
anger mounted”

The birds' crooning creates a soothing backdrop to the scene in "Flight,"

while Alice's happiness is described as a light, happy sound that adds to
the overall atmosphere of joy and delight.

The crooning of the birds in "Flight" reflects the beauty of the natural
world, with the birds' songs blending harmoniously with the
surroundings. Similarly, Alice's happiness in "Alice's Adventures in
Wonderland" is associated with the wonder and enchantment of the
fantastical world she encounters, where even the simplest joys bring her
immense pleasure.

● The imagery of "his fingers curling like claws into his palm" can be
compared to the anger experienced by the character upon seeing
Alice and Steven

This description conveys a sense of inner turmoil and agitation, as the

character's anger builds up and manifests in his body language.

The imagery of claws conveys a sense of aggression and hostility. Just as

claws are used by animals as weapons or tools for defense, the curled
fingers symbolize the character's readiness to lash out or confront the
source of his anger

This physical gesture underscores the depth of his emotions and the
extent to which he is affected by the situation.

2.7. Symbolism

● Pigeon: represent for Alice

→ Symbolizes the old man’s granddaughter (Alice) At the beginning of the

story, he ' held out his wrist for the bird to take flight, and caught it again
at the moment it spread its wings', although his bird is a homing pigeon.
This proves the old man's strong desire to keep the bird to himself. Also,
he does not believe in the return of the bird once he lets it go. It is just
the same way he reacts to Alice's love affair with Steven

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+ Desire to Keep Close: By holding out his wrist for the bird to take flight
and then catching it again, despite knowing it's a homing pigeon, the old
man demonstrates his desire to maintain control and keep the bird close
to him. This action suggests a possessive attitude towards the bird,
similar to how he feels about his family members.

+ Lack of Belief in Return: The fact that the old man doesn't believe the
bird will return once he lets it go indicates a sense of resignation or
pessimism. This attitude mirrors his skepticism about Alice's relationship
with Steven, as he may not believe it will endure or bring her happiness in
the long run.

“He stumped his feet alternately, thump, thump, thump, on the hollow
wooden floor and shouted:” She’ll marry him. I’m telling you, she’ll be
marrying him next!”

+ Parallel to Alice's Love Affair: Just as the old man struggles to let go of
the bird and doubts its return, he also struggles to accept Alice's growing
independence and her romantic relationship with Steven. Like the bird,
Alice represents a part of his life that he's reluctant to release control
over, and he may fear losing her to the outside world

“She’s the last,” he mourned. “Can’t we keep her a bit longer?”

● The gate: Symbolizes the transition between home and the outside
world, childhood, and maturity

The gate in "Flight" by Doris Lessing serves as a powerful symbol of

transition and the boundary between different states of being:

+ Transition between Home and the Outside World: The gate represents
the boundary between the familiar comforts of home and the unknown
dangers of the outside world. It means leaving through the gate signifies
the departure from the safety and security of family into the uncertainty
of the world. Similarly, returning through the gate marks the reentry into
the familiar yet changed environment of the home.

+ Transition between Childhood and Maturity

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The gate also symbolizes the passage from childhood to adulthood. As
Alice crosses the threshold of the gate, she’ll embark on a journey of
self-discovery and growth, leaving behind the innocence and dependency
of childhood and venturing into the complexities and responsibilities of
adulthood. The gate thus represents a main moment of transition in life.

● Alice’s fear: represents both happiness and sadness in different

moments of the story

→ Symbolizes her happiness (when her grandfather accepts her love), and
sadness (when she has to leave her family)

+ Happiness: When Alice's tears fall after her grandfather accepts her love
for Steven, it symbolizes her overwhelming happiness and relief. The tear
serves as a physical manifestation of her emotional release and the joy
she feels at being accepted and understood by her grandfather. It signifies
a moment of reconciliation and connection between them, bringing a
sense of peace and fulfillment to Alice.

+ Sadness: Conversely, when Alice sheds tears as she prepares to leave her
family and embark on her own journey, her tears symbolize sadness and
heartache. It represents the pain of separation and the uncertainty of
what lies ahead. Alice's tear embodies her conflicted emotions as she
grapples with the bittersweet nature of leaving behind her family while
also embracing the promise of new beginnings

Overall, Alice's tear serves as a poignant symbol of the complex and

nuanced emotions experienced by the character throughout the story,
reflecting both the highs and lows of her journey toward independence
and self-discovery.

“She was wide-eyed, and pale in the cold shadow, and he saw the tears run
shivering off her face”

● The old man: Symbolize the older generation has to struggle against
their loneliness, facing the reality of their children and
grandchildren gradually leaving.

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+ Loneliness: The old man's solitude and isolation, particularly after the
death of his wife, reflect the loneliness experienced by many elderly
individuals. His longing for companionship and connection is palpable
throughout the story, as he grapples with the absence of his family
members and the solitude of his surroundings.

+ Facing Reality of Departure: The old man's interactions with his family
members, especially Alice, underscore his struggle to come to terms with
their departure. He is torn between his desire to hold onto them and the
reality of their need for independence and autonomy. His reluctance to
let go reflects the broader experience of older generations facing the
departure of their children and grandchildren as they grow up and pursue
their own paths in life.

Overall, the old man in "Flight" serves as a poignant symbol of the

challenges faced by the older generation as they confront the loneliness
and loss that often accompany the gradual departure of their loved ones.
His story highlights the complexities of intergenerational relationships
and the enduring bonds that connect families across generations

1. Written in the third person

Although Flight is written in the third person, the elderly man's viewpoint
is used to tell most of the story. Doris purposefully writes it this way so
that readers can understand the elderly man's constantly changing
attitude from the start of the story to its very conclusion. It reveals to us
how his attitude has evolved from being happy at the start of the story
about his favorite to being angry and bitter upon seeing his
granddaughter waiting for her future marriage. It also enables us to
understand how he feels hurt and how his self-image is damaged when
everyone is against him.

Topic: Analyze the symbolic characters in “Flight”.

"Flight" by Doris Lessing is a short story that revolves around an unnamed

old man who grapples with accepting his granddaughter’s impending
departure as she is about to embark osn her married life. In this
seemingly simple narrative, Lessing has skillfully integrated symbolism

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into the characters, adding depth and intrigue to the story. The old man,
his granddaughter Alice, and his daughter Lucy are three symbolic
characters who play significant roles in conveying two central themes:
"fear of loss" and "freedom".
The old man in the story symbolizes the older generation worldwide
who fear loneliness. His keeping of pigeons reflects his attempts to
combat the solitude of old age while facing his granddaughter's growing
independence. As he "shuts the bird into a small box and fastens the bolt,"
he reveals his anxiety that if the birds, like his loved ones, were to fly free,
they wouldn't return, leaving him utterly alone. The old man's
apprehension regarding isolation is also evident in his fierce opposition to
Alice's romance. During his confrontation with Alice, he not only attempts
to assert control by threatening to expose her love affair, but he also
aggressively dismisses her love song as "’Impudent little bit of rubbish!'”
These emotional outbursts suggest that he dreads the isolation that
awaits him when Alice leaves to pursue her married life, taking with her
the cherished bond they share. As a symbolic character, the old man
serves to highlight one of the story's themes, which is "fear of loss".
Secondly, Alice, the old man's granddaughter represents the
younger generation. Her character demonstrates the passionate ardor of
youth in their romantic pursuits. Her act of "swinging on the gate" while
waiting for her fiancé captures her burning affection towards him, as her
restlessness reflects her overwhelming anticipation and excitement.
Additionally, Alice's fearless defiance in the face of her grandfather's
threats, "'Go and tell!'" showcases her unwavering commitment to her
romance, fueled by the fervor of youthful love. Alice also embodies the
yearning for freedom common among adolescents. Despite her
grandfather's objection, she asserts her autonomy by choosing to
continue seeing Steven. Moreover, at the end of the story, Alice bursts
into tears at the flight of the pigeons, which can be interpreted as tears of
joy as she understands that the release of the birds signifies her
grandfather’s acceptance to let her go and allow her to explore the
outside world without being confined by anyone’s expectations. Alice's
symbolic meaning helps contribute to the exploration of the theme "the
yearning for freedom."

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 Finally, Lucy, the old man's daughter, symbolizes a bridge
between generations. As the old man's daughter, her youthful experiences
may mirror Alice’s, enabling her to empathize with Alice's yearning for
freedom. This can be seen in the absence of conflict with Alice
throughout the story, as Lucy probably has a way to navigate Alice's
desire for independence without causing friction. Moreover, Lucy’s
motherhood grants her the sensitivity to effectively communicate to him
in a way that Alice, brimming with teenage rebellion, may not be able to.
For instance, to diffuse the old man’s frustration with Alice's defiance,
Lucy offers him tea in a placating tone: “'Now you just sit down and have
your tea.'" Furthermore, Lucy also displays sympathy for the old man’s
need for connection by reassuring him: "'She'll be here every day to see
you.'" Her calm demeanor demonstrates her commitment to peaceful
resolution and maintaining family harmony. As a symbolic character
representing the translator between the two generations, Lucy plays a
crucial role in bridging the divide between them.
In conclusion, the characters of the old man, his granddaughter
Alice, and his daughter Lucy in "Flight" by Doris Lessing serve as powerful
symbols contributing to two major themes of the story: "fear of loss" and
"the yearning for freedom." The old man represents the older generation
plagued by the fear of isolation, Alice embodies the intense affection and
longing for independence of the younger generation, and Lucy serves as
the bridge between them. Through these characters, the author explores
the complexities of generational dynamics and emphasizes the
importance of understanding and empathy across different age groups.

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 A Rose for Emily

NON-LINEAR STORYLINE:

● Departs from a traditional linear narrative approach in revealing his

characters’ inner selves and motivations.
● Fractures and manipulates the time.
● Unfolds Emily's life through a series of flashbacks.
● Allows for an exploration of the past and present, presenting a
richly layered and multidimensional world.
● introduces two contrasting perceptions of time within the story.
● One aligns with the mathematical progression and objective reality,
where time moves constantly forward, leaving the past immutable.
● In contrast, the subjective view of time allows memories to remain
vivid and influential, regardless of temporal distance.

In “A Rose for Emily,” Faulkner departs from a traditional linear narrative

approach in revealing his characters’ inner selves and motivations.
Instead, he fractures and manipulates the time to stretch his story over
many decades. Emily’s life unfolds through a series of flashbacks,
beginning with her funeral and then delving into past events. In the end,
we surprisingly realize that even the funeral scene is a flashback,
preceding the opening of the upstairs bedroom door. We witness Emily’s
youth, where suitors are deterred by her father’s whip, and her old age,
culminating in her death at 74. Faulkner's nonlinear approach allows for
an exploration of the past and present, presenting a richly layered and
multidimensional world. Faulkner introduces two contrasting perceptions
of time within the story. One aligns with the mathematical progression
and objective reality, where time moves constantly forward, leaving the
past immutable. In contrast, the subjective view of time allows memories
to remain vivid and influential, regardless of temporal distance. For Emily,
the past remains a potent force, shaping her present existence despite
the passage of time. Even as life progresses, she remains something of the
past, unwilling to relinquish its hold on her identity.

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“All the past is not actually a diminishing road but, instead, a huge meadow
which no winter ever quite touches, divided from them now by the narrow
bottle-neck of the most recent decade of years.”
You can think of the past that could be like a road. But it’s actually not just all of the
roads out there. Instead of being a straightforward path guiding us to walk through the
fire, through both good and bad times of our lives, it's more like a diminishing road.
You see, a path seems to be shortened and lose its importance as we journey further
along it. It’s like with every single step we take, the past becomes less significant. I
mean, the further you go, the smaller and less important your past will be. IT’S A
PHOTO LOSING ITS DETAILS WHEN WE SPEND LESS TIME TAKING
CARE OF IT. We good?

But hold on a moment because there is another image that we need to discuss. OK?
How about if we imagine the past like a huge meadow, a massive open space that goes
on forever? You know what a huge meadow is, right? Let’s look at the screen. You can
see it clearly. As you see, it is an area of land with grass and other wild plants in it.
It’s big, it’s rich and it’s full of stuff, right? BUT WHY THE WRITER WANTED
TO USE THE IMAGE OF A HUGE MEADOW TO DESCRIBE THE PAST? The
reasons why? Sure thing! I believe that the past is compared to a huge meadow
because it’s sort of a big, open field full of memories and stories. Just like a meadow
is often full of plants and animals, the past is full of things that happened a long time
ago. And just like a meadow doesn’t get affected by winter, the past stays important
no matter how much time goes by. So, I think, it’s like saying that the past is very big,
full, and always has something interesting going on, right?

How about “no winter ever quite touches”? You see, winter often represents tough
times and challenges, right? I mean, so if the past never gets touched by the winter, it
means it never gets messed up by hard times. It still stays strong and unaffected. So,
the past stays strong and doesn't change at all, like a safe spot untouched by any
problems. It's like a magical garden where memories are kept safe and sound,

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never getting damaged by anything that happens. It's a cozy place where memories
stay clean and untouched, no matter what's going on around it.

But here’s the point: Sometimes, we might get stuck in a narrow spot like
“bottle-neck.” I think it’s like we’re all trying to move forward even in a tight space
and tough times. Now, what makes it so narrow? Well, I think it’s all the stuff that’s
happened recently, “recent decades of years,” that forces us to move on and inspires us
to find new ways to navigate life’s challenges. It’s like when you’re stuck in a narrow
passage/stage/period - as long as you don’t give up, you will find a way to push
through and keep going. You know, it may feel uncomfortable and overwhelming at
first, but this feeling can be kinda a motivation that helps us to stay focused on our
self-growth journey and dare to seek new opportunities.

The general meaning of the quote suggests that our past experiences are not simply
fading memories, but rather a vast and enduring source of influence. It's a place where
positive memories remain vibrant, even if recent events might feel more prominent.
This perspective emphasizes the importance of the past in shaping who we are and
how we experience the present.

CONFLICTS:

Man vs. the society:

● The main and foremost conflict

● In the dispute with the people, they asked her to pay taxes ("When
the next generation, with its more modern ideas, ... The tax notice
was also enclosed, without comment." Section I, paragraph 4)
● She is also isolated by the townspeople ("fallen monument" Section I
Paragraph 1; "Alive, Miss Emily had been a tradition, a duty, and a
care; a sort of hereditary obligation upon the town, dating from that
day in." Section I, Paragraph 3)

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 ● The elderly villagers did not care much about Emily's feelings
("Then some of the ladies began to say that it was a disgrace to the
town and a bad example to the young people [...], and the following
day the minister's wife wrote to Miss Emily's relations in Alabama."
Section IV, Paragraph 2)
● Some people exposed Emily's privacy ("So the next night, after
midnight, four men crossed Miss Emily's lawn and slunk about the
house like burglars, [...] After a week or two the smell went away."
Section II, Paragraph 10)
● She did not want to get a new house number ("When the town got
free postal delivery Miss Emily alone refused to let them fasten the
metal numbers above her door and attach a mailbox to it. She would
not listen to them." Section IV, Paragraph 9)
● She denied the death of Colonel Sartoris and the presence of New
South's authorities. ("See Colonel Sartoris." (Colonel Sartoris had
been dead almost ten years.)" Section I, Paragraph 14; "Perhaps he
considers himself the sheriff…" Section I, Paragraph 10)
● She is constant, a variant that diverted from the mathematical
progression of time.

Man vs. Man

● Emily was abolished the rights of freedom by her father ("her father
a spraddled silhouette in the foreground, his back to her and
clutching a horsewhip," Section II Paragraph 11; "We remembered all
the young men her father had driven away," Section II Paragraph 14;
"Then we knew that this was to be expected too; as if that quality of
her father which had thwarted her woman's life so many times had
been too virulent and too furious to die." Section IV Paragraph 6)
● He must have been the only one who could save Emily from
loneliness.
● However, he probably hung out with Emily to polish his fame
(Because he was described as a self-centered one: "Homer Barron
would be in the center of the group" Section III Paragraph 2; he also
did not want to form a life-long commitment "that he was not a
marrying man" Section IV Paragraph 1)
● He turned out to be nothing but her next grief.

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Man vs. himself

The main and foremost conflict of this story is the conflict between Emily
and her society. For example, she finds herself in dispute with those who
insist that she should pay taxes like an ordinary citizen; she finds herself
being criticized for falling in love with a working-class man, not someone
who is noble, who has high social status. She is also isolated by the
townspeople, as they regard her as a monument, a treasure, and a legacy
whom they do not dare to talk to, to form close relationships with the
older people of the Jefferson who believe that Emily has forgotten her
pride like the wife’s minister to those villagers who exposed her privacy.
She was just someone who was not granted the right to change, the right
to adapt, and the right to join her community. She also refused to be a
part of the time progression, showing through the way she did not want
to get a new house number or when she denied the death of Sartoris and
the new local authority. She, herself, and her existence conflict with her
society - a variant, a constant that diverted from the mathematical
progression of time.

She also conflicts with particular individuals like her father and Homer
Baron. As for her father, he abolished the right for Emily to live her life
but made choices for everything by himself. He kicked out every
nobleman who wanted to marry his beloved daughter without asking how
she felt. Thus, when her father lay under the patch of grass, she became
utterly vulnerable and isolated. Her own father was the one who started
her tragedy.

As for Homer Barron, he must have been the man that Emily had sought
for all her life. The potential one who could rescue her from her grief,
who might be able to teach her how to adapt to the change and how to
survive in the New South community. However, this man was nothing
more than a person who wanted to hang out with Emily to polish his own
fame. In the story, the writer describes H.B. as a self-centered person,
and he was also not the one wanting to make a life-long commitment. At
one point in the story, this man was once intent on leaving her. As
someone who had long felt the loneliness, Emily herself, naturally, must
have been in great despair to the extent that she chose to keep Homer

46
Barron for herself forever. She was both guilty and pure at the same time,
like a lively white rose whose petals were soaked in the red of blood. It
was still as beautiful as it always had been but now nourished through the
flesh and blood of another. That is why she is also in great conflict with
herself. Her mentality is still like the day her father left her; she still
swells with pride in her family, she still interacts with others with
formalities that she has long learned, and she is still eccentric. But she
has also committed an unforgivable crime, and she has grown into an old,
gloomy, and merely plump lady. A part of her progress with the flow of
time, but most of it is still staying at the point when she killed Homer
Barron. Her father could have created Emily’s tragedy, but Homer Barron
was the one who actually locked the pitiful Emily forever in the house of
the past.

SETTING

Time setting

● When Miss Emily died in the late 19th century

● After the American Civil War (1861-1865)
● Reconstruction era in the South

Her father died, and C. Sartori remitted her taxes.

Homer Barron arrived in Jefferson.

The "bad smell" episode occurred.

She gave lessons in china-painting.

The Alderman (new gen) visited her house.

Emily died at 74.

The town found her secret.

→ Events as they occur in time

→ Events as they are told in the story

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Place setting

Emily’s house in the small town of Jefferson, South America

● The South:

→ A Rose for Emily’ is set in the American South. The South lost the Civil
War and fell into the Reconstruction era lasting from the mid to late
1800s, stripping the South of everything but their proud Southern
heritage. William Faulkner uses his text as a metaphor for the South’s
struggle to abandon their traditions for modernity during the
Reconstruction era through the life of Miss Emily.

● Jefferson

→ Jefferson is a fictional town, it is the setting for much of William

Faulkner’s fiction.

● Emily’s house

→ The house was the only old house left on the street, while ‘garages and
cotton gins’ had replaced the other houses. In the short story, the house
plays a significant role in developing Emily's characteristics. And I will
analyze these features later.

● The locked room:

→ The locked room at the top of Miss Emily’s house covers a dreadful
secret, and this is a symbol of her isolation and loneliness. She sets up the
room as a bridal chamber for a wedding that will never take place and
then keeps her would-be groom inside the room.

Culture setting

Relations between the North and the South during Faulkner's time, after
slavery had collapsed

● The South → traditional, conservative

● The North → adaptable, open

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A Rose for Emily can be seen as a metaphor for the relations between the
North and the South during Faulkner's time. The South is known for being
traditional, and the North is very adaptable to change.

After the Civil War, after slavery had collapsed

● Southerners did not give up their aristocratic culture but they

clung to pre-Civil War traditions, ideals, and institutions and
wanted to return to the glorious past in memory than in reality.
● Northerners become more broad-minded and open, they adapt to
changes in life, even when the world around them changes quickly.

=> The setting is the decisive element related to the way the writer
develops the characters throughout this short story

CHARACTERS

Miss Emily:

● major character
● round character
● dynamic character
● the Old South, upper class:

→ This story talks about the tragic life of a southern noblewoman

because of the changed social system after the Civil War. As I mentioned
in the previous part, Miss Emily is the symbol of the Old Southerners who
still cling to the glorious era before the Civil War

→ Class in this story, like in many of Faulkner`s other works, has a

decisive influence on the way people think and act (Tobe’s presence, a
slave, in the story quietly reminds us Miss Emily has remained stuck in a
bygone era)

● mysterious:

→ The town tells the story of what they saw. We never get to see Miss
Emily talking to herself, uh, we're not inside of her head, we're not inside
of her heart. Most of the events related to her are told by other people, so

49
it is impossible for us, even for the people living near her to know exactly
what she has done in her house and what she's thinking. She seems to be
a weak character who has a sense of deprivation of independence in her
life. Her life was driven by others, and this reason makes her mysterious
enough in the short story.

● not a real human being:

→ Throughout the short story, there are many vivid images of Miss Emily
the author creates in the story. He often describes her as something like
an idol, statue, sort of curiosity in the museum not a human being.

● When people attend her funeral, she is a “fallen monument”

● When people recrossed the lawn after sprinkling lime, she

“evidently shut up the top of the house - like the carven torso of an
idol in a niche”

● She had ceased to be a real human being, but had completely

become a sort of monument, a symbol of “a tradition and hereditary
obligation”

She was motionless suited her rigid and stubborn personality. In these
details, she didn’t look like a living person but an idol, or a goddess. And
you know, not being a human equal people can dispossess of her full
rights as a human whenever they want. It can be seen obviously when
they control her life unreasonably

● stubborn, conservative:

→ Although the world surrounding Emily is moving forward and changing

quickly, she is stubborn and conservative sinking into a private world
safely frozen in the past, unchanging. And the way she keeps the old
things, the way she is stubborn or conservative, and the way she insists
on her own way can be found in:

● Her house

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Even the house is stubborn. “Miss Emily's house was left, lifting its
stubborn and coquettish decay above the cotton wagons and the gasoline
pumps” (Section 1). So the author personifies Miss Emily’s house by using
words like “lifting its stubborn and coquettish decay”. This symbolizes
that the house and its owner share the same character. So, based on the
details that the writer uses to describe this house, we can partly guess
her personality. So now let's begin with her house to discover how she is
obstinate as a mule

“But garages and cotton gins had encroached and obliterated even the
august names of that neighborhood; only Miss Emily's house was left”

Grierson's house is out of place in the modern world.

garages and cotton gins = symbols of science and technological advances.

they are invading space by bringing modernity, developments with new
technologies, social structures, and cultural trends to this town. BUT
ONLY Miss Emily's house is left. Yah see, everyone in the town gradually
accepts the modern things in the new era, but Miss Emily, like the house,
is left behind. It is reasonable. She represents the Old South, the old ways
of thinking, the past glorious period. So it may be difficult for those who
focus only on the past to adapt to new situations and learn new things
quickly.

“lifting its stubborn and coquettish decay above the cotton wagons and the
gasoline pumps-an eyesore among eyesores”

her house is an eyesore: The sight of its coquettish decay evokes a sense
of melancholy, which is a poignant reminder of the way of life before the
Civil War is dying, and other things on the street are a reminder of
changes, a tangible sign that slavery collapsed. Although being hated and
isolated or facing the changes, the house defiantly holds its ground, it
keeps standing there stubbornly, above the modernity of life, like its
owner. The house, in calling back to earlier traditions, embodies the
desperation to cling to a disappearing way of life that many people in the
South felt at the time

● Mayor & dad’s death

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One further element of Emily's house is her father's crayon portrait. In
the living room, the portrait of Emily's father stands as a firm reminder of
the past, which Emily cannot let go or live without. Emily refuses to
accept the fact of her father's death, she keeps his body inside the house
for 3 days. Miss Emily sicks for a long time; when she appears in public,
“her hair was cut short, making her look like a girl” = her girlish haircut
seems like a subtle affirmation of this denial, a sign that she still thinks of
herself as daddy’s little girl. Additionally, when people bring food and try
to support her, "Miss Emily met them at the door dressed as usual, with
no trace of grief on her face.” She told them that her father was not dead.

● Her trait can be seen in how she dealt with the tax problems. No
matter how much they insist, she refuses, claiming that a former
mayor of the town has remitted her tax

● Not only her house, but her stubbornness can also be found in her
old handwriting style, and her using stationery that's decades old
like papyrus.

Do you remember in section 1 when the Aldermen visited her house, the
writer describes that the watch vanished into her belt, which means she
did not look at the watch. What does the watch symbolize? Time. By
making her watch invisible, Miss Emily tried to ignore the passage of time
and any changes in this world.

● Meanwhile, the town is moving forward. Not only do they have the
sidewalks, but they're getting a post office or postal service. But
Miss Emily refuses to let them put the numbers on her door and
attach a mailbox to the house. She doesn't even let people repair the
house. Everything will stay like it was, in a static, preserved mode.

life moves on with her — but she stays committed, regardless, to the past.

● high and mighty:

→ The way she treats the mayor and the druggist

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The readers hardly ever see Emily open her mouth in the short story ⇒
there are only 2 times she does so: when there is an issue with taxes and
when she wants to buy arsenic.

On both occasions, her manner shows that she takes no notice of what
others say, she ignores all their explanation about the situation. Now they
go, and she listens to them. It says she did not ask them to sit. So that
means that she did not invite them to make themselves comfortable, you
know, she did not offer them a drink ⇒ she flat-out refuses to pay her
taxes. So again, she thinks she's above the law, or that rules don't apply to
her, because of her status, perhaps. She does not need to be questioned.
She will not let anyone question her actions, her motives. “She just stares
at him until he relents, sells it to her, and he just writes on the box,”

→ Even when her father leaves her nothing except the house, and lets her
sink into poverty, Emily still retains her aristocratic manner. We can see
this through the moment she carried her head high even when people
believed that she had fallen or when they felt sorry for her.

● insecure, reclusive:

→ insecure ⇒ afraid of being abandoned by Barron after knowing that he

is not a marrying man ⇒ it is no wonder that Miss Emily attempts to take
control of her own life, to live on her terms, to be the master of her fate
so that her marriage could last forever.

So that, instead of letting Homer leave her, Miss Emily takes absolute
control over his life, literally turning him into an object that she can
manipulate at will

→ Reclusive

After her father dies, she retreats into her house and stays there, except
for a brief interlude during which she goes for buggy rides with Homer
Barron. After she kills Barron, she remains in the house for the rest of her
life.

In fact, for most of Miss Emily's life, her only tenuous connection from
the outside world, from the town is through a black servant, Tobe. He is

53
her loyal servant who gave his whole life to the care of Miss Emily. He
protects her privacy from the prying eyes and ears of the town.

No one in Jefferson knows what Emily did in the house and Emily also did
not know how the world outside changed. This explains why she doesn't
realize that C.S died

● mentally unstable:

→ Miss Emily's character can best be described as eccentric, not crazy

enough to be in a mental institution, but someone who acts outside the
mainstream of thought.

We see this first when she initially refuses to give up her father's body
after he dies. This becomes even more obvious when we learn that she
has killed Barron, presumably because he was going to break up with her
and move away. Most women, of course, would be sad and depressed if
their boyfriend announced his intention to leave. However, they would
not plan to kill him and then sleep with his dead body. But Emily chooses
to keep him forever by her side by killing him maybe because she judges it
the best way to ensure a faithful and lasting marriage. And she sleeps
beside the dead Barron because to her he is still living.

Maybe this behavior runs in the family because her great-aunt also gets
mad, suggesting that Miss Emily’s case is not isolated.

Do you remember that her house is heavily lightsome? ⇒ oxymoron,

lightsome is adj used to describe something positive but it goes with
heavily. it sounds like a mask, a thick mask that try hard to hide
something in this house such as murderous action. the house is trying
hard to seem nice, display positivity to make itself look pleasant, wealthy

● murderous
● being controlled:

→ She is being controlled by her family and the society

● Father:

54
In the short story, her mother isn’t mentioned. It can be assumed that
Emily’s life lacked a motherly figure, and she completely associated
herself with her father. This is a man who had ruled her life and
prevented her from starting any other kind of life. Her father was also
very close and protective of his daughter. He would disregard any suitor
for his daughter. They are the upper class, so it's reasonable that they
held themselves a little too high. So it must be a suitable alliance.
However, her father’s overprotective behavior can take away her chance
to have a better life and when he's dead, she will cling to her father, cling
had robbed her

do you remember the image that the father was standing in the
foreground while Miss Emily was standing in the background?

“We had long thought of them as a tableau, Miss Emily a slender figure in
white in the background, her father a spraddled silhouette in the
foreground, his back to her and clutching a horsewhip, the two of them
framed by the back-flung front door.”

⇒ This tells several things about the relationship between father and
daughter in the Grierson family. This shows the father’s dominant
position and the daughter’s subordinate role. The father’s spraddling adds
to his image as a stern patriarchal figure.

the father turned his back to her

⇒ he refused to listen to her, denying her wishes. Then, Mr. Grierson was
clutching a horsewhip, which is clearly a symbol of power, authority, and
strict control. Miss Emily’s slender figure suggests vulnerability. And her
white dress symbolizes purity. The most valued quality of the Southern
white women.

Even in death, the father still controls her through his portrait as I
mentioned in the previous point. This portrait indicates that he will
always keep an eye on Emily

+ Society:

55
she is some sort of burden and responsibility that the town sees as one of
its own traditions that it has a duty to protect and care for. they see her
as a living legend so that they preserve her, look after her, keep her in the
manner to which she is accustomed.

Like her father, the town also controls her romantic relationship with
Homer Baron. They began to say that it was a disgrace to the town and a
bad example to the young people, forcing the Baptist minister to call upon
her. When the minister unsuccessfully prevents her from having an affair
with Homer, they keep sending a letter to her relations in Alabama.

● firm will **
● lonely: → Since her father died, she lives alone in the house with a
servant and they don't even talk to each other “He talked to no one,
probably not even to her, for his voice had grown harsh and rusty,
as if from disuse”, and in addition she has no relatives nearby
● not only Emily being mad like that
● “dear, inescapable, impervious, and tranquil”: To describe how the
townspeople felt about Miss Emily. They reflected the
townspeople’s ambivalent attitude toward Emily cause These words
are precise, but these are usual adjectives that don’t fit comfortably
together.

→ dear: she represented the Southern heritage to a certain extent.

→ inescapable: she was “a sort of hereditary obligation upon the town”

→ impervious: not affected by any changes taking place in the town, and
her imperviousness was well reflected by her ignoring the tax notice and
her refusal to pay taxes

→ tranquil: Though she was tragic, she remained calm and free from
disturbance. Her tranquility as well as rigidity was portrayed by her
motionless silhouette in the window. She was certainly perverse, always
behaving in an unreasonable way and regularly doing the opposite of
what people expected her to do

● intimidating:

56
→ This is because she is still highly respected in the town and she is a
mysterious woman. There are several details telling us that she is
intimidating.

● sneaky behavior of the authorities

four men attempt to sprinkle lime around her house secretly because of
the bad smell. Before that, many townspeople complained to Judge Steven
about this but he refused to accuse Miss Emily to her face of smelling bad.
So they slunk about the house like “burglars” because they are afraid to
confront her

● the servant, Tobe

Do you think that Tobe knows about the murder in this house?

I think that Tobe may be complicit in Emily’s murderous act, does he

know about it? he can smell his dead body, he is fully aware of this, he
knows about what she has done, and he is just adhering to do what he is
in charge -> sense of a real power

● Even though Miss Emily died, townspeople are still afraid of her
dead body and people want to make sure Miss Emily is completely
buried so that they can enter her room freely, comfortably

Mr. Grierson:

Mr. Grierson Emily’s father. Mr. Grierson, the head of the Grierson family,
is controlling, and has a huge influence over Emily, even until his death.
We get glimpses of him in the story: in the crayon portrait kept on the
gilt-edged easel in the parlor, and silhouetted in the doorway, horsewhip
in hand, having chased off another of Emily’s suitors.

● minor character
● flat character
● static character
● Emily’s father
● controlling & overprotective:

57
→ Throughout her life, Emily's father was extremely controlling. Mr.
Grierson shapes the person that Emily becomes. He drove all her
potential suitors away because he did not feel like anyone was good
enough for his little girl. The town ''thought of them as a tableau, Miss
Emily a slender figure in white in the background, her father a spraddled
silhouette in the foreground, his back to her and clutching a horsewhip, the
two of them framed by the back-flung front door.''

→ In other words, his overprotection felt as though it was his

responsibility to stand front and center to protect her from potential
dangers, but as he did, his back was to Emily in a way that stalled her
social and emotional development.

● Disinterested:

→ Mr. Grierson does love his daughter. But, along with that is his
selfishness. This leads to him excessively protecting his daughter,
wanting to keep her by his side permanently. But perhaps he forgets that
his daughter is also human; she also desires to love and be loved in her
youth, yet he neglects her desires. Eventually, when he passes away, she is
left alone at the age of 30. Furthermore, he protected her in his arms, but
forgot to decide the rest of her life without him → he passed away, she
hardly engaged with society, became isolated and alienated.

Homer Barron:

Not long after Emily’s father's death, the appearance of Homer Barron,
who is a stranger in town came to Jefferson to help pave the sidewalks
raising people's attention and sparking discussions.

● minor character (but major role)

● flat character
● static character
● Appearance
● First of all, Homer was described as a “big,” loud, “Yankee”. a foreman
named Homer Barron, a Yankee— a big, dark, ready man, with a big
voice and eyes lighter than his face.

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It's easy to understand given his appearance, he seems different from all
of the other people, because

● Come from the North, Northerner, and day laborer, one lower-class

+ “Of course, a Grierson would not think seriously of a Northerner, a day

laborer.”

His status was regarded as “far below” Ms. Emily’s social standing. Of
course, he is just a laborer, working class, he also comes from the
Northern, so how can he deserve the one person in the higher class, who
embodies the fading aristocracy

Homer’s role in Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” is largely symbolic. He

represents the Northern influence that pervaded the South after the Civil
War. Homer represents everything the South isn’t, he doesn’t believe in
the old traditions and goes against the traditions and sensibilities of the
South.

Comparison table for the Northern and Old South:

OLD SOUTH NORTH

fading aristocracy and class social mobility and revised class

division expectations

old traditions modernity and industrialization

Resist changes Engage with community

● **Personality: Though citizens of Jefferson dismissed his status as a

Northerner, at the same time, they came to appreciate Homer.

+ Gregarious nature and sense of humor: Homer attracted people in the

town with charm, initially becoming the center of attention and the
object of affection.

Whenever you heard a lot of laughing anywhere about the square, Homer
Barron would be in the center of the group.

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+ Care for Emily: He develops an interest in Emily and takes her for
Sunday drives in a yellow-wheeled buggy.

Presently we began to see him and Miss Emily on Sunday afternoons

driving in the yellow-wheeled buggy and the matched team of bays from
the livery stable.

There is some interesting in his

+ "Was not a marrying man": His relationship with Emily is disliked by the
people, but after 2 years the townspeople just want them to get married,
however, it seems like Homer chooses to abandon Emily rather than
settle down and get married because "Homer himself had remarked--he
liked men, and it was known that he drank with the younger men in the
Elks' Club--that he was not a marrying man." by portraying him as an
eternal bachelor, dedicated to his single status and uninterested in
marriage.

+ A gruff and demanding boss: "The little boys would follow in groups to
hear him cuss the niggers, and the niggers singing in time to the rise and
fall of picks".

● Role in the story

+ Relationship with Emily

The life of Emily revolved solely around her father, who constantly sought
to control and manipulate her. After her father's death, it was as if she
lost the only anchor in her life, and she seemed to lose that sense of
control over her own life. She became adrift in the community, feeling
lost and disconnected.

The change that Homer brings to Emily’s life Homer enters her life, as her
new source of support, a place for her to lean on and confide in. For
Emily, Homer represents a glimmer of hope in the darkness of loneliness.
As her first true love, someone who teaches her the feeling of being loved
and loving (could be the pretense) in return. Homer brings about a change
in Emily's life, as her first real lover.

60
For Emily, he was the man she loved and looked forward to a long, happy
life. But for Homer, she was just a temporary joy. Homer was aimless and
indefinite; he probably saw her as a means to enhance his reputation.
What could be better than a laborer getting involved with a respected
noble lady, allowing him to exploit her to elevate his status? Homer
Barron takes Emily as his lover and strings her along. Homer Barron leads
Emily to believe he would marry her, but one day Emily sees the truth
that Homer Barron “liked men and … – he was not a marrying man”. She
realizes Homer will never marry her, which is impossible, so he leaves.
And he received a bitter ending.

Furthermore, the way Emily embraces Homer, despite their social

differences and his status as a laborer, indicates that Emily is motivated
to make a change. She is willing to open herself up to modernization, to
embrace something new in her life, and Homer catalyzes that change.

+ Relationship with the society

Homer is seen as a symbol of change and modernization in the town of

Jefferson. He brings innovation to the rapidly changing world of this
Southern town, whose new leaders are themselves pursuing more
“modern” ideas → Signs from the southern region are also gradually
showing a desire for improvement, embracing the new.

The townspeople - New South:

→ the citizens in Jefferson

→ the new generation of the Southern

→ gossip

● Insincere:

→ Under the protection of her father, Emily lived a decent life. However,
after her father’s death, she had no one to depend on. At this time, the
townspeople begin to feel glad because they think they can pity Miss
Emily.

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“When her father died, it got about that the house was all that was left to
her; and in a way, people were glad. At last they could pity Miss Emily.
Being left alone, and a pauper, she had become humanized. Now she too
would know the old thrill and the old despair of a penny more or less”.

⇒ The townspeople are glad that Emily would not act as if she is above
them, and she would become approachable. They sneer because, in the
end, they can see her as just an ordinary person, below her nobility,
which makes them jealous and even envious of her before.

⇒ Without the protection of her father, Emily would not belong to the
upper class, and she could not compete with them in ordinary life.
Witnessing the collapse of the old aristocratic class gives them a sense of
superiority

⇒ And they could see Emily having to open the door to welcome them to
her father's funeral, perhaps at this moment, they brought a bit of sneer
to visit someone who had passed away. “The day after his death all the
ladies prepared to call at the house and offer condolence and aid, as is our
custom Miss Emily met them at the door”.

→ Giving themselves the right to judge, and assess others as they believe
that Emily is crazy.

“We did not say she was crazy then. We believed she had to do that. [...]”

⇒ They realize that now she is alone, without any support, they can freely
point fingers, and judge her without fear of class boundaries, fear of her
father as before, now considering, they are right, Emily now appears to be
like a crazy person clinging to her last emotional support, even though
this behavior is very normal for those who have lost their loved ones.

→ Contradictory feelings: When Homer Barron appears and develops

feelings for her. The feelings of the townspeople about their love affair
are complex.

⇒ At first, we were glad that Miss Emily would have an interest, because the
ladies all said, "Of course, a Grierson would not think seriously of a
Northerner, a day laborer." But there were still others, older people, who said

62
that even grief could not cause a real lady to forget noblesse oblige without
calling it noblesse oblige.

⇒ On the one hand, they hope the two can get married, but it’s not just
simple to wish them happiness, it is because their marriage will prove
that Miss Emily is the common person. From this, Emily is equal to them.
She will be even more of an ordinary person, now she is deeper than
when her father passed away.

⇒ On the other hand, people, especially the old people, show pity for Miss
Emily. As the incarnation of the Old South, she should not and cannot
marry a man from the labor class of the North. This is not only a disgrace
to Emily, but to the whole townspeople because they and their ancestors
would lose nobleness.

⇒ Therefore, they thought of her kinsfolk in Alabama and hoped that her
kins could come to persuade her. Even though the relationship between
the two sides has long been disconnected for many years. They had not
even been represented at the funeral.

⇒ How ridiculous it is that the effort to preserve old traditions,

considering themselves noble compared to the North, is more important
than Emily's happiness and needs. In the past, they were all happy
because she was finally brought down to the same level, but now, they
attach the noble title to her. They force her to continue becoming an icon
of the aristocratic class and their long-standing tradition. They see her as
a symbol of the old South, her responsibility is maintaining the old
tradition, forcing her to become noble and not to associate with a
northern laborer. Maybe, the contradictory feelings of Emily are the
reflection of their attitude towards the Old South. They show respect for
long-standing traditions; at the same time, they want to get rid of the
backward agricultural economy.

→ The townspeople say "Poor Emily" three times "Poor Emily. Her kinsfolk
should come to her."

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⇒ And as soon as the old people said, "Poor Emily," the whispering began.
"Do you suppose it's really so?" they said to one another. "Of course it is.
What else could . . ."

⇒ This behind their hands; rustling of craned silk and satin behind jalousies
closed upon the sun of Sunday afternoon as the thin, swift clop-clop-clop of
the matched team passed: "Poor Emily."

→ These depict the townspeople's reaction to Emily's situation, showing a

mix of pity, curiosity, and gossip. The repetition of "Poor Emily" reflects a
sense of sympathy and perhaps condescension towards her.

⇒ The first time, they poor her, but they invited the kinsfolks who hadn’t
represented in her father’s funeral.

⇒ The second time, the whispered conversations among the townspeople

reveal their intrigue and uncertainty about Emily's circumstances, yes,
they even don’t know if is it true, but they still say “Poor Emily”, which
suggests a lack of clarity regarding the truth of her situation, just
interested in her story and adding a few words of gossip for
entertainment.

⇒ The third time, the description of rustling silk and satin and the sound
of a passing team of horses create a vivid and atmospheric backdrop to
the unfolding events, enhancing the sense of mystery and drama
surrounding Emily, the whispering behind their hands shows that they
only dare to talk behind her back, staying in the shadows to gossip, not
daring to confront her face-to-face.

● Inquisitive:

→ During Homer’s leaving, Emily went out to buy poison. Faced with the
constant inquiry of the druggist, Emily just responded that she wanted
the arsenic, and refused to answer her purpose. All she said was “I want
some poison”, “I want the best you have. I don’t care what kind”, “Arsenic, is
that a good one?”, and “I want arsenic”, and her face looked like “a strained
flag”. In the end, the druggist chooses not to come back to confront Emily.
To some extent, the druggist represents those who keep an eye on Emily.
In the next few days, the townspeople guess that Emily will kill herself

64
because they think that Emily’s love affair with Homer was “a disgrace to
the town and a bad example to the young people”. In their minds, the death
of Emily is the best result of this incident. They prefer the death of Emily
to the humiliation of the nobleness of their ancestors and the Old South.
Therefore, the maintenance of Old South’s nobleness outweighs Emily’s
life.

→ After some time, when the smell developed, they believed it was the
chance of Emily’s collapse, and they could approach Emily, so that “It was
another link between the gross, teeming world and the high and mighty
Griersons”. When the four men cross Miss Emily’s lawn and sprinkle lime,
it is the signal that the townspeople can control Emily’s life, and become
the fathering role like Colonel Sartoris. However, the upright and
motionless torso of Emily sitting behind a window proves that the
townspeople will not and cannot be equal or superior to her. Years later, a
similar scene happened again. When the new generation grew up and was
in office, they sent a tax deputation to collect taxes. But Emily’s
motionless figure, arrogant attitude, and dry, cold voice made the
deputation halt their request. Therefore, the narration goes “So she
vanquished them, horse and foot, just as she had vanquished their fathers
thirty years before the smell”.

→ For the townspeople, the death of Emily is the turning point because
they can understand her life by looking at her mysterious residential
house. They knew Emily’s upstairs house had not been opened for forty
years. Emily’s whole life is intensely scrutinized, discussed, and even
interfered with by the townspeople. In other words, her life is openly
public to the townspeople. However, when the narration reaches the end,
we find that they cannot understand Miss Emily even after her death, she
remains a mystery to the townspeople before and after her death.

The conflicting feelings of the townspeople towards Emily showed their

views on the Old South. As they abandoned the limitations of the Old
South, they realized these limitations were ingrained in their culture.
Emily's uncertainty mirrored their mixed feelings about the South's
future. Thus, under the townspeople's watchful eyes, Emily became both
a symbol of admiration and blame.

65
POINT OF VIEW:
● The story is told by first-person narrator, indefinite narrators
rather than only one person because there is frequent emergence
of “we” and “us” in the story. Besides that, the age of these narrators
is uncertain, but they are older than the new generation and
younger than Emily.
● Therefore, they would record the whole life of Emily. It can be the
narrators here are the townspeople, who can witness and express
their emotions towards Emily from their perspective. By using the
"we" narrator, Faulkner creates a sense of closeness between
readers and his story. It also allows for the community’s thoughts to
come together and push Emily over the ledge she has been standing
near for a long period. This helps give the story a sense of depth
and understanding. It also gives readers a more personal
connection to Emily's story and allows them to empathize with her
more deeply.

THEMES:
● Death: The death of the title character is obviously a central event
in the story. The very first words of the story are ‘When Miss Emily
Grierson died’, and the story returns to her death, and what is
discovered in the wake of it (a dead body), at the end of the
narrative. In between, the narrator tells us about the incidents in
Emily’s life and the responses of the townspeople, but death
‘bookends’ the story. Miss Emily’s death symbolizes the death of
something greater: the death of the Old South, of which she is one
of the few surviving members. When she dies, another part of the
old world dies with her. The death of Miss Emily is not just an event
in the story: it is thematically important to the story as a whole,
because ‘A Rose for Emily’ is about the death of the American South
that existed when Emily was born but is now no more.
● Old South:

→ Emily is a product of the Old South stretching back to the antebellum

days, before the American Civil War which led to the abolition of slavery

66
in the South. Emily represents the Old South, an outdated edifice that is
(literally) decaying and dying out. And what is the Old South being
replaced with? The new industrial America: cotton and gasoline are now
the way the townspeople make their money. Emily, a Southern lady, falls
for Homer Barron, a man from the North of the United States. He is
described as a large man, symbolizing the financial power of New York
(his hometown) which is spreading its influence across the new America.

→ Although most readers will interpret Emily’s poisoning of Homer as an

act of frustrated and obsessive love, it is also arguably a symbolic act of
revenge, in which the Old South asserts itself one final time against the
powerhouse of the North.

● Community and Isolation:

The odd relationship between the town of Jefferson and Emily is a

recurrent theme in ‘‘A Rose for Emily.’’ Throughout the novel, Emily has
very little to do with the townspeople during her life. Emily starts and
continues to isolate herself from the rest of the community for the better
part of her life. The only notable exceptions to her isolation are her
Sunday rides with Homer Barron, her shopping trips for arsenic and
men’s clothing, and the china-painting lessons she gives to the young
women of the town for a few years. These exceptions only serve to show
how alienated Emily is from the rest of Jefferson. Although Emily is
indifferent to the town, the town seems to be almost obsessed with her.
The reaction Jefferson has to her relationship with Homer Barron
exemplifies this obsession. The ladies of Jefferson are mortified and the
older people dislike the relationship because they think it is bad form for
a Southern woman to associate with a Yankee, and so on. These various
reactions demonstrate an interesting conflict. Even though Emily views
herself as separate from the community, she is literally surrounded by the
community. She is alone within the community which she has shunned
and which views her as an object of gossip, disapproval, and, most of all,
pity.

FIGURARIVE LANGUAGES:

67
1. Metaphor:
● Definition: compare the attributes of one thing/person and
something else.
● Examples: “WHEN Miss Emily Grierson died, our whole town went to
her funeral: the men through a sort of respectful affection for a fallen
monument, the women mostly out of curiosity to see the inside of her
house…” (Section 1 Paragraph 1).
● Effects: Miss Emily is referred to as a “fallen monument” in the
story, and she is a “monument” of Southern gentility, an ideal of
past values, but she has fallen because she has shown herself
susceptible to death. This metaphor vividly reveals that Miss Emily’s
death signals the end of the traditional system in the South of
America.
1. Symbolism:
● Definition: the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.
(Oxford Dictionary)
● Examples: Horsewhip, Emily’s family versus Jefferson townspeople
● Effects: In this short story, we can find many symbols used; for
example, Emily’s father’s horsewhip is depicted in her family
picture. His horsewhip is symbolic of the violence, dominance,
control, and influence that he exerted on his daughter. Through this
symbol, William Faulkner also implicitly gives us some ideas about
the characters of Emily’s dad, even though he does not genuinely
appear in the story. In addition, the ruined family from the southern
part of America symbolizes the significant change in the social
systems of the southern part of America.
1. Simile:
● Definition: A simile, as one of the figurative languages, is a way of
comparing one thing with another, of explaining what one thing is
like by showing how it is similar to another thing, and it explicitly
signals itself in a text, with the words as or like.
● Examples: For example, sentences like “She looked bloated like a body
long submerged in motionless water and of that pallid hue. Her eyes,
lost in the fatty ridges of her face, looked like two small pieces of coal
pressed into a lump of dough as they moved from one face to another
while the visitors stated their errand.” (Section 1, Paragraph 6)

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● Effects: The former describes Miss Emily’s body, which is very
obese, and the latter shows her inactive eyes. The impact of her
separation from the outside world is generated using the
description of Miss Emily’s appearance. Also, a feeling of sympathy
is produced.
1. Humanization
● Definition: When animals, objects, or concepts are given specific
human attributes, humanization takes place. Writers make use of
this device to create human emotions.
● Examples: For example, in Section 1, the sentence “But garages and
cotton gins had encroached and obliterated even the august names of
that neighborhood;” is humanization
● Effects: The verb “encroached” means approaching or taking control
of something gradually or without being noticed. The verb
“obliterated” means removing all signs of something, either by
destroying it or covering it so that it can not be seen. Here,
Faulkner describes human behavior in relation to garages and
cotton gins. “Garages and cotton gins” represents the new system in
America, and “the august names of that neighborhood” signal the
traditional system. It shows that the old system in the South of
America was gradually replaced quietly by the new system. By using
humanization, the aesthetic effect is achieved.
1. Parallelism
● Definition: parallelism means exact repetition in equivalent
positions. It differs from simple repetition because it doesn’t extend
to absolute duplication.
● Examples: In this short story, parallelism can be found in Section II.
“We did not say she was crazy then. We believed she had to do that. We
remembered all the young men her father had driven away, and we
knew that with nothing left, she would have to cling to that which had
robbed her, as people will.” There are four sentences in this selected
passage, and they are parallel.
● Effects: “We,” as the subject, is repeated in all the four sentences.
These parallel sentences emphasize the point that Faulkner wants
to express his sympathy and compassion for the tragic fate of Miss

69
 Emily and create a sense of closeness between readers and his
story.
1. Repetition:
● Definition: the exact coping of a certain previous unit in a text, such
as a word, phrase, or sentence (Leech, 1969).
● Examples:

→ There are two places showing repetition in this story. One is in Section
I, “Her voice was dry and cold. “I have no taxes in Jefferson. Colonel
Sartoris explained it to me. Perhaps one of you can gain access to the city
records and satisfy yourselves.” “But we have. We are the city authorities,
Miss Emily. Didn't you get a notice from the sheriff signed by him?” “I
received a paper, yes,” Miss Emily said. “Perhaps he considers himself the
sheriff . . . I have no taxes in Jefferson.” “But there is nothing on the books to
show that, you see, we must go by the—” “See Colonel Sartoris. I have no
taxes in Jefferson.” “But, Miss Emily—” “See Colonel Sartoris.” (Colonel
Sartoris had been dead almost ten years.) “I have no taxes in Jefferson. To
be!” The Negro appeared. “Show these gentlemen out.” (Colonel Sartoris had
been dead almost ten years.) “I have no taxes in Jefferson. To be!” The Negro
appeared. “Show these gentlemen out.”

● Example:

→ Another is in part III, Without calling it noblesse oblige. They just said,
“Poor Emily. Her kinsfolk should come to her.” She had some kin in
Alabama; but years ago, her father had fallen out with them over the
estate of old lady Wyatt, the crazy woman, and there was no
communication between the two families. They had not even been
represented at the funeral. And as soon as the old people said, “Poor
Emily,” the whispering began. “Do you suppose it's really so?” they said to
one another. “Of course it is. What else could . . .” This behind their hands;
rustling of craned silk and satin behind jalousies closed upon the sun of
Sunday afternoon as the thin, swift clop-clop-clop of the matched team
passed: “Poor Emily.”

● Effects:

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→ The sentence “I have no taxes in Jefferson.” is repeated four times. Miss
Emily says this sentence when a deputation asks her to pay taxes. The
purpose of repetition here is to emphasize Miss Emily’s obstinateness and
her inability to change her ideas. Miss Emily’s character tragedy lies in
the obstinate traditional sense of hierarchy in the Old South of America.
In this way, Miss Emily’s character is vividly presented.

→ A sentence like “Poor Emily.” is said by people around Miss Emily three
times. The repetition of “Poor Emily” shows Faulkner’s sympathy for Miss
Emily.

1. Title:
● The rose is a symbol often associated with love, beauty, and
romance, as seen in classical mythology with Venus and Aphrodite.
It's given on special occasions like weddings and Valentine's Day. In
the story, Emily's life parallels the rose's symbolism. She keeps
people at a distance like the prickly flower, and her isolated lifestyle
leads to tragedy, much like a rose's thorns can be harmful. The rose
may have also symbolized her potential happiness if Homer had
married her. The story begins with Emily's funeral, where roses
likely represent mourning. Death is a recurring theme, reflecting
Emily's reluctance to embrace change and her fixation on the past,
leading to a life of stagnation and despair, much like the decaying
Old South.

“the men through a sort of respectful affection for a fallen monument, the
women mostly out of curiosity to see the inside of her house, which no one
save an old man-servant--a combined gardener and cook--had seen in at
least ten years.”

=> start with some dichotomies to explain why men went to her funeral
and why women went to her funeral.
When Miss Emily died, men came to her funeral because they wanted to
respect what she represented (according to the narrator reliable or
unreliable). By calling her “a fallen monument,” it is a little dehumanizing.
On one hand, it sounds like a compliment because the monument is

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something that stands the test of time, so it is always a symbol that
symbolizes something. It seems very respectful but it’s also establishing
that to these people Miss Emily isn’t exactly a human or someone who is
very accessible to them. Already they keeping her at arm’s length or
maybe it’s the other around. So men are going through this respect and
women are going through this kind of nosy kind of perverse curiosity to
see the inside of her house to see her things. At times in this story, the
narrator seems like a man, and other times the narrator seems like a
woman but it is agreeable that the narrator frequently says “we” so it
seems to be a collective group of people. The narrator makes comments
that make us realize that he or she might not be a stand-in for Faulkner
by the way that is true of all the story the narrator is not the same as the
writer himself or herself. So we have this dichotomy between men and
women and why they went to the funeral. Miss Emily also had a servant.

As we had started looking at in the previous session this is a story in

which William Faulkner has exemplified the life of this woman, Emily in
the context of the American South. We also briefly recall that Faulkner
has usually been trying to portray the life of the American South and the
context of this short story is also in the aftermath of the civil war, after
the abolishment of slavery, a period during which economic and social
reconstruction is happening in America. We were also trying to take a
closer look at the short story towards the end of the second section, we
realized that Emily according to the narrator is beginning to show certain
signs of very peculiar behaviour rather abnormal kind of behaviour when
she holds on to her father’s dead body and refuses to admit that he is
dead and she had to be forced and coerced into giving up the dead body
after three days. So this also gives us a sense that Emily is a character
who is forever in denial, her idea of history, her idea of society, her value
system, her idea of her own life it is frozen in time. She is completely
oblivious to the changes that happen in terms of seasons, in terms
of generations, in terms of the changing order of systems, in terms of
these societal norms or governmental norms; she is completely oblivious
to those things. We find that is displayed in minor as well as major ways in
this short story. There are five sections altogether in this story and many
critics have pointed out that this also is a perfectly written story in that

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sense, there is a kind of a formatic perfection that has been attributed to
this story and the way it has been divided into five neat sections and
there is a sense of chronology which is distributed across this narration,
several critics and readers tried to give a sense of at least a tentative
sense of the dates and the to reveal the exact nature of the chronology
which this story projects, except for one date that the story mentions
which is 1894. This appears in the first section of the story when we are
being made privy to this information that it was an 1894 when Colonel
Sartoris, the mayor remitted her taxes, the dispensation dating from the
death of her father on into perpetuity. So except for this date we only
have certain other kinds of indicators of time.
For instance they say the section 3, the third section of this story begins
by saying: “She was sick for a long time. When we saw her again her hair
was cut shot making her look like a girl with a vague resemblance to
those angels and colored church windows, sort of tragic and serene.”
There are different indicators of time that we get, there are different
descriptions of Emily given at various points of time which also will give
us the understanding that Emily is also aging and that Emily is changing
in different ways physically but what comes across as interesting through
these changes which are manifested physically is that, she continues
to remain perhaps pretty much the same mentally.
We do not find her attitudes changing at least that is a notion that we get
when we are introduced to the story through this narrator, we do not get
any sense of Emily responding or reacting to the changes, she remains
quite constant almost throughout holding on to the things that are dear
to her and in a state of denial, in a state which forces her to remain frozen
in time, refusing to accept the new changes, the new order which is
coming into being at the governmental level, at the societal level and also
in the many ways that she sees locally around her.
In the third section we were also introduced to this at the other
important character HomerBarron. This is how the story introduces her:
“A foreman named Homer Barron, a Yankee, a big dark ready man with a
big voice and eyes lighter than his face, the little boys would follow in
groups to hear him cuss the riggers and the riggers singing in time to rise
and fall of picks. Pretty soon he knew everybody in town. Whenever you
heard a lot of laughing anywhere about the squire, Homer Barron would

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be in the centre of the group. Presently we began to see him and Miss
Emily on Sunday afternoons driving in the yellow-wheeled buggy and the
matched team of bays from the livery stable.”
So Homer Barron becomes important for this narration, because of his
association with Emily, he is a Northerner, a Yankee and he is entirely
different from the conservative South, he comes across as someone who
represents whatever Emily is not, he is presented as a very lively
character very much liked by everyone in the locality and his presence
is visible and audible unlike that of Emily’s. And we find that Emily and
Homer Barron are together for some time and the town begins to gossip
about how typical South, white woman like Emily will fit in with this
alliance with a Northerner like Homer Barron. When we are presented
with Homer Barron, the typical expectation is that a love story will
follow but unlike our expectations challenging the readers’ expectations
Faulkner takes us on a different ride altogether. Homer Barron is a
Northerner and he is also we come to know as a story progresses he is
a homosexual perhaps he is interested more in men and that also makes
him an unsuitable husband for Emily. The story does not say that in too
many ways, it is something that we infer in the process of the readings
and the introduction of Homer Barron and the presentation of the
relation between Emily and Homer it can be seen as a reaction against the
previous age’s sentimentality. The way Faulkner presents this story it is
very evident that he does not want to present a typical North-South love
story, he does not want to follow with the typical tradition where the
South woman falls in love with the North man and then they come
together amicably resolving all the differences between them. Here it is a
very stark reaction, it is a counter response against the prevalent
sentimentality and the prevalent expectations. As this town is excited
about this new relation, they begin to gossip about it between Emily
and Homer. they also realize that it is not perhaps leading towards a
marriage, we do find a series of things happening in between we find
Homer going away, we find Emily’s relatives coming to stay with her and
there are all kinds of speculations that the town indulges in and the town
is always following and paying attention to what Emily is doing and this is
the point of view through which Emily is presented to us. We find the
entire town almost talking Emily, paying attention to what she does and

74
stalking almost every move of hers, it is in that sense that the town
begins to talk about why Emily wants to buy rat poison, let me take you
back to the beginning of the story where we understand that the narrator
is an unreliable narrator who also uses the pronoun we. It is a collective
opinion of the town that this narrator is trying to express, so we
get to know that the entire town is interested in gossiping about
whatever Emily is doing and here when we are introduced to this episode
to this segment where she goes to buy rat poison, she buys arsenic.
And the pharmacist, the druggist is also equally apprehensive about
selling it to her nevertheless because of the prestige and the privilege
that she enjoys in the South she manages to get it without even really
convincing the druggist and people begin to assume in the food section
that she is about to commit suicide, so that’s the extent to which they talk
about Emily or they think it is ok to make judgments or to make any kind
of prophetic comments about Emily’s life and the decisions that she
would be taking. It is also a typical southern trait where the conservative
attitude also leads them to believe that they do have the legitimate
permission to talk about women especially single women in a way which
is not really becoming. And in Section four, we are also given a few more
details about the various phases that Emily goes through it tells us about
the last time when the town, so Homer Barron and for almost six months
how Emily did not appear on the streets and the next time when the
town saw Emily she had grown fat and many details like that and we are
also given another concrete detail in section four just like the year 1894 in
the first section. After the day of her death at 74 we get to know that she
was 74 when she died at the time of this narration. Right after Emily
Griersons is death, we know that we are being introduced to the to a
story which spans over seven decades, a little more than seven decades.
In the fourth section after giving us a few more details about the frequent
appearances that Emily made during this period of time we are led to an
abrupt end. The last segment in section four: “She died in one of the
downstairs rooms in a heavy walnut bed with a curtain, her grey head
propped on a pillow yellow and mouldy with age and lack of sunlight.”
This description also tells us about the decay and the aging that both
Emily and the house had undergone and by extension it also refers to that
tradition that Emily and her house represented how they had become

75
very old, how they had become out-dated, and how they had become
yellow and mouldy with age and lack of sunlight. Before going to the final
segment of this story it will be useful to briefly talk about the importance
of the exact chronology in this story. As pointed out many researchers
and critics they have tried to recreate the chronology trying to find out
when exactly what happened like most other works of Faulkner’s, here
also he has left us a lot of clues, for the readers to recreate the
chronology to fit the puzzle and there are also a few things that he would
deliberately leave as a gap. John L Skinner in one of his essays on A Rose
for Emily he points out “The exact chronology is actually of little interest
or relevance and may indeed be irrecoverable. Any small discrepancies in
the text are quite compatible with the character of the narrator.”
In spite of this we also make a brief attempt to recreate the chronology.
These are tentative dates there could be a difference of two to three years
and this is a recreation based on the single date that we get at the outset
of the story 1894, the year when the mayor decides to exempt the
Grierson from the taxes. So roughly it can be considered that miss Emily
Grierson was born in 1861 the range could be up to 1864, It is safe to
assume that she was born somewhere between 1861 and 1864 and by 1893
and in this way we continue to create, it is when Emily’s father dies and it
is in 94 that Emily meets Homer Barron. It is notable here to mention that
Emily meeting Homer Barron after the death of her father is very
important because when her father was still alive he had not approved of
a number of suitors who would not fit in with the family tradition or the
aristocratic setting. In 1895 that is when Homer is last seen entering Miss
Emily’s house and around this time Emily is also over 13. 1895 is when the
incident related to this smell occurred. And in 1895 you also know that
Miss Emily stayed in for six months between 95 and 98, Emily emerges
she is more visible to the town and people noticed that her hair began to
gradually turn gray by 1909 again she did not leave the house for about
five years by 1904 she is again visible for about seven years giving
china-painting lessons by 1911 she stops giving these lessons and then
again she spends almost a decade almost 10 years without maintaining
any contact with the town, please bear in mind that these are not exact
dates, these are mostly tentative, it can be a couple of years more or less.

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By 1925 this is when the newer generation begins to enquire about the
Griersons, they begin to talk about the taxes, they are more aware of the
changing economic order they also want to incorporate the Griersons,
Emily’s family into the taxpaying category and this happens almost thirty
years after the smell and the smell the incident of the episode of the smell
where people complain even to the judge about the smell which is coming
out from her backyard that had an happened shortly after her father’s
death and this incident which happens in 1925 where the newer
generation go to ask her about the taxes, that is perhaps the last contact
that she has with the town and of course we also know that she is
oblivious to the changing times and the changing rules and she refuses to
accept this request or even interact politely with them. By 1935 at the age
of 74, we find that Emily Grierson dies, Tobey her manservant the Negro,
that is how he is described he leaves the house and Tobey is also one
interesting character, he does not maintain any contact with the town
either, he can be seen as an extension of Emily.
We do not get to know anything about Tobey except for the fact that he
goes out once in a while to the market and people find it extremely
difficult to extract any secret or any information from him, he remains as
this trusted black servant in the Grierson’s house until the moment Miss
Emily dies and this is one concrete way in which we find the story and
Emily’s house preserving the Southern tradition preserving the hierarchy
of grace, a hierarchy of class till the moment of Emily’s death. And
towards the end, we also realized that the funeral is about to happen two
days later and then the climax happens when the narrator takes us to that
room upstairs which no one has seen in the last 40 years and what
happens in that room and the sight that they see and the resulting
interpretation that is a resolution of the story and that one incident gives
a lot of meaning to this entire series of episodes that we have been
introduced to. In the final section this is the passage which talks about
that room. “Already we knew that there was one room in that region
above stairs which no one had seen in 40 years and which would have to
be forced. They waited until Miss Emily was decently in the ground before
they opened it” and even at the time of her death, we realized that the
town does not continue their interest in her, they had always been
gossiping about her and even at the time of her death their interest is in

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unearthing more secrets about Miss Emily. This also perfectly justifies the
use of the title A Rose for Emily.
This is going to be that moment the climax is going to be that moment
when the confidentiality, the secrecy with which Emily led her life it is
going to be torn apart the veil is going to be removed and it also tells us
about this our continuing invasion in the conservative South into private
affairs even after the order had changed, there are multiple ways in which
we find change occurring in this short story in the form of the new
generation asking for taxes in the form of people seeing the decay and the
aging of a tradition of this aristocratic household but what remains pretty
much unchanged, is the town’s attitude towards this woman who was at
one point privileged and who also was under the eye of their surveillance,
mostly on account of her single status. So what the town people see when
they open this door that may give the story away, so we will not be going
to that section. So that final segment brings in a certain kind of a closure
but at the same time it does not really resolve anything and that is the
point I think Faulkner also wanted to leave behind.
This story is not about finding a solution, it is not about resolving any
kind of conflict, it is not about a coming together of different segments of
people and it is certainly not about erasing the differences, what the
climax does to this story is only to add more flavour to Emily is character.
It only helps us to tie certain loose ends and to see how and why the smell
had come in the first place and why this room was not being made open
for the others and why occasionally perhaps Emily refused to come out of
the house or entertain guests or interact with others there is a tying up of
loose ends that happen other than that the intention is not to provide any
kind of a resolution at the end. Coming back to again look at some of the
important themes in this story, it is about isolation. We find Emily being
isolated and she is presented in a counter way vis-a-vis the town, we find
the entire community gossiping and almost conspiring against this
woman Emily. So the kind of isolation that she feels can be looked at from
different angles, it is gender specific, it is class specific and it was also
about the kind of individual that Emily is. There are certain things about
Emily which completely cannot be understood within the framework of
gender and within the framework of class alone, there is also certain
another kind of her personality which is perhaps a continuation of the

78
dominating nature of her father or perhaps the inability in her to find
suitable friends, the only kind of relationship that she sustains
throughout is this master-servant relation that she has with the negro
Tobey. So other than that we find her completely isolated and what
isolation does to this woman is being explored very effectively in the
course of the story and even while Emily remains isolated the
collectiveness with which the town pursues her in a way that they almost
stalk her without her knowing about it that also comes across as an
interesting thing. The story also effectively uses the element of memory,
the story is in the form of a kind of a recollection we have a narrator who
is not a reliable narrator, an unreliable narrator but the way Faulkner
makes use of this narrator he is cleverly manipulating this narrator
to remember things in a particular order, so that the narration will have
certain element of suspense. It will also have a racy effect to it and it also
ensures it never loses the attention of the readers and even when the
story begins after having read through the entire story we understand
that the narrator already knows certain details, he already knows the
secret, he already knows what the Rose is but he chooses to reveal that
only towards the end of the story and when we look at this from point of
view of the author, Faulkner we know that the story is written long after
Emily is dead. So this is a recreation of not just Emily’s past but it is also a
recreation of the past of America’s South, it is a recreation of how things
were before a few decades during the time of reconstruction, during the
time when the society was undergoing a lot of change after the civil war.
So memory plays a significant role here, so there are also a number of
critics who have looked at this story from the aspects of gender from the
aspects of race but what becomes interesting is that the racist tone which
this story at times conveys, the male gaze which becomes evident in this
story, they all become quite normalized when it is looked through the
lens of memory. So it is impossible to a pronounce a value judgment over
either the narrator or the character of Emily as pointed out earlier there
is a sympathetic tone which is built into this story even when it is
presented in a detached way, even when it is presented in a matter
of fact historical sense. We also get the sense of the past of various
characters, if you look at this story it is not just about the past of Emily it
is also about the past and the present that the community collectively is

79
inhabiting and if we can take the narrator as the spokesperson of this
community of this town, we know that the narrator is in a certain way
reliving his own past thinking about how they used to look at the
Griersons then maybe 40, 50 years back and how they look at the
Griersons today and how that day when the funeral is held, it is a
resolution for these that the town people as well for the narrator as well
because they all had been waiting to know what was there in that room
which was not for about four decades. They all had been waiting to get
some kind of an admission into the Griersons’ house because they could
only see Emily from a distance, they could only see this house from a
distance, they were never made privy to the private affairs of neither
Emily nor this household. So this journey through the past becomes a
historical journey and a personal journey at almost the same time and
finally we are also given different versions of reality, the reality with
which the narrator encounters, the reality from the community’s point of
view and the reality which Emily is constantly is in denial of and these
various versions sit together quiet comfortably in this narration and that
is perhaps the master craftsmanship that Faulkner also displays.
As we wrap up this lecture, I leave you with this observation by Lionel
Trilling. “A Rose for Emily the story of a woman who has killed her lover
and has lain for years beside his decaying corpse, is essentially trivial in it
is horror because it has no implications, because it is pure event without
implication.”
This is an observation which has been oft quoted whenever A Rose for
Emily is discussed. This is a story which is described as pure event
because there is no implication this story has love, there is murder, there
is history, there is even necrophilia as we come to the end of the story but
what makes the story beautiful is this aspect of pure event which has no
implication and to be able to narrate a story which has no implication to
be able to put in succession a series of events without any implication
that perhaps is the power and craft of a storyteller like Faulkner.

A Critical Analysis of “A Rose for Emily” William Faulkner’s

“A Rose for Emily” is a short story that revolves around the life and death
of a completely isolated woman from the perspective of her peers. Emily

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was socially deprived by her father at an early age and she continued to
be for the rest of her life. This deprivation caused extreme mental and
physical deterioration in her health that was noticeable to her fellow
townspeople. These peers in her community continued to watch over her
as if she were a sacred tradition that they had to monitor, due to her high
social ranking, but in actuality, they felt nothing but scorn and
haughtiness from her presence. The story consists of strong recurring
themes of isolation, death, and evolution in a non-chronological order
that manipulates time in a way that stretches the plot over several
decades. This technique ultimately allows for the reader to see each
moment of the protagonist’s life in great detail. A Reader-Response
critical analysis can surely be conducted on this piece because of the
reader’s interaction with the text and the author’s techniques that are
revealed in the plot.

Faulkner’s work is unique because of the writing style and how he used a
series of flashbacks to not only foreshadow the events within the plot, but
also to evoke a response from the reader that will allow them to piece
together the purpose of the text. Faulkner chose this method to convey
the inner lives of each of his characters and to depict their motives in the
story. Each flashback in Emily’s life exhibits how her take on reality grows
more tenuous over time, especially with her refusal of change. The
competition between tradition and change is vital to the plot because it
portrays Emily’s ongoing internal battle throughout the story, in which
she, herself, is a tradition that has remained the same over the years, in
contrast to the many changes in her community. Emily models the
traditions that her peers want to cherish and respect, however, she also
represents the burden of being isolated from the world in ways other
people are unable to comprehend.

The theme of death also relates to the author’s hopes to evoke an

intellectual response out of the reader. Faulkner constantly depicts death
throughout Emily’s life experiences, the narration of Emily’s morbid
appearance, and most importantly in the dying breed that Emily stands
for as an emblem of the Old South. Emily’s character is conveyed as a
grand lady who’s charm and overall respectability greatly decline over the

81
years, much like the expired ideals and practices her family represent.
The author makes it easy for the reader to understand that the death of
the old social statue will prevail, regardless of the townspeople’s attempts
to stay true to tradition, because of the series of events that coexist in the
time-traveling plot. The readers are also able to respond to the recurring
themes of death because it is easy to visualize Emily’s constant denial of
death alone. Faulkner deeply depicts the deaths among her relationships
with the people she loves and how she is unable to accept them. The way
the author described her reaction evidently shows her dismissal of reality,
especially with these quotes,“She told them that her father was not dead.
She did that for three days, with the ministers calling on her, and the
doctors trying to persuade her to let them dispose of the body” (Faulkner
27). When Emily kills her partner, Homer, she also denies his death. Her
murder symbolizes her disturbing attempt to mend life and death
together by keeping Homer near to her, but she fails to realize it made
them more distant.

Faulkner’s work is truly unique because it considers the reader as an

essential aspect for the interpretation of the story. The author’s motive is
for the reader to use their own knowledge, experiences, and values to
examine all the literary techniques he throws at us. The profound themes
of isolation, death, and evolution, as well as the non-chronological
structure bring an exciting text for the reader to break down in their own
way based on how they feel. The reader is constantly viewing descriptive
imagery about the life of Emily and how people perceive her, which
ironically allows for an overall deeper perception among the reader from
their own perspective. There is no right or wrong way to analyze this
literary work with the ReaderResponse approach because of the
open-ended background that Faulkner created for his audience.

Emily defeats time

In A Rose for Emily, by William Faulkner, Emily is constantly trying to
defeat time. She does not accept the deaths of Colonel Sartoris or her
father. Emily is stuck, even though time is passing around her, she
remains trapped in the past. When Emily refuses to pay taxes, telling

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them to speak to a man that has been dead for 10 years, the townspeople
begin to realize that she is mentally unstable and stuck in the past. The
townspeople feel sympathy for her, as she is a person against change.

When Emily’s father dies, she is distraught, refusing to give up his body at
first. She lets three days pass until she finally relents, letting her father's
body be taken away. “... we are told about Emily’s refusal to admit her
father’s death, and how they, about to resort to force, were finally
permitted by Miss Emily to dispose of the body”(Nebeker). Her father's
death is what starts her descent into insanity, and is when she begins to
refuse the passage of time. Around the same time as his death, her fiance
also abandons her. This causes Emily to become mentally unstable. She is
unable to accept that her father has died and that her fiance has left her
for good. Once Homer comes into her life, she decides that she will not
give him the chance to leave her. When it becomes clear to her that
Homer has no plans to marry her, she kills him so that he can’t abandon
her like her first fiance. At the end of the story, it is revealed that Emily
kept and slept next to Homer’s dead body for years. “What was left of him,
rotted beneath what was left of the nightshirt, had become inextricable
from the bed in which he lay; and upon him and upon the pillow beside
him lay that even coating of the patient and biding dust. Then we noticed
that in the second pillow was the indentation of a head. One of us lifted
something from it, and leaning forward, that faint and invisible dust dry
and acrid in the nostrils, we saw a long strand of iron-gray hair ”
(Faulkner). It seemed she was also unable to accept Homer’s death,
sleeping next to him as a wife would with her husband. She knew she was
going to kill Homer, but she still bought him a man's toilet set in silver,
with the letters H. B. on each piece, along with some clothing. It’s almost
as if she didn’t believe she was really killing him. So after she poisoned
him with the arsenic, he was then her’s forever.
Emily refuses to pay taxes, believing that because her father donated a
large amount of money to the town, that she has been exempt from the
yearly payments. She is stuck in the past, remembering a time when her
father was still alive. “"But there is nothing on the books to show that, you
see We must go by the--" "See Colonel Sartoris. I have no taxes in
Jefferson." "But, Miss Emily--" "See Colonel Sartoris." (Colonel Sartoris had

83
been dead almost ten years.) "I have no taxes in Jefferson. Tobe!" The
Negro appeared. "Show these gentlemen out"”(Faulkner). Emily does not
seem to remember that Colonel Sartoris died around the same time as
her father. She refuses to pay her taxes, reciting the story that Colonel
Sartoris told her all those years ago. The city authorities have found no
evidence of the agreement, and when they voice this to Emily, she
becomes angry and demands that the men leave and go talk to Colonel
Sartoris. The city authorities know that Colonel Sartoris has been dead
for 10 years, but fear Emily’s reaction should this be voiced to her. Emily is
constantly trying to turn back the clock, back to when her father still
lived, and she still had her first fiance.

“In her own private way, on three occasions Emily “defeats” time by
preserving Homer, by denying Colonel Sartoris death, and by denying her
father's death” (McGlynn). Emily is stuck, and even though time is passing
around her, she remains trapped in the past. She does not accept the
deaths of Colonel Sartoris or her father. She killed Homer, so she can be
with him “forever”. She does not want to accept that death is a natural
fact of life, and that time stops for no one. Emily is mentally unstable and
confused. Emily is constantly trying to ignore time, by pretending that
her father did not die, that Colonel Sartoris is still alive.

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 The Boarding House

Conflicts:

Man vs. Himself:

● Mr. Doran: ****his desire for companionship >< his sense of duty
and responsibility
● Despite feeling trapped in his engagement with Polly, he also fears
the repercussions of breaking off the relationship.

⇒ Illustrate the complexity of human emotions and the internal battles

individuals face when confronted with difficult decisions.

Mr. Doran grapples with internal conflict throughout the story. He is torn
between his desire for companionship and his sense of duty and
responsibility. Despite feeling trapped in his engagement to Polly, he also
fears the repercussions of breaking off the relationship. His internal
struggle reflects the tension between personal desires and moral
obligations, illustrating the complexity of human emotions and the
internal battles individuals face when confronted with difficult decisions.

Man vs. Man:

● Mrs. Mooney strategically orchestrates Polly's engagement with Mr.

Doran, leveraging his fear of scandal and societal judgment to
compel him into marriage.

⇒ Underscores the imbalance of power between the two characters and

the exploitation of vulnerability for personal gain.

● Mr. Doran's reluctance to defy Mrs. Mooney's expectations

⇒ Highlight the conflict between individual agency and external

influence.

The relationship between Mrs. Mooney and Mr. Doran is characterized by

subtle manipulation and power dynamics. Mrs. Mooney strategically
orchestrates Polly's engagement to Mr. Doran, leveraging his fear of
scandal and societal judgment to compel him into marriage. This conflict

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underscores the imbalance of power between the two characters and the
exploitation of vulnerability for personal gain. Mr. Doran's reluctance to
defy Mrs. Mooney's expectations highlight the conflict between individual
agency and external influence, as he struggles to assert his autonomy in
the face of social pressure.

Man vs. Society:

● The setting serves as a microcosm of societal expectations and

norms, particularly concerning gender roles and class dynamics.
● Mrs. Mooney's calculated management of her establishment reflects
her understanding of societal constraints and the limited options
available to women like Polly.
● Polly's situation embodies the societal pressure placed on women to
secure financial stability through marriage.

⇒ This conflict highlights the tension between individual desires and

societal expectations, revealing the constraints imposed by societal
norms.

The boarding house setting serves as a microcosm of societal

expectations and norms, particularly concerning gender roles and class
dynamics. Mrs. Mooney's calculated management of her establishment
reflects her understanding of societal constraints and the limited options
available to women like Polly. Polly's situation embodies the societal
pressure placed on women to secure financial stability through marriage.
Her options are limited, and she is subtly coerced into a marriage that
offers her economic security but sacrifices personal autonomy. This
conflict highlights the tension between individual desires and societal
expectations, revealing the constraints imposed by societal norms.

Man vs. Nature (or Circumstances):

● Mr. Doran's affair with Polly is a product of circumstance, driven by

fleeting passion and a desire for companionship.
● Polly's limited options as a young woman from a lower-class
background. She is compelled to make choices based on pragmatic
considerations rather than personal fulfillment.

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⇒ The societal repercussions of their relationship force them to confront
the reality of their situation.

Both Mr. Doran and Polly are confronted with the consequences of their
actions and the constraints imposed by their circumstances. Mr. Doran's
affair with Polly is a product of circumstance, driven by fleeting passion
and a desire for companionship. However, the societal repercussions of
their relationship force them to confront the reality of their situation.
Polly's limited options as a young woman from a lower-class background
highlight the influence of circumstance on individual agency, as she is
compelled to make choices based on pragmatic considerations rather
than personal fulfillment.

Man vs. Fate:

● Mr. Doran and Polly find themselves ensnared in a web of societal

expectations and obligations, seemingly destined to fulfill
predetermined roles within the rigid structure of Dublin society.
● Despite their attempts to assert agency and defy expectations, they
are ultimately subject to the whims of fate and the constraints
imposed by their circumstances.

⇒ These conflicts create a rich tapestry of tension and drama within the
boarding house, illuminating the complexities of human relationships and
the struggle for agency within a society bound by tradition and
expectation.

The characters' lives are shaped by the predetermined outcomes dictated

by their social status and environment. Mr. Doran and Polly find
themselves ensnared in a web of societal expectations and obligations,
seemingly destined to fulfill predetermined roles within the rigid
structure of Dublin society. Despite their attempts to assert agency and
defy expectations, they are ultimately subject to the whims of fate and
the constraints imposed by their circumstances.

These conflicts intertwine to create a rich tapestry of tension and drama

within the boarding house, illuminating the complexities of human

87
relationships and the struggle for agency within a society bound by
tradition and expectation.

4. SETTING

The setting plays an essential role in a story because it provides the

readers with context on the time, place, and environment that the story
takes place in. It improves the reader's experience and adds to the story's
development with plot, mood, and characters.

“The Boarding House” by James Joyce is set in Dublin and was probably
meant to be set at the beginning of the twentieth century as most of the
stories in the collection “Dubliners”.

Physical setting: Mrs. Mooney’s boarding house, Mrs.

Mooney’s parlor, Doran’s room
● “Her house had a floating population made up of tourists from
Liverpool and the Isle of Man and, occasionally, artistes from the
music halls. Its resident population was made up of clerks from the
city.”
● “It was a bright Sunday morning of early summer, promising heat, but
with a fresh breeze blowing. All the windows of the boarding house
were open and the lace curtains ballooned gently towards the street
beneath the raised sashes.”
● Some of the elements of the physical setting - the colors, the house,
the bed or the breakfast- have a symbolic function in the story.
● Other elements of the physical setting: the butcher's shop, the
bailiff's room, the corn-factor's office, the church.

The main physical setting is the boarding house owned by Mrs. Mooney
and the main action happens either in Mrs. Mooney’s parlor or Bob
Doran’s room. However, the author does not describe these places in
much detail: “Her house had a floating population made up of tourists
from Liverpool and the Isle of Man and, occasionally, artistes from the
music halls. Its resident population was made up of clerks from the city.”;
“It was a bright Sunday morning of early summer, promising heat, but

88
with a fresh breeze blowing. All the windows of the boarding house were
open and the lace curtains ballooned gently towards the street beneath
the raised sashes.”

Some of the elements of the physical setting - such as the colors, the
house, the bed or the breakfast- have a symbolic function in the story.

Other elements of the physical setting mentioned in the text are the
butcher's shop, the bailiff's room, the corn-factor's office, the church.

Social setting
Reputation:

● Presents life in Dublin in a boarding house. The house is open to

tourists, clerks, and artists -> produces an interesting combination
which does not bring a good reputation to its owner, Mrs. Mooney.
● Mrs. Mooney takes her daughter from the factory because her
drunkard father used to visit her. Also, she is sure that Mr Doran
will marry her daughter because he has a reputation to keep.
● Mr. Doran himself worries about the way his reputation will be
affected in either case: if he does not marry her he will lose his
honor, if he marries her his family will look down on the girl and his
friends will laugh at him.
● Consequently, public image is very important for the characters and
is what compels them to act in a certain way.

Religion:

● Mr. Doran confesses the previous night to a priest and on that

Sunday the church bells keep chiming as a reminder of morale ->
shows how religion also pressures us into accepting things we may
not desire, in this case, marriage.

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Marriage: In the story, marriage is not a result of mutual feelings of
affection, but a social convention designed to suit one or both of the
partners.

● When Mrs. Mooney’s husband became a drunkard she no longer felt

obliged to be in such a marriage.
● However, she views Polly marrying Bob as an advantageous
settlement because the man has a good job and a good status.
● Bob and Polly seem to view marriage in terms of feelings. The girl
probably used sex as a means to an end, to get married, while the
young man views marriage as entrapment, as something that takes
his freedom away.

In this short story, the social setting is more important. Firstly, it presents
life in Dublin in a boarding house. The house is open to tourists, clerks,
and artists, which produces an interesting combination which does not
bring a good reputation to its owner, Mrs. Mooney. In fact, many aspects
of the social setting in the short story point out to the importance of
reputation in Dublin. Mrs. Mooney takes her daughter from the factory
because her drunkard father used to visit her. Also, she is sure that Mr.
Doran will marry her daughter because he has a reputation to keep. Mr.
Doran himself worries about the way his reputation will be affected in
either case: if he does not marry her he will lose his honor, if he marries
her his family will look down on the girl and his friends will laugh at him.
Consequently, public image is very important for the characters and is
what compels them to act in a certain way.

Mrs. Mooney uses this to her advantage and poses as an outraged mother
to get her daughter married. Mr. Doran is constrained to concede to the
marriage because of this social pressure.

Religion also plays an interesting role in the short story as Mr. Doran
confesses the previous night to a priest and on that Sunday the church
bells keep chiming as a reminder of morale. The story shows how religion
also pressures us into accepting things we may not desire, in this case,
marriage.

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In fact, marriage is one of the most important social aspects of the
narrative. In the story, marriage is not a result of mutual feelings of
affection, but a social convention designed to suit one or both of the
partners. When Mrs. Mooney’s husband became a drunkard she no longer
felt obliged to be in such a marriage. However, she views Polly marrying
Bob as an advantageous settlement because the man has a good job and a
good status.

Not even Bob and Polly seem to view marriage in terms of feelings. The
girl probably used sex as a means to an end, to get married, while the
young man views marriage as entrapment, as something that takes his
freedom away.

5. POINT OF VIEW

The short story “The Boarding House” by James Joyce is a third-person

narration, combining multiple points of view.

● Mrs. Mooney’s perspective: “She was sure she would win. To begin
with she had all the weight of social opinion on her side: she was an
outraged mother. She had allowed him to live beneath her roof,
assuming that he was a man of honor and he had simply abused her
hospitality.”
● Polly’s perspective: “Polly knew that she was being watched, but still
her mother's persistent silence could not be misunderstood.”; “She
waited on patiently, almost cheerfully, without alarm, her memories
gradually giving place to hopes and visions of the future. Her hopes
and visions were so intricate...”
● Bob Doran: “The harm was done. What could he do now but marry
her or run away? He could not brazen it out.”

⇒ The narrator does not follow a single character, but employs a birds’
eye perspective: switches from Mrs. Mooney alone in her parlor planning
to talk to Mr. Doran, to Bob Doran alone in his room and then with Polly,
and finally to Polly alone in Bob’s room.

● The narration is both explicit and implicit:

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 ● Explicit: “While he was sitting with her on the side of the bed Mary
came to the door and said that the missus wanted to see him in the
parlor. He stood up to put on his coat and waistcoat, more helpless
than ever.”
● Other times the narrative is more suggestive or implicit, as the
narrator leaves readers to draw the conclusion themselves. For
instance, the narrator is never explicit about Bob and Polly sleeping
together. Also, the ending of the story is implicit hinting that Bob
conceded to marrying Polly:

"Yes, mamma?"

"Come down, dear. Mr. Doran wants to speak to you."

Then she remembered what she had been waiting for.”

The short story “The Boarding House” by James Joyce is a third-person

narration, combining multiple points of view. The narrator is outside the
action, yet he has access to some of the characters thoughts and
perspectives on the events.

He begins the story using Mrs Mooney’s perspective:

She was sure she would win. To begin with she had all the weight of social
opinion on her side: she was an outraged mother. She had allowed him to
live beneath her roof, assuming that he was a man of honor and he had
simply abused her hospitality.

But he also knows Polly’s perspective on the events: “Polly knew that she
was being watched, but still her mother's persistent silence could not be
misunderstood.”; “She waited on patiently, almost cheerfully, without
alarm, her memories gradually giving place to hopes and visions of the
future. Her hopes and visions were so intricate...”

The third point of view used in the short story is that of Bob Doran,
whose thoughts the narrator renders while he is alone in his room: “The
harm was done. What could he do now but marry her or run away? He
could not brazen it out.”

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Notice that the narrator does not follow a single character, but employs a
birds’ eye perspective, as he switches from Mrs Mooney alone in her
parlour planning to talk to Mr Doran, to Bob Doran alone in his room and
then with Polly, and finally to Polly alone in Bob’s room.

The narration is both explicit and implicit. At times the narrator presents
directly how the action unfolds: “While he was sitting with her on the
side of the bed Mary came to the door and said that the missus wanted to
see him in the parlor. He stood up to put on his coat and waistcoat, more
helpless than ever.”

Other times the narrative is more suggestive or implicit, as the narrator

leaves readers to draw the conclusion themselves. For instance, the
narrator is never explicit about Bob and Polly sleeping together, yet it is
implied all the time. Also, the ending of the story is implicit hinting that
Bob conceded to marrying Polly:

"Yes, mamma?" "Come down, dear. Mr. Doran wants to speak to you. "Then
she remembered what she had been waiting for.”

6. CHARACTER ANALYSIS

A. Characterization of Mrs. Mooney

● Mrs. Mooney is one of the most developed characters in the short

story “The Boarding House” by James Joyce.
● Outer characterization

→ Daughter of a butcher

→ Previously married to a man who worked for his father

→ Ex-husband became a violent drunkard

→ Owns a boarding house

→ Likely middle-aged during the narration

→ Described as a big, imposing woman

→ Has a son and a daughter

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She is a “butcher’s daughter” who used to be married to a man who
worked for her father but subsequently became a violent drunkard. The
woman also owns a boarding house, she is probably middle-aged and “a
big imposing woman” at the time of the narration, and has a son and a
daughter.

● Inner characterization
1. Determined and sneaky
● “a woman who was quite able to keep things to herself: a determined
woman” ( First page, 1st paragraph, line 1-2)

⇒ Mrs. Mooney is portrayed as someone who is skilled at keeping her

thoughts and intentions private. She doesn't easily reveal what she's
thinking or planning to others.

⇒ Additionally, she's described as determined, meaning she has a strong

will and is committed to achieving her goals.

Open a Boarding House

● Describe as “The Madam” by guests

● Indicate her determination to make a living, at any costs and that
her business is not always viewed with good eyes

⇒ “The Madam” can be associated with owners of brothels

As you can see, there is an illustration that she opened a boarding house
and is called by her guests “The Madam”, which further indicates her
determination to make a living, at any cost and that her business is not
always viewed with good eyes, because the word “madam” can also be
associated with owners of brothels.

Questionable morality of the Boarding House

● “Her house had a floating population made up of tourists from

Liverpool and the Isle of Man and, occasionally, artistes from the
music halls. (2nd paragraph, first page, line 4-5 from the bottom)

⇒ definitely has questionable morality with lots of travelers and

musicians and artisans coming

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⇒ not a highly respectable area.

This indication suggests that this boarding house definitely has

questionable morality with lots of travelers and musicians and artisans
coming, so it can be considered not a highly respectable area.

Clever and strategic governance

Furthermore, the narrator depicts her as a woman who is sneaky and

knows how to protect her interests:

● “She governed the house cunningly and firmly, knew when to give
credit, when to be stern and when to let things pass. All the resident
young men spoke of her as The Madam. (3 last lines, of that
paragraph)

⇒ Highlights Mrs. Mooney's clever and strategic approach to managing

her boarding house and dealing with the people living there.

⇒ Adept at judging situations and deciding the best course of action

("when to give credit, when to be stern and when to let things pass")

This demonstration highlights Mrs. Mooney's clever and strategic

approach to managing her boarding house and dealing with the people
living there.

The point is that "when to give credit, when to be stern and when to let
things pass" suggests that Mrs. Mooney was adept at judging situations
and deciding the best course of action. She knew when to be lenient (give
credit), when to be strict (be stern), and when to ignore minor issues (let
things pass).

2. Authoritarian and concern for reputation

Authoritarian relationship with children

● She comes across as authoritarian, particularly with her daughter

Polly

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⇒ she decides to take out her job as a typist at a factory because her
ex-husband used to go there and visit Polly.

“Mrs. Mooney had first sent her daughter to be a typist in a corn-factor's

office but, as a disreputable sheriff's man used to come every other day to
the office, asking to be allowed to say a word to his daughter, she had taken
her daughter home again and set her to do housework.” (Paragraph 2, in
page 2, line 3 to 6)

⇒ Protective and strategic move to maintain family reputation

⇒ Regular visits from a disreputable sheriff's man posed a risk to their

social standing

⇒ Reflects a traditional parental authority mindset in Irish society

In her relationship with her children she comes across as authoritarian,

particularly with her daughter Polly. Such as she decides to take out of
her job as a typist at a factory because her ex-husband used to go there
and visit Polly:

“Mrs. Mooney had first sent her daughter to be a typist in a corn-factor's

office but, as a disreputable sheriff's man used to come every other day to
the office, asking to be allowed to say a word to his daughter, she had taken
her daughter home again and set her to do housework.” (Paragraph 2, in
page 2, line 3 to 6)

**Mrs. Mooney's decision to remove Polly from her job as a typist isn't
just a protective act; it's also a strategic move to maintain the family's
reputation in their community. The regular visits from a disreputable
sheriff's man to Polly's workplace posed a risk to their social standing,
prompting Mrs. Mooney to take swift action by bringing Polly back home.

This portrayal of Mrs. Mooney reflects a traditional mindset of parental

authority in Irish society. Who is very strict and does not let their
children make their own decisions.

Concern for family reputation in the community

● Mrs. Mooney prioritizes family reputation in the local community

96
 ● Demonstrates a desire to uphold social standing and respectability

Discrepancy in concern for daughter's reputation

● she willingly allows Polly to entertain the guests (not sexually)

● “As Polly was very lively the intention was to give her the run of the
young men. Besides, young men like to feel that there is a young
woman not very far away.” (also in that paragraph, line 6 to 8)

⇒ Mrs. Mooney is a smart women, who does what she can to make sure
her family has enough money to live

⇒ She worries about what other people think of her family, but she's also
fine with bending the rules at home.

⇒ Mrs. Mooney let Polly spending time with men for two main reasons:
business and find a good partner (Mr. Doran)

However, although the woman also cared about her and her family’s
reputation in the local community, she does not seem to care as much
about the daughter’s reputation inside her boarding house because she
willingly allows Polly to entertain the guests (not sexually):

“As Polly was very lively the intention was to give her the run of the young
men. Besides, young men like to feel that there is a young woman not very
far away.” (also in that paragraph, line 6 to 8)

Mrs. Mooney's behavior shows she's a smart woman who does what she
can to make sure her family has enough money to live. She worries about
what other people think of her family, but she's also fine with bending the
rules at home.

Moreover, Mrs. Mooney lets her daughter Polly spend time with the
young men at their house not just for fun, but for two main reasons: it
makes the guests happy and helps the business, and it also gives Polly a
chance to find a good partner, like Mr. Doran.

3. Strategic and self- interest

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Mrs. Mooney allows Polly's love affair with Mr. Doran to continue
without intervention

● Views a marriage between them as a good arrangement

Mrs. Mooney's intention in choosing Mr. Doran for Polly's marriage

● “At last, when she judged it to be the right moment, Mrs. Mooney
intervened. She dealt with moral problems as a cleaver deals with
meat: and in this case she had made up her mind.” (paragraph 3, page
2, the last 2 lines)

⇒ Mrs. Mooney realized that she might be able to pressure Mr. Doran
into marrying Polly and obtain an advantageous marriage for her
daughter.

⇒ So she plots and analyze the situation, and wait for the right moment
to intervene so that things will develop the way she wants

Why does she choose Bob Doran to marry Polly Mooney?

⇒ Mrs. Mooney is concerned about her daughter Polly's future and wants
to prevent her from making the same mistakes she did in her own
marriage - married a low-class person (Mr. Mooney) ==> separation

⇒ Mrs. Mooney perceives Mr. Doran is a suitable match for Polly due to
his stable job, financial security, and respectable status.

“She knew he had a good screw for one thing and she suspected he had a bit
of stuff put by” (page 3, paragraph 3, last 2 lines)

⇒ Screw (salary), stuff put by (savings) -> As a chance to marry

upper-class as opposed to what she did -> and you notice that she
watched but she didn’t stop it

Preparation for confrontation with Mr. Doran

● She prepares a speech and a role to make the situation turn in her
favor
● “She was sure she would win. To begin with she had all the weight of
social opinion on her side: she was an outraged mother. She had

98
 allowed him to live beneath her roof, assuming that he was a man of
honor and he had simply abused her hospitality.” (page 3, first
paragraph, line 4-7)

⇒ She is mentally and emotionally for a conversation with Mr. Doran

⇒ Confident in ability to prevail in this situation

⇒ Make it difficult for Mr. Doran by threatening him with social opinion
and damaging his reputation

⇒ ****That’s why she can portray herself as an outraged mother

These two attitudes are further revealed when she notices Polly has a
love affair with a guest, Mr. Doran, and she lets the relationship continue
without saying anything.

In fact, Mrs. Mooney realized that she might be able to pressure Mr.
Doran into marrying Polly and obtain an advantageous marriage for her
daughter.

Note that she does not care about the feelings of the couple, but views a
marriage between them as a good arrangement. So she plots and analyze
the situation, and wait for the right moment to intervene so that things
will develop the way she wants to:

“At last, when she judged it to be the right moment, Mrs. Mooney intervened.
She dealt with moral problems as a cleaver deals with meat: and in this case
she had made up her mind.” (paragraph 3, page 2, the last 2 lines)

Let me make clear about her intention, why does she choose Bob Doran
to marry her daughter:

As Mrs. Mooney is concerned about her daughter Polly’s future and wants
to avoid her making the same mistakes as she did in her own marriage –
married a low-class person, who was her father’s worker and later on
leading to their separation.

However, in contrast to her own experiences, Mr. Doran has his stable
job, financial security, and respectable status as a clerk in a wine

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merchant’s office. Therefore, Mrs. Mooney wants Polly to marry Bob
Doran to ensure Polly’s future security and happiness.

“She knew he had a good screw for one thing and she suspected he had a bit
of stuff put by” (page 3, paragraph 3, last 2 lines)

→ Screw (salary), stuff put by (savings) → As a chance to marry

upper-class as opposed to what she did → and you notice that she
watched but she didn’t stop it

Furthermore, she prepares a speech and a role to make the situation turn
in her favor:

“She was sure she would win. To begin with she had all the weight of social
opinion on her side: she was an outraged mother. She had allowed him to
live beneath her roof, assuming that he was a man of honor and he had
simply abused her hospitality.” (page 3, first paragraph, line 4-7)

This indication shows Mrs. Mooney is depicted as preparing herself

mentally and emotionally for a conversation with Mr. Doran. Mrs.
Mooney is confident in her ability to prevail in this situation. Because she
believes that social opinion is on her side, and Mr. Doran has taken
advantage of her generosity by engaging with her daughter under her
roof without good intentions, making it difficult for Mr. Doran refuses the
marriage without damaging his reputation, that’s why she can portray
herself as an "outraged mother."

4. Lack of empathy and emotional sensitivity

● “Things were as she had suspected: she had been frank in her
questions and Polly had been frank in her answers. Both had been
somewhat awkward, of course.” (page 2, last para, line 4-5 from the
bot)

Lack of emotional engagement

● Instead of engaging with Polly on an emotional level or showing

understanding for her daughter's feelings

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Transactional perspective

● Mrs. Mooney treats the matter as business negotiation

● Focuses on gathering information and making practical decisions

Prioritization of practical consideration

● Primarily concerned with gathering information and making

decisions based on practical considerations
● Prioritize her own interests above her daughter's emotional
well-being

The explanation suggests that instead of engaging with Polly on an

emotional level or showing understanding for her daughter's feelings,
Mrs. Mooney treats the matter as business negotiation. She is primarily
concerned with gathering information and making decisions based on
practical considerations rather than emotional ones.

This depiction highlights a lack of warmth or empathy in Mrs. Mooney's

character. She appears to prioritize her own interests above her
daughter's emotional well-being

5. Manipulative
● “Besides, he had been employed for thirteen years in a great Catholic
wine merchant's office and publicity would mean for him, perhaps, the
loss of his job. Whereas if he agreed all might be well. She knew he had
a good screw for one thing and she suspected he had a bit of stuff put
by.” (Page 3, para 3, the last 4 lines)

⇒ **** Manipulate situations to her advantage, particularly in her

dealings with Mr. Doran.

⇒ She uses social opinion and threats to convince him to marry Polly

⇒ She is using the possibility of damaging his reputation and job security
to achieve her desired outcome

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Mrs. Mooney also knows how to manipulate situations to her advantage,
particularly in her dealings with Mr. Doran. She uses social opinion and
threats to convince him to marry Polly

“Besides, he had been employed for thirteen years in a great Catholic wine
merchant's office and publicity would mean for him, perhaps, the loss of his
job. Whereas if he agreed all might be well. She knew he had a good screw for
one thing and she suspected he had a bit of stuff put by.” (Page 3, para 3, the
last 4 lines)

This illustration suggests that she is using the possibility of damaging his
reputation and job security to achieve her desired outcome, which is the
marriage between Mr. Doran and her daughter. She knows that if he
refuses the relationship, it could harm Mr. Doran's job at the wine
merchant's office. However, if Mr. Doran agrees to marry Polly, everything
might turn out fine **for him.

B. Characteristics of Polly Mooney

Outer characterization

● She is described as a “a slim girl of nineteen”

● The daughter of Mrs. Mooney who also does housework at her
boarding house
● “…she had light soft hair and a small full mouth. Her eyes, which were
grey with a shade of green through them, had a habit of glancing
upwards when she spoke with anyone, which made her look like a
little perverse Madonna.” (page 2, para 2, first 3 lines)

⇒ The Madonna is a traditional symbol of purity and innocence, like an

angel or saint.

⇒ "perverse” means there's a twist to this innocence -> Polly might have
qualities that go against the traditional idea of innocence.

● "She was a little vulgar; sometimes she said "I seen" and "If I had've
known." (1st para, page 4, line 1-2)

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⇒ Not literate

⇒ "a little vulgar," which indicates that she may speak or behave in a
crude or inappropriate manner at times -> "I seen" instead of "I saw" and
"If I had've known" instead of "If I had known."

● “She wore a loose open combing-jacket of printed flannel. Her white

instep shone in the opening of her furry slippers and the blood glowed
warmly behind her perfumed skin. From her hands and wrists too as
she lit and steadied her candle a faint perfume arose.” (page 4, para 3,
the last 4 lines)

⇒ A level of comfort and relaxation in her surroundings -> loose open

combing-jacket of printed flannel, white instep shines in furry slippers,
blood glows warmly behind perfumed skin

She is described as “a slim girl of nineteen”, the daughter of Mrs. Mooney

who also does housework at her boarding house after quitting a job as a
typist at a factory. The description of her physical traits suggests that she
is a beautiful young woman:

“…she had light soft hair and a small full mouth. Her eyes, which were grey
with a shade of green through them, had a habit of glancing upwards when
she spoke with anyone, which made her look like a little perverse Madonna.”
(page 2, para 2, first 3 lines)

The description " a little perverse Madonna" is particularly intriguing.

The Madonna is a traditional symbol of purity and innocence, like an

angel or saint. However, by describing Polly as "perverse, it means there's
a twist to this innocence. This description hints that Polly might have
qualities that go against the traditional idea of innocence.

She is described by Bob Doran as not very literate:

"She was a little vulgar; some times she said "I seen" and "If I had've known."
(1st para, page 4, line 1-2)

Bob Doran's description of Polly as "a little vulgar," which indicates that
she may speak or behave in a crude or inappropriate manner at times.

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This could contribute to her using non-standard language like "I seen"
instead of "I saw" and "If I had've known" instead of "If I had known."

“She wore a loose open combing-jacket of printed flannel. Her white instep
shone in the opening of her furry slippers and the blood glowed warmly
behind her perfumed skin. From her hands and wrists too as she lit and
steadied her candle a faint perfume arose.” (page 4, para 3, the last 4 lines)

The description of Polly's clothes, including her loose combing-jacket,

furry slippers, and perfumed skin, paints a picture of her appearance and
suggests a certain level of comfort and relaxation in her surroundings.

Inner characterization

1. Flirtatious
● “Polly, of course, flirted with the young men but Mrs. Mooney, who
was a shrewd judge, knew that the young men were only passing the
time away: none of them meant business.” (page 2, para 2, line 4-5
from bot)

⇒ Actively seeks attention and interaction with young men at the

boarding house

⇒ Described as "flirting with the young men"

⇒ Indicates playful and possibly seductive behavior towards them

⇒ Mrs. Mooney sees through this behavior, recognizing that the young
men are merely enjoying it rather than serious romantic intentions “none
of them meant business”.

Initially, she comes across as a flirty person who tries her luck with any
men that pays attention to her at the boarding house:

“Polly, of course, flirted with the young men but Mrs. Mooney, who was a
shrewd judge, knew that the young men were only passing the time away:
none of them meant business.” (page 2, para 2, line 4-5 from bot)

This highlights Polly's flirtatious nature, suggesting that she actively

seeks attention and interaction with the young men boarding at her

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mother's house. The phrase "flirted with the young men" indicates her
playful and possibly seductive behavior towards them.

However, it's noted that Mrs. Mooney sees through this behavior,
recognizing that the young men are merely enjoying it rather than
serious romantic intentions “none of them meant business”.

Overall, it portrays Polly as someone who enjoys flirting and engaging

with others but may not be seeking deeper connections or commitments.

1. Manipulative
● “It was not altogether his fault that it had happened. He remembered
well, with the curious patient memory of the celibate, the first casual
caresses her dress, her breath, her fingers had given him. Then late
one night as he was undressing for she had tapped at his door,
timidly.” (page 4, para 3, the first 3 lines)

Similarity to her mother

● She may have intentionally initiated the affair with Bob, possibly
with the intention of securing a marriage, much like her mother's
approach to her old relationship.

Polly's initiative in the affair

● Polly took the lead in starting a romantic affair with Bob Doran.
● Flirted with him and made physical gestures to attract his attention
● She timidly approached him at night, indicating her interest in
spending time with him.

Emotional pressure on Bob

● "O Bob! Bob! What am I to do? What am I to do at all?" She would put
an end to herself, she said. (page 4, para 2)

⇒ Polly acts in a desperate manner after confessing to her mother about

the affair

⇒ She is trying to evoke sympathy and guilt in Bob, hoping that he will
feel obligated to marry her to avoid any potential consequences

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When we look at Bob Doran’s version of their affair, we begin to feel that
Polly is similar to her mother. -> She may have intentionally initiated the
affair with Bob, possibly with the intention of securing a marriage, much
like her mother's approach to her old relationship.

In the initial interactions Bob describes Polly was the one who proactive,
trying to tempt the man:

“It was not altogether his fault that it had happened. He remembered well,
with the curious patient memory of the celibate, the first casual caresses her
dress, her breath, her fingers had given him. Then late one night as he was
undressing for she had tapped at his door, timidly.” (page 4, para 3, the first
3 lines)

This indication suggests that Polly took the lead in starting a romantic
affair with Bob Doran. She flirted with him and made physical contact to
attract his attention, like touching his clothes and breath. Later, she
timidly approached him at night, indicating her interest in spending time
with him.

Moreover, after Polly confirms to her mother the affair with Bob, she goes
to his room and acts in a desperate way which may hint that she is trying
to emotionally pressure him:

"O Bob! Bob! What am I to do? What am I to do at all?"

She would put an end to herself, she said. (page 4, para 2)

This expression means she is trying to evoke sympathy and guilt in Bob,
hoping that he will feel obligated to marry her to avoid any potential
consequences

Besides, by confessing to her mother about the love affair, Polly may have
attempted to manipulate the situation to her advantage, she knows that
her mother would intervene and pressure Bob into marriage.

So you can see that Polly demonstrates a strategic mindset, starting an

affair with Bob Doran and using emotional strategy to influence the
situation to her favor.

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 1. Dependence
● “ Polly sat for a little time on the side of the bed, crying. Then she
dried her eyes and went over to the looking-glass.”; (last page, para 3,
line 1-2)

⇒ ****Polly's initial display of desperation and emotional distress is

followed by a shift in attitude

⇒ After Bob goes to talk to her mother, Polly's demeanor changes to one
of composure and optimism

⇒ Polly's reliance on her mother becomes evident as she appears to trust

her to resolve the situation

● “She waited on patiently, almost cheerfully, without alarm, her

memories gradually giving place to hopes and visions of the future. ”
(last page, para 4, line 1-2)

⇒ This suggests that Polly's earlier display of desperation may have been
not true ⇒ After Bob leaves to talk to her mother, she appears optimistic
about her future.

⇒ Instead of taking proactive steps, Polly waits patiently, indicating her

dependence on her mother's intervention ⇒ Polly seems to trust that her
mother will handle the matter and help her to have a positive future
without worry or alarm.

“Polly sat for a little time on the side of the bed, crying. Then she dried her
eyes and went over to the looking-glass.”; (last page, para 3, line 1-2)

When Bob goes to talk to her mother, and she remains alone, she wipes
her tears and starts daydreaming about her future, which suggests that
she was probably never desperate, as she counted on her mother to solve
everything and get her married

“She waited on patiently, almost cheerfully, without alarm, her memories

gradually giving place to hopes and visions of the future. ” (last page, para 4,
line 1-2)

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This suggests that Polly's earlier display of desperation and may have
been not true or exaggerated. Because after Bob leaves to talk to her
mother, she appears optimistic about her future.

This shift in behavior implies that Polly may have been relying on her
mother to intervene and resolve the situation for her. Polly seems to trust
that her mother will handle the matter and help her to have a positive
future without worrying.

C. Characterization of Bob Doran

Bob Doran is the third character whose perspective the narrator employs.

Outer characterization

● Tenant at the boarding house

● Works for a wine merchant
● Financially stable enough to settle down

We find out that he is a tenant at the boarding house and works for a wine
merchant and that he has enough money to settle down.

Inner characterization

1. Serious and anxious

● “a serious young man, not rakish or loud-voiced like the others”(page
3, para 3, line 2-3)

⇒ Described as a serious young man by Mrs. Mooney

⇒ Depicted as very anxious in his thoughts and actions

⇒ Carries a weight of responsibility and worry

Bob Doran’s inner characterization stems from his attitude and thoughts,
but is also conveyed directly from Mrs. Mooney’s perspective

“a serious young man, not rakish or loud-voiced like the others”(page 3, para
3, line 2-3)

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Described as a serious young man by Mrs. Mooney and depicted as very
anxious in his thoughts and actions, we can see Bob Doran carries a
weight of responsibility and worry throughout the story.

1. Guilt and anxiety

● “The harm was done. What could he do now but marry her or run
away? He could not brazen it out.” (page 3, para 5, line 4-5 from the
bot)

⇒ The guilt was induced by a previous confession to a priest who urged

him to repair the situation with Polly, meaning to get married to her.

⇒ Considers running away to avoid facing consequences

⇒ Torn between his sense of responsibility and desire to escape the

situation

Bob experiences guilt and anxiety over his affair with Polly Mooney. The
guilt was induced by a previous confession to a priest who urged him to
repair the situation with Polly, meaning to get married to her.

“The harm was done. What could he do now but marry her or run away? He
could not brazen it out.” (page 3, para 5, line 4-5 from the bot)

Despite feeling trapped by this obligation, Bob still considers the option
of running away to avoid facing the consequences. He struggles with the
decision, between his sense of responsibility and his desire for freedom.

1. Concerned About Reputation:

● “The affair would be sure to be talked of and his employer would be
certain to hear of it. Dublin is such a small city: everyone knows
everyone else's business.” (page 3, para 3, line 3-4 from the bot)

Concerns about tying down to Polly

● Bob is not entirely convinced that he wants to be tied down to Polly

● Cares about others' opinions of him and Polly

Fear of reputation damage

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 ● He fears that if he runs away from the marriage, he will ruin his
reputation
● Dublin's small size means everyone knows everyone else's business
● “First of all there was her disreputable father and then her mother's
boarding house was beginning to get a certain fame. He had a notion
that he was being had. He could imagine his friends talking of the
affair and laughing. She was a little vulgar…” (page 3-4, last para last
sentences)

Feeling trapped

● Uncertain about his feelings for Polly

● Concerned about her reputation due to her father's disrepute and
her mother's boarding house gaining negative fame

Perception of manipulation

● Perceives Polly's family circumstances as disreputable

● Worries about being manipulated or taken advantage of by Polly

“The affair would be sure to be talked of and his employer would be certain
to hear of it. Dublin is such a small city: everyone knows everyone else's
business.” (page 3, para 3, line 3-4 from the bot)

Bob is not entirely convinced that he wants to be tied down to Polly, and
he also cares about others' opinion of him and of Polly. He fears that if he
runs away from the marriage, he will ruin his reputation

But he also feels trapped, because he is not sure of his feelings for the
girl, and he is also concerned about her reputation:

“First of all there was her disreputable father and then her mother's
boarding house was beginning to get a certain fame. He had a notion that he
was being had. He could imagine his friends talking of the affair and
laughing. She was a little vulgar…” (page 3-4, last para last sentences)

He perceives her father as disreputable, and her mother's boarding house

is gaining a negative reputation. Bob worries that he's being taken
advantage of by Polly

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It illustrates Bob's conflicting emotions of uncertainty, fear of social
judgment, and feeling trapped in a situation where he's unsure of his true
feelings for Polly.

1. Conflict between duty and desire

● “It was not altogether his fault that it had happened. He remembered
well, with the curious patient memory of the celibate, the first casual
caresses her dress, her breath, her fingers had given him. Then late
one night as he was undressing for she had tapped at his door,
timidly.” (page 4, para 3, the first 3 lines)

⇒ Recognizes his responsibility for the affair, acknowledging initial

physical attraction

= Recalls moments where Polly initiated contact

● “He comforted her feebly, telling her not to cry, that it would be all
right, never fear. He felt against his shirt the agitation of her bosom.”
(page 4, para 2, the 2 last sentence)

⇒ Describes being very attracted to Polly sexually

⇒ He is distant ⇒ his focus on the physical sensation against his shirt

rather than on Polly's emotional state ⇒ highlights his internal conflict
between desire and reluctance to fully engage with her emotionally.

On one hand, he acknowledges his own responsibility for the affair,

However, he also seems to place some blame on Poly for tempting him
into the relationship

“It was not altogether his fault that it had happened. He remembered well,
with the curious patient memory of the celibate, the first casual caresses her
dress, her breath, her fingers had given him. Then late one night as he was
undressing for she had tapped at his door, timidly.” (page 4, para 3, the first
3 lines)

Still, the way he describes the physical interactions with the woman,
indicate that he is very attracted to her sexually. When she knocks at his
door crying and seeming desperate he tries to comfort her:

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“He comforted her feebly, telling her not to cry, that it would be all right,
never fear. He felt against his shirt the agitation of her bosom.” (page 4, para
2, the 2 last sentence)

He's still distant because while he attempts to comfort her, his actions
suggest a lack of emotional investment. His focus on the physical
sensation against his shirt rather than on Polly's emotional state,

highlights his internal conflict between desire and reluctance to fully

engage with her emotionally.

1. Fear of consequences
● “…but Jack kept shouting at him that if any fellow tried that sort of a
game on with his sister he'd bloody well put his teeth down his throat,
so he would.” (last page, para 2, the last 2 lines)

Concern for safety

● Seeing Jack on the way to Mrs. Mooney reminds Bob of the

potential consequences if he refuses to marry Polly
● Bob fears violence from Polly's brother if he doesn't committed to
marrying Polly

“…but Jack kept shouting at him that if any fellow tried that sort of a game
on with his sister he'd bloody well put his teeth down his throat, so he
would.” (last page, para 2, the last 2 lines)

The memory of Polly’s brother reacting violently once when Polly’s honor
was offended and then seeing Jack on the way to Mrs Mooney, indicates
that Bob also fears what Polly’s brother might do, if he will not committed
to marrying the girl

1. Reluctant acceptance
● “His instinct urged him to remain free, not to marry. Once you are
married you are done for, it said.” (page 4, para 1, the last 2 lines).

⇒ His decision was a result of constraint

⇒ He sees marriage as a kind of prison

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⇒ He has no other choice because of the situation he's in

“His instinct urged him to remain free, not to marry. Once you are married
you are done for, it said.” (page 4, para 1, the last 2 lines).

The ending of the story suggests that Bob Doran probably accepted
marrying Polly in the end, after the conversation with Mrs Mooney.
However, it is clear that his decision was a result of constraint; He sees
marriage as a kind of prison, but he feels like he has no other choice
because of the situation he's in*.*

1. THEMES
● Social norms
○ Mrs. Mooney utilizes social norms to secure an advantageous
marriage for her daughter.
○ Mr. Doran faces a dilemma where both marrying Polly and
refusing her come with threats to his reputation.
○ His agreement to marry Polly highlights the strength of social
norms during that era.

⇒ Social norms highlight characters’ challenges in adhering to or

resisting societal expectations.

In the story, Mrs. Mooney uses constraint and social norms to secure an
advantageous marriage for her daughter. This reflects the social norms
of the early twentieth century, where extramarital affairs were shamed
and carried significant stigma for both people involved. Mrs. Mooney
knows that if people find out about the affair, Mr. Doran's reputation will
be ruined, so she intends to use this opportunity to compel him into
marriage with Polly.

Bob Doran, on the other hand, is in a disadvantageous position, where

either choice—marrying Polly or fleeing—threatens his reputation.
Refusing to marry her risks public judgment. Conversely, if he marries
her, his friends and family might also judge him because the girl has a
lower social status (her father is a drunkard /ˈdrʌŋkəd/, her mother is
viewed as a Madam).

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We can see that his strong worry about what others think, along with
Mrs. Mooney's clever use of social rules demonstrates the considerable
influence of societal expectations. Mr. Doran agreeing to marry Polly also
shows how strong social norms were back then. The impact of societal
norms highlights the characters' challenges in dealing with societal
expectations, showcasing the limitations and pressures they encounter
while making decisions and forming relationships

● Marriage
○ Mrs. Mooney sees Polly's marriage to Mr. Doran as a way to
improve their social standing.
○ For Polly, marriage represents a path to independence from
her mother's control.
○ Mr. Doran fears marriage due to concerns about losing
freedom and damaging his reputation around Polly's family.

⇒ The theme of marriage underscores characters' complex

considerations of personal freedom, reputation, and familial associations.

In the short story, the theme of marriage is examined not in relation to

emotions and relationships, but as a formal convention and even a form of
punishment.

For Mrs. Mooney, her daughter's marriage serves as a method to save

Polly's reputation and to elevate /ˈelɪveɪt/ their social status. She views
marriage as a business contract and a competition to be won by Mrs.
Mooney.

For Polly, marriage appears to be the way to attain independence from

her mother. However, Mr. Doran is filled with dread at the thought of
marriage because he believes it will mean giving up his personal
freedom. Like Mrs. Mooney, he views marriage as a decision that must
consider reputation and public image. He's afraid her family's bad
reputation will reflect poorly on him.

The theme of marriage underscores characters' complex considerations

of personal freedom, reputation, and familial associations.

● Desire

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 ○ Desire for freedom: Polly and Mr. Doran both seek to escape
societal and family constraints, facing struggles to balance
personal freedom with maintaining social status and
reputation.
○ Desire for social status: Mrs. Mooney arranges Polly's
marriage to Mr. Doran to elevate their social standing and
ensure stability.
○ Conflicting desires: Characters face personal desires against
societal norms, causing inner conflicts and tough choices.

⇒ Desire influences characters' choices and relationships, showcasing

the complexity of human desires within societal boundaries.

The theme of desire is a crucial aspect of the storyline.

Desire for Freedom: The longing to escape societal and familial control is
also a significant factor in the story. Polly, despite her desires, must
contend with her mother's control and societal expectations regarding
moral and social rules. Mr. Doran also stands at a crossroads between
maintaining his personal freedom and protecting his social status and
reputation.

Desire for Social Status: Mrs. Mooney's actions reflect a desire for social
advancement and stability. She arranges Polly's marriage as a means to
elevate their social status and secure a better future.

Conflicting Desires: The story explores the tension between individual

desires and societal expectations. Characters must navigate their
personal desires while facing the constraints imposed by social norms,
leading to internal conflicts and moral dilemmas.

Thus, desire plays a key role in 'The Boarding House,' shaping characters'
decisions and relationships. It highlights the complexity of human
desires within societal constraints.

1. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGES

Beyond the surface narrative, the author employs figurative language to

add deeper layers of meaning to the story.

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8.1 Imagery

● “It was a bright Sunday morning of early summer, promising heat, but
with a fresh breeze blowing. All the windows of the boarding house
were open and the lace curtains ballooned gently towards the street
beneath the raised sashes.”

⇒ Joyce's vivid imagery of a bright Sunday morning in early summer sets

the tone by evoking warmth and freshness through open windows, gentle
breezes, and billowing lace curtains, appealing to the reader's senses.

● “He was a shabby stooped little drunkard with a white face and a
white moustache and white eyebrows, penciled above his little eyes,
which were veined and raw; and all day long he sat in the bailiff's
room, waiting to be put on a job.”

⇒ "shabby," "stooped," and "drunkard," ⇒ creates a vivid image of his

disheveled and unkempt state

"white face" and "white mustache," ⇒ highlights his worn and weathered
features his eyes as "veined and raw" ⇒ emphasizes a sense of exhaustion
or hardship

In the story, Joyce creates imagery in connection to the setting and the
characters to vividly depict the setting and characters.

Here are two examples:

It was a bright Sunday morning of early summer, promising heat, but with
a fresh breeze blowing. All the windows of the boarding house were open
and the lace curtains ballooned gently towards the street beneath the raised
sashes.

Joyce paints a picturesque scene of a bright Sunday morning in early

summer, evoking sensations of warmth and freshness with the imagery of
open windows, gentle breezes, and billowing lace curtains. This imagery
appeals to the reader's senses, creating an atmosphere that sets the tone
for the story.

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He was a shabby stooped little drunkard with a white face and a white
moustache and white eyebrows, penciled above his little eyes, which were
veined and raw; and all day long he sat in the bailiff's room, waiting to be
put on a job.

The second example uses imagery to convey his physical appearance and
demeanor. Through descriptions of the man as "shabby," "stooped," and
"drunkard," Joyce creates a vivid image of his unkempt state. The imagery
of his "white face" and "white mustache," along with the penciled white
eyebrows, adds further depth to the character's appearance, highlighting
his worn and weathered features. Additionally, the imagery of his eyes as
"veined and raw" suggests a sense of exhaustion or hardship, contributing
to the overall characterization.

Overall, Joyce's use of imagery serves to enrich the narrative by providing

vivid visual and sensory details that deepen the reader's engagement with
the text and enhance their understanding of the setting and characters.

8.2 Similes

“ She dealt with moral problems as a cleaver deals with meat”

⇒ Employs a simile to depict Mrs. Mooney's attitude to love and

marriage, likening it to that of a butcher handling meat.

⇒ This comparison suggests a meticulous and exacting nature in her

problem-solving.

“ She dealt with moral problems as a cleaver deals with meat”

James Joyce employs a simile to depict Mrs. Mooney's attitude to love

and marriage, likening it to that of a butcher handling meat. This
comparison suggests a meticulous and exacting nature in her
problem-solving. By equating Mrs. Mooney's actions to those of a cleaver,
Joyce vividly emphasizes her ability to make decisive decisions. Overall,
the use of figurative language offers valuable insights into Mrs. Mooney's
character and her role within the narrative.

8.3 Repetition

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 ● “sure she would win"

⇒ emphasizes Mrs. Mooney's unwavering resolve and confidence in her

plan to arrange Polly's marriage to Mr. Doran

● “"O Bob! Bob! What am I to do? What am I to do at all?"

⇒ reflects Polly's emotional turmoil and confusion, highlighting Polly's

desperation when her mother discovers her relationship with Bob.

James Joyce utilizes repetition to underscore the determination of Mrs.

Mooney and the perceived desperation of Polly.

The repetition of the phrase “sure she would win" throughout the story
emphasizes Mrs. Mooney's resolve and confidence in her plan to get Mr.
Doran marry Polly. Each repetition serves to reinforce Mrs. Mooney's
determination and conviction.

The author highlights the perceived desperation of Polly: "O Bob! Bob!
What am I to do? What am I to do at all?"

She would put an end to herself, she said.

Similarly, repetition is utilized to express Polly's feelings of fear and

helplessness upon discovering that her mother has uncovered her secret
relationship with Bob. The repeated exclamation mirrors Polly's
emotional turmoil.

Overall, the use of repetition in these instances serves to highlight the

emotions of the characters, providing insight into their states of mind.

8.4 Rhetorical question

● Definition: A rhetorical question is a figure of speech in which a

question is asked for a reason other than to get an answer.
● “What could he do now but marry her or run away?"

⇒ underscores the limited options available to him

⇒ shows the character’s line of thought or their anxieties

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⇒ offers insight into the characters' internal struggles, moral dilemmas,
and emotional states

Rhetorical questions used to delve into the characters' inner conflicts and
dilemmas. For example, Mr. Doran's question, "What could he do now but
marry her or run away?" underscores the limited options available to
him. These rhetorical questions provide insight into the show the
characters’ line of thought and emotional states like their anxieties,
enriching the narrative and deepening the reader's understanding of the
complexities within the story.

Overall, Joyce's use of rhetorical questions in this example offers insight

into the characters' internal struggles, moral dilemmas /dɪˈlemə/ and
emotional states.

8.5 Symbolism

● The Madam

○ Mrs. Mooney's title as 'Madam' symbolizes her authority as

the owner of the boarding house
○ This authority is evident in her ability to compel Mr. Doran to
marry Polly, showcasing her strength of character and
influence within the story.\
● This symbol shows the strength of Mrs. Mooney character in the
story. She is the owner of the boarding house so everyone called
her “Madam”. As we see in the point of the story, Mr. Doran can’t do
anything except to accept it when Mrs. Mooney asked him to marry
Polly, illustrating her authority and influence.

● George Church/Priest

○ This symbol underscores the influential role of religion in the

lives of Dubliners during James Joyce's time.
○ This symbol illustrates its influence in shaping social norms
and behaviors.
● This symbol highlights the significant role of the Catholic Church in
Ireland during the time James Joyce wrote this story. At that time,

119
 George’s Church along with references to the priest and
confession are a symbol of the importance of religion in the
Dubliners lives, symbolizing how it shapes and imposes social
norms and behaviors.

● Mooney

○ the symbol of “money”

○ interested in exploiting her daughter's marriage
● Through the name "Mooney," we can clearly see the symbol of
“money” here. Mrs. Mooney emerges as a manipulative figure, solely
interested in exploiting her daughter's marriage. We also get a
sense that she just wants to get rid of her daughter. Mrs. Mooney
uses her daughter as bait to keep guests happy and tries to marry
her off with one of them.

● Grey color

● “Her eyes, which were grey with a shade of green through them, had a
habit of glancing upwards when she spoke with anyone, which made
her look like a little perverse madonna.”

○ associated with emotionlessness, such as moodiness and

dullness
○ adds depth to her character and highlighting the complexity
of her personality
● Her eyes, which were grey with a shade of green through them, had a
habit of glancing upwards when she spoke with anyone, which made
her look like a little perverse madonna.

The gray color of Polly's eyes serves as a significant symbol in the

story. Grey, often associated with emotionless, such as moodiness,
dullness as well as sophisticated, reflects Polly's surroundings.
Additionally, gray conveys a sense of formality and sophistication,
aligning with Polly's conservative upbringing. So, it can add depth

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 to her character and highlight the complexity of her personality.

● Cleaver

○ a potent symbol representing the forceful and decisive power

of social oppression
○ Mrs. Mooney's upbringing in a household with cleavers and
her own experience of domestic violence. ⇒ highlight the
pervasive threat of violence faced by women in early
20th-century Dublin.
○ Mrs. Mooney transforms her experience into empowerment,
navigating social norms to her advantage.
● In "The Boarding House," the cleaver serves as a potent symbol
representing the forceful and decisive power of social oppression.
Mrs. Mooney, having grown up in a butcher's household
surrounded by cleavers, left her alcoholic husband after he “went
for [her] with the cleaver” one night. The cleaver symbolizes the
ways in which Dublin’s society oppressed and even terrorized
women in early 20th-century. However, Mrs. Mooney transforms
this traumatic experience into a tool for survival and
empowerment. As a single mother and businesswoman, she learns
to navigate social norms to her advantage. When confronted with
moral dilemmas, such as Polly and Mr. Doran's relationship, Mrs.
Mooney approaches them with the same efficiency “as a cleaver
deals with meat.”

8.6 Personification

● “His instinct urged him to remain free, not to marry,..."

○ By portraying instinct as something that can "urge" and guide
actions, Joyce emphasizes the internal struggle between
personal desires and societal expectations faced by the
character.

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⇒ This personification adds depth to the character's internal conflicts,
shedding light on the complexities of navigating autonomy versus
conformity.

● “ Her memories gradually give place to hopes and visions of the

future.”

○ Joyce portrays memories capable of yielding to hope and

anticipation, conveying a sense of transformation within the
character's psyche.
● "His instinct urged him to remain free, not to marry," By giving
instinct human-like qualities, such as the ability to "urge" and
influence actions, Joyce shows how characters struggle between
their own desires and what society expects of them. This makes
the characters' inner conflicts more vivid and emphasizes the
theme of choosing between personal freedom and fitting in with
society.

“ Her memories gradually giving place to hopes and visions of the

future.”

Joyce depicts memories as having the ability to bring hope and

anticipation, showing how characters can undergo transformation
and renewal. This personification highlights their capacity to
remain hopeful and optimistic, even in difficult times, emphasizing
their emotional growth and resilience.

Joyce's use of personification serves to evoke vivid imagery, and

illuminate the internal lives of the characters.

8.7 Metaphor

● “... she has made a clean breast of it to her mother.”

○ "made a clean breast of it" to her mother: she confessed

honestly about her pregnancy

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 ○ The metaphor implies a sense of release from the burden of
keeping a significant secret and a willingness to be
transparent and truthful with her mother.
● “... she has made a clean breast of it to her mother.” The phrase "made
a clean breast of it" implies that she confessed honestly about her
relationship with Mr. Doran. This metaphor suggests a sense of
release from the burden of keeping such a significant secret, as
well as a willingness to be transparent and truthful with her
mother.

8.8 Language

● “All his long years of service gone for nothing! All his industry and
diligence was thrown away! As a young man he had sown his wild
oats, of course; he had boasted of his free-thinking and denied the
existence of God to his companions in public-houses.”
○ The author occasionally employs some long descriptive
phrases along with the thought flow of the characters.
○ represents Mr. Doran’s thoughts although they are rendered
in the third person and are not marked by quotation marks.

⇒ provides insight into characters' inner turmoil.

● Focus on character psychology: Dialogue is limited in favor of

narrative and descriptive passages.

⇒ allows for a deeper exploration of the psychology of main characters

● Song fragments: to show the diversity of genres within the

narrative.

The author occasionally employs some long descriptive phrases along

with the thought flow of the characters which may seem harder to follow
because of free indirect speech:

All his long years of service gone for nothing! All his industry and diligence
was thrown away! As a young man he had sown his wild oats, of course; he

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had boasted of his free-thinking and denied the existence of God to his
companions in public-houses.

The above fragment, for instance, represents Mr. Doran’s thoughts

although they are rendered in the third person and are not marked by
quotation marks.

Dialogue is used very little, as the narration is more focused on the

psychology of the main characters. Otherwise, the author prefers
narrative and descriptive passages. Also, the author even inserts
fragments of a song to show the diversity of genres within the narrative.

She sang:

I'm a ... naughty girl.

You needn't sham:

You know I am.

By employing figurative language, "The Boarding House" paints a vivid

picture for readers, enhancing their understanding of human nature and
social dynamics depicted in the story.

Questions and answers:

1. On the first page the author establishes thematic significance of
paralysis by talking about how Mrs. Mooney’s husband started going to
the devil. For a while she was trapped, he would drink, steal the money
from the business, and got himself into debt trying to buy alcohol. Not
only did he ruin his life, he also ruined the business by buying and selling
bad meet and getting into fights with his wife and customers being the
witnesses. His wife was trapped in this life with her husband, she was
paralyzed she couldn’t do anything about it, until one day when he
decided to go after her with a cleaver she then decided it was time to
leave, she stayed with a neighbor and had asked the priest for a
separation. 2. The manipulative nature of the women in this story starts
with Mrs. Mooney. Mrs. Mooney deceived her daughter Polly, to have an
affair with Mr. Doran because she knows he is weak. She knows she will
be able to manipulate him into marrying her daughter. Polly also

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manipulated Mr. Doran into having an affair with her because her mother
told her to and she did not want to question her mother. Her mother
probably told her what to wear and how to act and her mother knew he
wouldn’t be able to resist lust. Mrs. Mooney also knew that Mr. Doran’s
boss that he had committed sin, which is very important to him because
his boss is catholic and would fire him if he found out. 3.Bob Doran was
trapped by social convention because back then in this time and place
Catholicism was very common, it would be abnormal to not be Catholic in
Ireland. In the Catholic religion it is sin to have premarital sex and if you
do ,you are expected to be married. People would look at him badly if they
found out he committed this sin, Mrs. Mooney would make it seem like he
took advantage of an innocent young girl and didn’t marry her. The priest
even told him he had to marry her and his strong religious background
stopped him from running away. 4.Mr. Doran fears that if he does not
marry Polly he will lose his job and his family will look down upon him. He
also feels a strong force to marry her because he feels that he has sinned
and has to make up for it, even though he knows it will ruin his life if he
doesn’t. Mrs. Mooney also tells him that he will ruin his daughter’s
reputation by not marrying her. 5.Mr. Doran and polly are ill-suited
because Mr. Doran didn’t love her he was attracted to her through lust
and lust only. He was embarrassed to be seen with her. Polly never liked
Mr. Doran, she just had an affair with him because her mother told her to.
There is no evidence of Polly having physical attraction towards Mr.
Doran. There was no love or affection involved in this relationship. The
story also foreshadows that Bob will because an alcoholic like most men
in Ireland. Having an alcoholic in a marriage will not contribute to a
successful and happy marriage. 6.Mrs. Mooney is so intent on her
daughter marrying anyone because she did not want to worry about her
daughter’s well being in the future. 7.Polly’s approach to Mr. Doran was a
little different compared to other men she flirted with in the boarding
house. It was different with Bob because she actually flirted with hima lot
more and she ended up having an affair with him. Mrs. Mooney would
pretend to be outraged, just as society should expect her to be because
someone “took advantage of her daughter.” She would be mad because
she provided Mr. Doran a place to stay, food, and provided him with a
caring homey place to stay and by not marrying her daughter would give

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her the right to be angry with him in the eyes of society, people would
look at him badly. 9.The symbolism implied in short twelve is that short
twelve means noon mass. It is ironic that Mrs. Mooney would manipulate
Bob and then go to mass right after she has committed sin. It is symbolic
because at the time she says this it is seventeen minutes past 11 and she
happens to say short twelve instead of noon mass. 10.It is ironic that
Doran has seeked religious counsel after the incident has become more
serious because he knows what the priest is going to tell him. He knows
the priest is going to tell him to marry Polly, but he wants so badly to hear
the priest say that he doesn’t have to marry her so he won’t feel as guilty;
however the priest would never do that. 11.Polly’s brother is physically
described before Bob talks to Mrs. Mooney because the author wanted to
instill fear into Bob through the use of Polly’s brother. The author
described him in a way that made him have a more tough or masculine
appearance. Polly’s brother is meant to intimidate him, he is standing
with his hands in fists, suggesting that he could fight if he had to, he also
looks very angry. 12. Polly forgets “what she had been waiting for,” is
referring to Mr. Doran asking her to marry him. It has taken so long for
Mr. Doran to ask her to marry him she has lost sight of what the plan was
in the first place. 13.Based on the story it does not seem like Polly and Bob
will result with marital happiness because there is no love involved in
their relationship at all. You can tell they will not be happy because Bob is
embarrassed to be seen with Polly and that can’t possibly make Polly feel
good about herself. Not to mention a marriage with an alcoholic won’t
turn out happily.

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 Quality

Plot summary:

1. The narrator told about the Gessler brothers' shoe shop in the
West End of London and showed the qualities and appearance of
the two brothers. → exposition

(“I knew him from the days of my extreme youth, because he made my
father’s boot.”, Page 1, the 1st paragraph, the 1st line).

→ In the first two paragraphs, the author gives us an overview of the

characters. Through them, we can know about their nationality (German),
their job, how they look, and their talents. This introduction provides an
overview of the background, creates curiosity, and encourages them ->
readers to continue the story.

2. The narrator visits the store less than he used to.

(“For it was not possible to go to him very often—his boots lasted terribly,
having something beyond the temporary—some, as it were, the essence of
boot stitched into them.”, Page 2, paragraph 3).

3. The narrator knew that the low-quality shoes were not the
product he made but no self-respect virms. → rising action 1

→ Once, the narrator told the shoe craftsmanship about poor quality
shoes and knew that it was not the product he made but no self-respect
virms.

(“Dose big virms ‘ave no self-respect. Drash!”, Page 3, the 3rd paragraph
bottom up, the 1st line).

→ At this point, we can see that/ the problems have begun to appear, and
the climax is gradually being pushed up/, with the existence of large
factories/, which will bring an extremely profound conflict in this work.
"Why? Because those big corporations have stolen customers from the
two brothers, delivering low-quality products/ and damaging the
shoemaking profession."

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 4. The old man spoke bitterly about the advertising of big factories
that made the work they worked hard to do difficult. → conflict

(“It was the only time I ever heard him discuss the conditions and hardships
of his trade”, Page 3, the 3rd paragraph bottom up, the 2-3).

→ Now, the story has shed more light on the conflict, revealing the
hardships faced by the Gessler brothers in their work.

This is the first time the younger brother has shared these difficulties,
enough to understand how the big corporations have overwhelmed such
silent, humble individuals.

5. One of the two little windows of the shop, another name was
painted for the Royal Family. → climax 1

(“When at last I went I was surprised to find that outside one of the two
little windows of his shop another name was painted, also that of a
bootmaker--making, of course, for the Royal Family. The old familiar boots,
no longer in dignified isolation, were huddled in the single window. Inside,
the now contracted well of the one little shop was more scented and darker
than ever. And it was longer than usual, too, before a face peered down, and
the tip-tap of the bast slippers began.”, Page 4, lines 1-2).

→ The mention of another bootmaker's name painted outside the shop

signifies a significant shift, indicating that Mr. Gessler's business has been
taken over by a competitor who caters to the Royal Family. This change is
emphasized by the description of the old familiar boots, once displayed
with dignity, now huddled in a single window, suggesting a loss of
prominence and identity.

→ The language used, such as "surprised," "no longer in dignified

isolation," "huddled," and "contracted well," evokes a feeling of sadness and
nostalgia. The atmosphere inside the shop is described as "more scented
and darker than ever," which adds to the sense of gloom and change. The
delay before a face appears and the sound of bast slippers**/** signals a
departure from the usual promptness and warmth of Mr. Gessler's
service/, further contributing to the somber mood.

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 6. The elder brother of Gessler died. → rising action 2

(“but my elder brudder is dead.”, Page 4, line 9 bottom-up).

→ As I mentioned, the death of the elder brother is a marbottom the

extremely serious consequences of big virms. The elder brother could
have died from poverty due to a lack of customers, or he could have died
from being too saddened by losing half of the shop.

7. After 15 years, the narrator came back to the shop but the younger
brother did not remember the narrator and whether he told him
about the death or not.

("Did I dell you my brudder was dead?", Page 5, line 14).

(“To watch him was painful, so feeble had he grown...” Page 5, line 15).

→ At that time, the younger brother is all alone, and he is truly pitiful as
he gradually becomes absent-minded, forgetting many things.

8. On a Wednesday evening, the narrator received shoes of the same

quality and price as usual.

(“I had given those boots up, when one evening they came”, Page 5, line 16).

(“In shape and fit, in finish and quality of leather, they were the best he had
ever made me. And in the mouth of one of the Town walking boots I found
his bill. The amount was the same as usual, but it gave me quite a shock.”,
Page 5, lines 17-19).

→ We can see that, despite the hardships of life, the younger brother, the
sole remaining owner of the shop, remains loyal to his work in an upright
manner, using the best materials but never exploiting them to increase
prices.

9. A week later, the narrator knew the younger brother had died
because of starvation. → climax 2

("Slow starvation, the doctor called it!”, Page 6, line 6).

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→ Here, we witness another heart-wrenching event. Even though we
know that the younger brother's unwavering determination not to change
his business strategy will cause him suffering, readers still feel immense
pity for his death. We see how harsh life's realities can be, squeezing the
humble individuals in terrifying ways.

10. The narrator said Mr. Gessler used to devote himself to shoe
making and the replacement of the new store. → conclusion

("That may be a bit flowery, as the sayin' is--but I know myself he was sittin'
over his boots day and night, to the very last. You see I used to watch him.
Never gave 'imself time to eat; never had a penny in the house. All went in
rent and leather. How he lived so long I don't know. He regularly let his fire
go out. He was a character. But he made good boots.", Page 6, lines 13-15).

→ The Resolution begins with “ I went in, very much disturbed ” till the
end of the story. During this part of the plot, the narrator comes to the
shop that used to be owned by Mr. Gessler just to find out the old name of
the shop has gone, yet its initial parts remain. Then he met a young
Englishman who was in charge of it, which came as the first shock to him.
As the story progresses further, the cause of Mr. Gessler's death -
starvation - is informed to the narrator. Such information dealt a massive
blow to his unprepared mind since he is not ready to know his
long-acquainted shoemaker has died from starvation. The conversation
between the two people goes on, and the reasons leading to Mr. Gessler’s
death are further elaborated. Nevertheless, the resolution is not coated in
a grim and tragic atmosphere, since at least both the narrator and the
young Englishman greatly appreciated Mr. Gessler’s dedication and
craftsmanship in shoemaking.

CONFLICTS:

Man vs. Himself:

● He was a boot maker, and he always made the best quality boots
although he was old and poor:
● Old:

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(“And I saw that it was indeed himself—but how aged and wan!”, Page 4, line
8 bottom-up (“And the first shop I went to was my old friend's. I had left a
man of sixty, I came back to one of seventy-five, pinched and worn and
tremulous, who genuinely, this time, did not at first know me.”, Page 5, the
1st paragraph).

(“And the first shop I went to was my old friend's. I had left a man of sixty, I
came back to one of seventy-five, pinched and worn and tremulous, who
genuinely, this time, did not at first know me.”, Page 5, the 1st paragraph).

(“And with utter slowness, he traced round my foot, and felt my toes, only
once looking up to say…”, Page 5, line 12-13).

("Did I dell you my brudder was dead?", Page 5, line 14).

(“To watch him was painful, so feeble had he grown; and I was glad to get
away.”, Page 5, line 15).

● Poor:

(“Poor old man starved 'himself.", Page 6, line 4).

● Good quality:

(“It was very long before they came—but they were better than ever. One
simply could not wear them out.”, Page 4, the 2 last lines).

(“In shape and fit, in finish and quality of leather, they were the best he had
ever made me.”, Page 5, line 17-18).

(“And there he'd sit, goin' on and on—I will say that for him—not a man in
London made a better boot!”, Page 6, lines 8-9).

(“Would 'ave the best leather, too, and do it all 'imself..”, Page 6, line 10).

(“Yes," I said, "he made good boots."”, Page 6, line 2 bottom up).

⇒ From the evidence , do you find this character sympathetic? Yes,

indeed. We all are born and will perish, no one can change the circle of
life, yet I cannot help but be moved to witness the younger brother,
despite extremely difficult health and economic conditions, remaining

131
steadfastly loyal/ to his profession and determined to deliver/ the best
products to the customers.

● He was poor but he did not want to change

We can see that the brothers would rather die of starvation than
advertise or cheapen their products.

("He never advertised! Would 'ave the best leather, too, and do it all 'imself.",
Page 6, line 9-10).

("Id 'urds you dere," he said. "Dose big virms 'ave no self-respect. Drash!" And
then, as if something had given way within him, he spoke long and bitterly.”,
Page 3, the 3rd paragraph bottom up, line 1-2).

→ This leads to financial struggles ("He regularly let his fire go out. He
was a character. But he made good boots")

● Quality vs. Timeliness:

Gessler prioritized creating high-quality boots, even if it took longer

("For it was not possible to go to him very often--his boots lasted terribly,
having something beyond the temporary--some, as it were, the essence of
boot stitched into them", Page 2, paragraph 3).

When he got older: (“It was very long before they came—but they were
better than ever. One simply could not wear them out.”, Page 4, the 2 last
lines).

(“And with utter slowness, he traced round my foot, and felt my toes, only
once looking up to say…”, Page 5, line 12-13).

→ This can lead to internal conflict as he wants to please customers but

also maintain his standards.

Man vs. society: MAIN

● The competition between the large companies that did not care
about the small shop (Big virms with Gessler Brothers): (classical
>< modern)

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The shop was located in a small street, not as many big virms.

(“two little shops let into one, in a small by-street--now no more, but then
most fashionably placed in the West End.”, Page 1, the 1st paragraph, lines
2-3).

● His shop was new with some customers because two brothers
never advertised their products.

("Dey get id all," he said, "dey get id by adverdisement, nod by work. Dey dake
it away from us, who lofe our boods.”, Page 3, the 2nd paragraph bottom up,
line 1-2).

(“But look at the competition! He never advertised!”, Page 6, line 9).

● Customer Expectations vs. Gessler's Approach:

Customers become impatient with Gessler's slow and meticulous process

("People won't wait. He lost everybody", Page 6, line 8).

→ This creates a clash between Gessler's dedication and the changing

expectations of the market.

● Love for boots vs. love for money:

Mr. Gessler, upon hearing about the sparse, squeaky quality shoes, asked
his guest to bring them over for him to see. ("Zend dem back!" he said; "I
will look at dem., Page 3, line 9).

This is an attitude of honesty and love for the profession, determined to

bring customers the best products.

Meanwhile, big virms only paid attention to the number of customers

they reached, not delivering optimal products/ even though they had the
support of machines. Sadly, the squeaky shoes that the narrator wore are
the product of these people who "lack professional ethics" and had no
self-esteem.

SETTING:

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Place

+ London:

(“And there he'd sit, goin' on and on--I will say that for him--not a man in
London made a better boot!”, Page 6, line 8-9).

(“It was over a year before I was again in London”, Page 5, the 1st line).

+ The West End of London, the streets, and the two shop

(“two little shops let into one, in a small by-street--now no more, but then
most fashionably placed in the West End.”, Page 1, the 1st paragraph)

+ In the shop:

Wooden chair: (“Without a word he would leave me, retiring whence he

came, or into the other portion of the shop, and I would continue to rest in
the wooden chair, inhaling the incense of his trade.”, Page 2, paragraph 6,
the 1st line).

Narrow wooden stairs: (“A guttural sound, and the tip-tap of bast slippers
beating the narrow wooden stairs, and he would stand before one without a
coat, a little bent, in a leather apron, with sleeves turned back, blinking--as
if awakened from some dream of boots, or like an owl surprised in daylight
and annoyed at this interruption”, Page 2, paragraph 4, 3 lines bottom-up).

Atmosphere/Ambience

+ quiet, not so full of paced moves yet quite intriguing.

( “That tenement had a certain quiet distinction”, Page 1, the 2nd paragraph,
the 1st line).

+ peaceful and comfortable

(“One went in, not as into most shops, in the mood of: "Please serve me, and
let me go!" but restfully, as one enters a church; and, sitting on the single
wooden chair, one waited—for there was never anybody there. Soon, over the
top edge of that sort of well—rather dark, and smelling soothingly of
leather—which formed the shop, there would be seen his face, or that of his

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elder brother, peering down. A guttural sound, and the tip-tap of bast
slippers beating the narrow wooden stairs”, Page 2, paragraph 4, lines 1-5).

+ smell of leather and the dark

(“Inside, the now contracted well of the one little shop was more scented and
darker than ever. And it was longer than usual, too, before a face peered
down, and the tip-tap of the best slippers began.”, Page 4, the 1st paragraph,
line 3 bottom-up⇒ Here, through artistic techniques, the author has
depicted a cozy and intimate space. We can imagine the scent of wood
mingling with the smell of leather throughout the shop, a scent that is both
ancient and simple, emanating from its owner - calm and passionate about
his craft. The two brothers lived in such a space, a very warm and cozy
home.

⇒ Here, through artistic techniques, the author has depicted a cozy and
intimate space. We can imagine the scent of wood mingling with the
smell of leather throughout the shop, a scent that is both ancient and
simple, emanating from its owner - calm and passionate about his craft.
The two brothers lived in such a space, a very warm and cozy home.

+ Confusion, discomfort, and sadness.

(“To watch him was painful, so feeble had he grown; and I was glad to get
away.”, Page 5, line 15).

(“And I turned and went out quickly, for I did not want that youth to know
that I could hardly see.”, Page 6, the last line).

Time mentioned in the story:

(+ Year of publication: 1912) -> Do you know what event we had that time?
We had a Revolution. It’s Industrial Revo. This is why we can see the
change in many businesses and advertising issues.

So, the first period of time you need to know is that + The background of
this story occurred in the 1700s above because they still use penny for
the payment.

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("Never gave 'himself time to eat; never had a penny in the house.", Page 6,
line 14-15).

+ Historical background: Industrial revolution and advertised products

in the 20th Century shifted the traditional workers.

The shop compete with a big farm as industrial revolution with advertised
product. This concept of advertising to reach a wider audience is a
hallmark of the Industrial Revolution.

("Dey get id all," he said, "dey get id by adverdisement, nod by work.”, Page 3,
paragraph 2 bottom up, the 1st line).

+ Tomorrow fortnight:

(“And he would say: "To-morrow ford-nighd?", Page 2, paragraph 6, the last

line).

+ Morning:

(“Then I would murmur: "Thank you! Good-morning, Mr. Gessler."

"Goot-morning!" he would reply, still looking at the leather in his hand”,
Page 2, paragraph 7, line 1-2).

+ Over a year:

(“It was over a year before I was again in London.”, Page 5, the 1st line).

+ 15 years:

(“I had left a man of sixty, I came back to one of seventy-five, Page 5, line 2”).

+ Many months:

(“One does not, I suppose, care to feel like that; for it was again many
months before my next visit to his shop...Page 4, line 16-17).

And it is also proof for the point that the narror didnt visit the shop much.

+ A week later:

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(“A week later, passing the little street, I thought I would go in and tell him
how splendidly the new boots fitted.”, Page 5, line 9 bottom-up ⇒ With an
incredibly profound writing style, the author has constructed a uniquely
compelling story, where events unfold in a manner/ that is perfectly logical
and coherent with the passage of time. This is the highlight of the linear plot
structure.

=> With an incredibly profound writing style, the author has constructed
a uniquely compelling story, where events unfold in a manner/ that is
perfectly logical and coherent with the passage of time. This is the
highlight of the linear plot structure.

CHARACTER ANALYSIS

Mr. Gessler (Young brother)

● main character (protagonist) - round - dynamic

● shoemaker - the younger one in Gessler brothers

Profile:

● An extremely skilled and committed German boot maker.

● Very passionate, perfectionist, hard working, consistent, loves art,
weird, and looks different from most people.

Physical Traits:

● Described as a little, short - statured man as he seems a little

stooped and bent because of hard work
● Pale face with lots of wrinkles
● Crinkly, curly, red hair, and a thick red beard
● Leathery, yellowish, crinkled skin and his eyes are gray-blue and
somber with a look of utter commitment and seriousness
● Deep, guttural, monotonous voice with a heavy German accent
● Described as if made from leather, suggesting that he is firm like
leather but also “slow of purpose”, or slow in execution

Mr. Gessler has been presented as a little, short - statured man as he

seems a little stooped and bent because of hard work. His face is pale. He

137
has a lot of wrinkles on his face. His hair and beard are reddish.
Particularly, he has crinkly, curly, red hair, and a thick red beard. His skin
is leathery, yellowish, crinkled and his eyes are gray-blue and somber
with a look of utter commitment and seriousness. His voice is deep,
guttural, monotonous, and he speaks with a heavy German accent, all in
conformity with his German origin. He has been described as if made
from leather, suggesting that he is firm like leather but also “slow of
purpose”, or slow in execution. The narrator brings to us the importance
of Mr. Gessler's “gray-blue” eyes by divesting them with the “simple
gravity of one secretly possessed by the ideal”. This clearly indicates that
Mr. Gessler's ideal of being perfectionist reflects in his eyes.

Evidence:

“Himself, he was a little as if made from leather, with his yellow crinkly face,
and crinkly reddish hair and beard, and neat folds slanting down his cheeks
to the corners of his mouth, and his guttural and one-toned voice; for
leather is a sardonic substance, and stiff and slow of purpose. And that was
the character of his face, save that his eyes, which were gray-blue, had in
them the simple gravity of one secretly possessed by the Ideal.” (Page 1, last
paragraph)

CHARACTERISATION:

1. Humility, Kindness and Generosity:

● Once the narrator complained about the boots made by Mr. Gessler,
Mr. Gessler promised to take them back and cancel the charges.
This shows the humility of the artist. Art requires humility and Mr.
Gessler’s humility helped him improve his craft as Mr. Gessler
believed in “work is worship”.

"Zend dem back!" he said; "I will look at dem."

"Zome boods," he said slowly, "are bad from birdt. If I can do noding wid dem,
I dake dem off your bill." (Page 3, line 9 + 12)

● Mr. Gessler is depicted as a kind and generous individual who cares

deeply about his customers and takes pride in providing them with

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 high-quality shoes. He goes out of his way to accommodate their
needs and preferences, even if it means sacrificing his own
well-being. Mr. Gessler's kindness and generosity endear him to his
customers and serve as a testament to his character.

“He looked long at my boots--a pair of Russia leather, and his face seemed to
regain steadiness. Putting his hand on my instep, he said: "Do dey vid you
here? I 'ad drouble wid dat bair, I remember.” (Page 5, paragraph 3)

● Once the narrator went into his shop in a pair of boots bought in an
emergency at some large firm. And then after looking carefully, Mr.
Gessler quickly told the narrator those were not his boots. Saying
so, he pressed his fingers on a part of the boot where comfort was
compromised in the pursuit of style. Then he said with the tone was
not one of anger, nor of sorrow, not even of contempt, but there
was in it something quiet that froze the blood.

“The tone was not one of anger, nor of sorrow, not even of contempt, but
there was in it something quiet that froze the blood. He put his hand down
and pressed a finger on the place where the left boot, endeavoring to be
fashionable, was not quite comfortable.

“Id 'urds you dere," he said. "Dose big virms 'ave no self-respect. Drash!”(Page
3, paragraph 3 + 4 bottom-up)

● This shows the disappointment and bitterness of a shoemaker's

self-esteem and humility when he saw customers having to wear
uncomfortable shoes.
1. Passionate (and hard-working)
● For Mr. Gessler, boot - making is his passion and he is wholly
dedicated to it. He can go to any length to make boots for people.
His passion for shoe making is shown in the way he responded
when the narrator asked him if his work of shoemaking is awfully
hard to do, he replied very proudly that it was an art.

“And his answer, given with a sudden smile from out of the sardonic redness
of his beard: "Id is an Ardt!"” (Page 1, line 5 bottom up) → This shows that

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he appreciates art, he loves art, and he is always ready to dedicate to the
art of making boots.

● So for Mr. Gessler, shoemaking is not merely a craft but a sublime

art. He is highly passionate about shoemaking as we can see the
evidence that he performed all the activities himself like working on
leather, taking measurements and stitching the shoes. While
making the shoes, he remembered the comfort and satisfaction of
his customers. And when he had to leave his work to attend to the
customers, he appeared as if he had been awakened from some
dream of shoes or like an owl who felt surprised in daylight.

“Soon, over the top edge of that sort of well-- rather dark, and smelling
soothingly of leather--which formed the shop, there would be seen his face,
or that of his elder brother, peering down. A guttural sound, and the tip-tap
of bast slippers beating the narrow wooden stairs, and he would stand before
one without coat, a little bent, in leather apron, with sleeves turned back,
blinking--as if awakened from some dream of boots, or like an owl surprised
in daylight and annoyed at this interruption.” (Page 2, paragraph 4)

● He also expressed his passion for shoe making through his act and
his respect to the leather in his hand as well as his boot products.

“Goot-morning!" he would reply, still looking at the leather in his hand. And
as I moved to the door, I would hear the tip-tap of his bast slippers restoring
him, up the stairs, to his dream of boots. But if it were some new kind of
foot-gear that he had not yet made me, then indeed he would observe
ceremony--divesting me of my boot and holding it long in his hand, looking
at it with eyes at once critical and loving, as if recalling the glow with which
he had created it, and rebuking the way in which one had disorganized this
masterpiece. Then, placing my foot on a piece of paper, he would two or
three times tickle the outer edges with a pencil and pass his nervous fingers
over my toes, feeling himself into the heart of my requirements.” (Page 2,
paragraph 7)

● Once Mr. Gessler spoke out about his mental pain, his struggle to
compete against big firms which spread their business with the
help of advertisement. So Mr. Gessler suffered a lot while his small

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 business was crippled in front of the mall business which was
showy without quality. No matter how many difficulties, the
passionate artist neither gave up nor compromised with the quality
of his work.
● Mr. Gessler's dedication to quality goes beyond just making a living.
It's a source of deep personal satisfaction. He takes pride in the
legacy of his craft and the knowledge that his boots will serve their
owners well for years. This passion fuels his meticulous attention to
detail and his refusal to cut corners like other big firms.

3. A Perfectionist in His Profession

● He is a Master Craftsman. As we can see, Mr. Gessler is a skilled

bootmaker who takes immense pride in his work. He prioritized
using the finest materials and traditional techniques to create
lasting and comfortable boots.

“Soon he would come back, holding in his thin, veined hand a piece of
gold-brown leather. With eyes fixed on it, he would remark: "What a
beaudiful biece!” (Page 2, Paragraph 6)

● Mr. Gessler was so well - versed in his vocation that he could tell
whether the shoes were made by him or somebody else by simply
looking at them. Once, the narrator went to Gessler Brothers’ shop
to place an order. That day the narrator was wearing a pair of shoes
that he bought from a large firm in an emergency. Mr. Gessler could
immediately e that those were not made by him. He put his hand
down and pressed a finger exactly on the place where the left shoe
was not comfortable. In spite of facing the hardships fallen in his
way, he kept on making efforts to maintain excellence in his work.

“Once (once only) I went absent-mindedly into his shop in a pair of boots
bought in an emergency at some large firm's. He took my order without
showing me any leather, and I could feel his eyes penetrating the inferior
integument of my foot. At last he said:

"Dose are nod my boods."”

(Page 3, paragraph 5 bottom up)

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4. Integrity and Honesty in His Work to Maintain Quality

● Throughout the story, Mr. Gessler demonstrates integrity and

honesty in his interactions with customers. He is upfront about the
time and effort required to produce quality shoes and refuses to cut
corners to reduce costs or increase efficiency. Mr. Gessler's honesty
and transparency distinguish him from other shoemakers and
highlight his commitment to providing value to his customers.
● Mr. Gessler is a genius in his profession. He knows and loves the art
of making boots heartily. He always makes sure that he makes the
best boots for every client, and his boots last terribly for years. That
is why he takes a pretty long time making boots according to the
specifications of his customers.

“I ordered several pairs. It was very long before they came--but they were
better than ever. One simply could not wear them out.” (Page 4, last
paragraph)

● He felt hurt if anybody complained about the shoes not fitting or

hurting his customer. Once the narrator went to the Gesslers’ shop
and complained to him that the last pair he had made for him
creaked. Mr. Gessler at first was surprised at this complaint and
replied that the narrator might have got them wet otherwise they
would not have creaked. After that, he asked the narrator to send
that pair back to him and he would try to repair them if possible
and if not he would refund the money to him. Not only does this
show dedication, but also integrity because he is honest about his
work and wants to satisfy his customer to the utmost (with the best
service) even at his personal financial loss.

“At that he lowered his eyes, as if hunting for memory of those boots, and I
felt sorry I had mentioned this grave thing.

"Zend dem back!" he said; "I will look at dem."

A feeling of compassion for my creaking boots surged up in me, so well could

I imagine the sorrowful long curiosity of regard which he would bend on
them.

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"Zome boods," he said slowly, "are bad from birdt. If I can do noding wid dem,
I dake dem off your bill." (Page 3, line 6 - 12)

● In his last days of adversity, when he found his business on the

verge of drowning, he, instead of compromising the quality of
shoes, tried to make the best shoes with the same dedication and
honesty without increasing the price of his shoes.

“He looked long at my boots--a pair of Russia leather, and his face seemed to
regain steadiness. Putting his hand on my instep, he said:

"Do dey vid you here? I 'ad drouble wid dat bair, I remember."

"Do you wand any boods?" he said. "I can make dem quickly; id is a slack
dime."

I answered: "Please, please! I want boots all round--every kind!"

"I will make a vresh model. Your food must be bigger." And with utter
slowness, he traced round my foot, and felt my toes, only once looking up to
say:

"Did I dell you my brudder was dead?"

To watch him was painful, so feeble had he grown; I was glad to get away.

I had given those boots up, when one evening they came. Opening the parcel,
I set the four pairs out in a row. Then one by one I tried them on. There was
no doubt about it. In shape and fit, in finish and quality of leather, they were
the best he had ever made me. And in the mouth of one of the town
walking-boots I found his bill. The amount was the same as usual, but it
gave me quite a shock. He had never before sent it in till quarter day. I flew
downstairs, and wrote a check, and posted it at once with my own hand.”

(Page 5)

5. His Commitment to Excellence, His Enduring Hardships and His

Tragic End

● His Commitment to Excellence:

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→ It is true to all that Mr. Gessler devoted his entire life to making the
best quality shoes. He lived and died for quality.

“You see he went to work in such a way! Would keep the shop on; wouldn't
have a soul touch his boots except himself. When he got an order, it took him
such a time.” (Page 6, line 6)

“That may be a bit flowery, as the sayin' is--but I know myself he was sittin'
over his boots day and night, to the very last. You see I used to watch him.
Never gave 'imself time to eat; never had a penny in the house.” (Page 6, line
13)

→ He had to face tough competition from big firms which have

machinery to advertise their products. But he remained stubborn and
resolute to practice the craft by paying for it with his breath and blood.
He never compromises on quality and always uses the best quality
leather.

“Soon he would come back, holding in his thin, veined hand a piece of
gold-brown leather. With eyes fixed on it, he would remark: "What a
beaudiful biece!” (Page 2, Paragraph 6)

→ What I mean here is that despite facing challenges and competition

from larger, more commercial businesses, Mr. Gessler remains dedicated
to his craft and refuses to compromise on quality. His commitment to
excellence reflects his strong work ethic and passion for shoemaking

“"Dey get id all," he said, "dey get id by adverdisement, nod by work. Dey dake
it away from us, who lofe our boods. Id gomes to this--bresently I haf no
work. Every year id gets less--you will see." And looking at his lined face I
saw things I had never noticed before, bitter things and bitter struggle--and
what a lot of gray hairs there seemed suddenly in his red beard!” (Page 3,
paragraph 2 bottom up)

→ His dedication is also shown in the fact that he even used all the money
he earned to buy the highest quality leather to make beautiful and
durable boots while still keeping the same selling price.

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“He never advertised! Would 'ave the best leather, too, and do it all 'imself.”
(Page 6, Line 10)

“Never gave 'imself time to eat; never had a penny in the house. All went in
rent and leather.” (Page 6, Line 14)

● His Enduring Hardships:

→ Though his business is dwindling, he continued his struggle for

existence without giving in to the pressure of competition and
advertisements. He was forced by circumstances to give away a part of his
shop.

“When at last I went I was surprised to find that outside one of the two little
windows of his shop another name was painted, also that of a
bootmaker--making, of course, for the Royal Family. The old familiar boots,
no longer in dignified isolation, were huddled in the single window. Inside,
the now contracted well of the one little shop was more scented and darker
than ever.” (Page 4, first paragraph)

"Yes," he said, "beople do nod wand good boods, id seems."

To get away from his reproachful eyes and voice I hastily remarked: "What
have you done to your shop?"

He answered quietly: "Id was too exbensif. Do you wand some boods?" (Page
4, line 10 - 13)

→ His elder brother died because he could not get over the shock of
losing one of their shops. Mr. Gessler, despite losing his elder brother and
part of their shop, continued his business of shoemaking with the same
commitment as earlier. His endurance of hardship is also shown through
the fact that he overcame the pain of losing his brother to continue his
shoe making business.

"Yes," he answered, "he was a good man, he made a good bood; but he is
dead." And he touched the top of his head, where the hair had suddenly gone
as thin as it had been on that of his poor brother, to indicate, I suppose, the
cause of death. "He could nod ged over losing de oder shop. Do you wand any

145
boods?" And he held up the leather in his hand: "Id's a beaudiful biece." (Page
4, paragraph 2 bottom up)

→ Despite facing financial difficulties and the threat of bankruptcy, Mr.

Gessler remains resilient and determined to persevere. He continues to
work tirelessly in his shop, relying on his skill and reputation to attract
customers. Mr. Gessler's resilience in the face of adversity underscores
his unwavering dedication to his craft and his refusal to compromise his
principles for the sake of profitability.

→ Resilience and Determination

● His Tragic End:

→ Mr. Gessler who commits himself to the art of making shoes, has to
fade away from this world of commercial materialism that takes a toll of
sincere traders of art pursuing it as the profession. In fact, he met a tragic
end. He died of slow starvation.

“"Yes, yes," I said; "but Mr. Gessler?"

"Oh!" he answered; "dead."

"Dead! But I only received these boots from him last Wednesday week."

"Ah!" he said; "a shockin' go. Poor old man starved 'imself."

"Good God!"

"Slow starvation, the doctor called it! You see he went to work in such a way!
Would keep the shop on; wouldn't have a soul touch his boots except himself.
When he got an order, it took him such a time. People won't wait. He lost
everybody. And there he'd sit, goin' on and on--I will say that for him--not a
man in London made a better boot! But look at the competition! He never
advertised! Would 'ave the best leather, too, and do it all 'imself. Well, there it
is. What could you expect with his ideas?"

"But starvation--!"

"That may be a bit flowery, as the sayin' is--but I know myself he was sittin'
over his boots day and night, to the very last. You see I used to watch him.

146
Never gave 'imself time to eat; never had a penny in the house. All went in
rent and leather. How he lived so long I don't know. He regular let his fire go
out. He was a character. But he made good boots."” (Page 6)

⇒ He devoted his whole life to the art of making boots, sacrificing

everything from his meals and time to sleep to spending most of his
expense to buy the finest leather. He didn’t think about his own interests
and always prioritized his customers, wanting to bring the best quality
boots to his customers. However, in the end, he ended his life tragically,
the rest of the store was lost and he also died of starvation.

6. Old-World Values

● Mr. Gessler embodies the values of a bygone era. He prioritizes

quality over profit and personal satisfaction in his work over mass
production. He speaks with a heavy German accent, all in
conformity with his German origin.

"Id is an Ardt!"

"Goot-morning!"

"Id shouldn'd 'ave greaked."

"You goddem wed before dey found demselves?"

"Zend dem back!" he said; "I will look at dem."

"Dose are nod my boods."

"Dey get id all," he said, "dey get id by adverdisement, nod by work. Dey dake
it away from us, who lofe our boods. Id gomes to this--bresently I haf no
work. Every year id gets less--you will see."

● Mr. Gessler represents a fading ideal, especially a disappearing

breed of craftsmen. The narrator mentions the decline of cobblers
and the rise of mass-produced footwear. This creates a sense of
nostalgia and highlights the potential loss of valuable skills and
traditions.

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 ● He is a man of few words. Mr. Gessler communicates more through
his actions than his words. He rarely boasts about his skills or the
quality of his work. Instead, he lets the boots speak for themselves.
This adds to his mystique and emphasizes the practical nature of
his craft.

“Without a word he would leave me, retiring whence he came, or into the
other portion of the shop, and I would continue to rest in the wooden chair,
inhaling the incense of his trade.”

(Page 2, paragraph 3 bottom up)

7. Rigid, fixed attitudes and work ethics

● He's unfazed by the changing market and the rise of mass-produced

footwear
● He sticks to his principles and continues to create high-quality
boots on his own terms

→ Resolute and Independent

● He sees the changing world and knows his way of life may not
survive, but he does not change or choose advertising to increase
his popularity

→ His rigid, fixed attitude and work ethic cost him his businesses slowly
and steadily, leading to poor health and starvation

8. Symbolism:

● Not only Mr. Gessler embodies the values of a bygone era but he
himself and his shop also became symbols of that era where
craftsmanship and quality reigned supreme.
● Mr. Gessler serves as a symbol of traditional craftsmanship and the
human touch in an increasingly mechanized and commercialized
world.
● His character represents the values of integrity, pride, and
dedication that are often overshadowed by modern conveniences
and mass production.

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 ● He also represents the human cost of progress and the potential
loss of tradition in the face of rapid modernization.
● Through Mr. Gessler, Galsworthy celebrates the timeless artistry of
skilled artisans and highlights the importance of preserving
craftsmanship in the face of technological advancement.

Mr. Gessler (Elder brother of Gessler): minor character - flat - static -

shoemaker - the older one in Gessler brothers

● Role: minor character - flat – static

● Profile: German - an extremely skilled and committed boot maker -
the older one in Gessler brothers - very passionate, perfectionist,
hard working man, consistent, love art, weird, and looks different
from most people he stands for a high degree of passion in his art of
shoemaking in the world of advertisements and publicity (both are
the same not only physically but also the character).
● Brief info: What's interesting about "Quality" is the fact that there is
no specific mention of Mr. Gessler’s elder brother in the text itself.
But we can implicitly recognize it through a few small details when
the narrator describes the younger Mr. Gessler.
● Appearance (Physical Traits):

The story mentions Mr. Gessler's deceased brother who was also a good
bootmaker. They likely shared similar characteristics and appearances,
which could lead someone to mistakenly recognize who is him and who is
the younger after just a brief interaction. Assuming they were siblings,
the older brother might have shared Mr. Gessler's dedication to quality
and craftsmanship. They likely learned the trade together and held
similar beliefs about the importance of their work.

● Evidence:

“His elder brother was so very like him--though watery, paler in every
way, with a great industry--that sometimes in early days I was not quite
sure of him until the interview was over. Then I knew that it was he, if the
words, “I will ask my brudder,” had not been spoken; and, that, if they
had, it was his elder brother.” (Page 2, first paragraph)

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 ● His influence on the story:

→ The death of the older brother could be a significant event for Mr.
Gessler. It might have solidified his resolve to continue their shoe shop
and resist the pressures to compromise on quality. ****Mr. Gessler’s
elder brother dies because he cannot get over the shock of losing one of
their shops or the starvation also another cause of his death. Just like his
younger brother as we mentioned, his death is a result of the loss of the
traditional craftsmen in the competition with the bigger firms in the
industry and also a signal of the potential loss of original art.

"I am breddy well," he said slowly; "but my elder brudder is dead."

"Yes," he answered, "he was a good man, he made a good bood; but he is
dead." And he touched the top of his head, where the hair had suddenly gone
as thin as it had been on that of his poor brother, to indicate, I suppose, the
cause of death. "He could nod ged over losing de oder shop. Do you wand any
boods?" (Page 4, second paragraph bottom-up)

→ The cause of his death is unspecific in the narrative but through the
detail that the hair of the two brothers had gone so thin, we can
comprehend that the elder died because of not only shock of losing the
shop but also poverty and miserableness.

● Conclusion: (Gessler brothers)

In general, as a professional shoemaker, they has devoted his whole life

to bringing the best quality shoes for his customers. Mr. Gessler is a
serious, sober person with no inclination toward being frivolous or
humorous. They’re perfectionists and give only the best to their
customers. They did not compromise on quality and was unable to adjust
to the changing times.

In spite of their popularity, the Gessler Brothers began to lose valued

customers as they didn’t keep up with the changing demands and trends.
Their rigid, fixed attitudes and work ethics see them lose business
gradually and steadily, resulting in their broken health and starvation.
Towards the end of their lives, Mr. Gessler and his brother begin to look

150
upon the big firms as the enemy that would ultimately take away all their
business.

That's why we sympathize even more with Mr. Gessler and his misfortune
and tragic end. If only he and his brother had welcomed the technology
and accommodated new people while teaching them shoemaking skills,
their business would have improved and their lives would no longer be so
tragic like that.

The Narrator: main character - round - dynamic - loyal customer

Role: main character - round - dynamic

Profile: a loyal customer and fan of Mr. Gessler’s shoemaking shop - he

knows all about the Gessler brothers - almost all part of the story in the
narrator’s point of view

Brief info: The narrator is not disclosed by name, but it is inferred that he
is male. The narrator is a very loyal customer and fan of Mr. Gessler’s
shoemaking. The narrator very often visited his shop to place orders for
boots. He took frequent trips to the shoe store, and purchased more than
necessary – thus, indicating his wealth and love for fashion. He became a
little attached to the brothers and became quick friends with them,
especially his deep bonding with Mr. Gessler (Younger brother). By the
end of the story, he was taken aback that the brothers’ shop had closed
and stated that they made the finest shoes he’d ever bought. The story is
seen through the narrator’s action and the narrator’s point of view. The
narrator told us what was going on in the life of Mr. Gessler…

Appearance (Physical Traits):

No mention

CHARACTERISATION:

1. A Quality - Conscious Man:

● The Gessler Brothers were known to the narrator from his father's
time. His father wore the shoes made by the Gessler Brothers. His
father loved the quality of their shoes. So the narrator knew them

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 as those who were wholly committed to the quality of the shoes. As
his father showed great fondness of the shoes of the Gessler
Brothers, he was also gradually inclined to their shoes.

“I knew him from the days of my extreme youth, because he made my

father's boots; inhabiting with his elder brother two little shops let into one,
in a small by-street--now no more, but then most fashionably placed in the
West End.” (Page 1, first paragraph)

● He always got his shoes tailor - made by the Gessler Brothers. In

the beginning, the narrator was suspicious about the display of a
few pairs of boots in the window. He thought that the Gessler
Brothers had bought the shoes from outside for the display. But,
later on, his suspicion had gone when he came to know about the
reality of the Gessler Brothers. Once in Emergency, the narrator
had to buy a pair of shoes from a big firm. The shoes were attractive
in their look but they were not comfortable to him. Mr. Gessler put
his hand down and pressed a finger exactly on the place where the
left shoe was not comfortable. He also came to know that the
Gessler Brothers were wholly committed to the quality and that
they did all the work with their hands from working on the leather,
taking measurements, designing and finalizing the shoes as per the
demands of each and every customer . They never compromised
the quality and always used the best quality leather.

→ That is also a reason which makes the narrator show more respect to
them and visits the Gessler Brothers’ shop frequently.

“He would never have tolerated in his house leather on which he had not
worked himself. Besides, they were too beautiful--the pair of pumps, so
inexpressibly slim, the patent leathers with cloth tops, making water come
into one's mouth, the tall brown riding boots with marvelous sooty glow, as
if, though new, they had been worn a hundred years. Those pairs could only
have been made by one who saw before him the Soul of Boot--so truly were
they prototypes incarnating the very spirit of all foot-gear.” (Page 1,
paragraph 2)

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→ The narrator's thoughts and comments show that he is someone who
appreciates the quality of the products he buys and is aware of the
Gessler brothers’ dedication to their shoes making.

2. Appreciate the Art, Beauty and Quality of the Shoes:

● The narrator had great appreciation or admiration for the true art
and the artists. It has been indicated by the fact that he visited the
Gessler Brothers’ shop a number of times as he appreciated the
beauty and quality of shoes made by them. He seemed to be
awestruck by the beauty of the shoes made by them to such an
extent that he described them as “too beautiful”; “making water
come into one's mouth”. (Page 1, Paragraph 2) He admired Gessler
Brothers “art of shoemaking as incarnating the very spirit of all foot
- gear”. He felt that such beautiful shoes could only be made by the
artists, who had seen the very soul of the shoes and who even
seemed to “dream of boots”.

“He would never have tolerated in his house leather on which he had not
worked himself. Besides, they were too beautiful--the pair of pumps, so
inexpressibly slim, the patent leathers with cloth tops, making water come
into one's mouth, the tall brown riding boots with marvelous sooty glow, as
if, though new, they had been worn a hundred years. Those pairs could only
have been made by one who saw before him the Soul of Boot--so truly were
they prototypes incarnating the very spirit of all foot-gear.” (Page 1,
paragraph 2)

● The narrator found the Gessler Brothers different from the other
shoemakers. Visiting Gessler Brothers’ shop, to him, looked like
entering a church as boot-making was pursued by them religiously
with honesty and integrity. Moreover, the atmosphere of their shop
was very peaceful. Hence, it was the narrator's inclination to their
art of shoemaking which forced the narrator to visit them again and
again and order more than his need.

“One went in, not as into most shops, in the mood of: "Please serve me, and
let me go!" but restfully, as one enters a church; and, sitting on the single
wooden chair, waited--for there was never anybody there. Soon, over the

153
top edge of that sort of well-- rather dark, and smelling soothingly of
leather--which formed the shop, there would be seen his face, or that of his
elder brother, peering down.” (Page 2, paragraph 4)

3. Generous, Kind and Sympathetic:

● Because of being associated with the Gessler Brothers for a long

time, the narrator was greatly pained by the pitiable state of the
Gessler Brothers. The narrator came to know of their pathetic state
only when Mr. Gessler once spoke bitterly about the hardships of
his trade. Mr. Gessler was annoyed at the commercial approach of
the big firms. He railed against their advertising, sales promotion
and everything else they did to entice the buyer at the cost of
quality. Such derisive comments seldom came to Gessler.
Displeasure and annoyance were palpable in his face, wrinkled by
years of toil in his trade. The narrator was moved by the
commitment and dedication of Gessler to his trade. He felt bad that
he had some time back complaining about the boots he had bought
from Mr. Gessler. To make amends for any feelings of hurt he might
have caused to this commitment artist, the narrator ordered quite a
few pairs of shoes.

“As best I could, I explained the circumstances of the purchase of those

ill-omened boots. But his face and voice made so deep impression that
during the next few minutes I ordered many pairs. Nemesis fell! They lasted
more terribly than ever. And I was not able conscientiously to go to him for
nearly two years.” (Page 3, last paragraph)

● When the narrator went there after the lapse of two years, the
narrator was surprised to see that one of the two windows of the
old shop bore a signboard. It became clear to the narrator that
another business had started operating from the premises. It soon
emerged that Gessler had rented out a part of the shop to curtail
costs. The narrator ordered three pairs though he wanted only two
and left the place quickly, maybe it was because he felt partly to
blame for causing Mr. Gessler to sell part of the store, or perhaps he
was against Mr. Gessler’s idea of making shoes when he bought a
bad pair of boots last time.

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“I ordered three pairs, though I had only wanted two, and quickly left. I had,
I do not know quite what feeling of being part, in his mind, of a conspiracy
against him; or not perhaps so much against him as against his idea of
boot.” (Page 4, paragraph 2)

● The narrator had developed a sentimental bonding with Gessler's

shop that made him return there again and again. When, after many
months, the narrator again visited the Gessler Brothers, he got the
shocking news of Elder Gessler's death. The narrator showed
sympathy for Mr. Gessler by placing an order for several pairs and
went abroad.

“I ordered several pairs. It was very long before they came--but they were
better than ever. One simply could not wear them out. And soon after that I
went abroad.” (Page 4, last paragraph)

● When he returned from abroad, he again went to the Gessler

Brothers. This time Mr. Gessler seemed to the narrator as a
seventy-five-year-old man though he was just over sixty. His
business too had been all time slacker. The narrator had empathy
for Mr. Gessler and tried to help him by ordering all kinds of shoes
on his next visit, although he had doubts whether Mr. Gessler would
be able to deliver his order. But this time, surprisingly, the boots
were delivered faster than usual, with the best quality ever and the
price is still the same. On getting the shoes, the narrator
immediately sent a cheque to pay for the order.

“I answered: "Please, please! I want boots all round--every kind!"” ( Page 5,

line 11)

“I had given those boots up, when one evening they came. Opening the
parcel, I set the four pairs out in a row. Then one by one I tried them on.
There was no doubt about it. In shape and fit, in finish and quality of
leather, they were the best he had ever made me. And in the mouth of one of
the town walking-boots I found his bill. The amount was the same as usual,
but it gave me quite a shock. He had never before sent it in till quarter day. I
flew downstairs, and wrote a check, and posted it at once with my own
hand.” (Page 5, line 16)

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 ● A week later, when the narrator comes to know about Mr. Gessler's
death, he feels extremely sorrowful.

"Dead! But I only received these boots from him last Wednesday week." (Page
6, line 3)

"Yes," I said, "he made good boots." (Page 6, line 2 bottom up)

“And I turned and went out quickly, for I did not want that youth to know
that I could hardly see.” (Page 6, last sentence)

4. Symbolism:

● The narrator can be seen as a symbol of the modern consumer who

prioritizes convenience and affordability over quality and
craftsmanship. His initial resistance to Mr. Gessler's approach
reflects the potential loss of appreciation for traditional skills in a
rapidly changing world. However, he later changed his view and
appreciated the quality values that Mr. Gessler brought. This shows
that a part of consumers will value quick convenience and follow
fashion trends but less comfort. Another group of consumers will
appreciate products that are meticulously made by people, so the
waiting time is long but the quality is high.
● The story can be seen as the narrator's journey towards a greater
understanding of quality and craftsmanship. While he may not fully
embrace Mr. Gessler's way of life, his newfound appreciation
suggests a potential shift in his consumer values.
● The narrator's ending thoughts leave room for interpretation. Does
his appreciation for Mr. Gessler's work represent a genuine change,
or is it simply a recognition of exceptional quality in a rare
instance? This ambiguity allows the reader to reflect on their own
consumer habits and the value they place on quality and
craftsmanship.
● The narrator in "Quality" can be seen as a reflection of a society
grappling with the impact of industrialization and mass production.
His story raises questions about the importance of tradition, the
value of skilled labor, and the role of the consumer in shaping the
future of craftsmanship.

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The Englishman: minor character - flat - static - new owner of Mr.
Gessler’s shop

Role: minor character - flat - static

Profile: new owner of Mr. Gessler’s shop

Brief info:

“I went in, very much disturbed. In the two little shops--again made into
one--was a young man with an English face.” (Page 5, line 6 bottom up)

On his last visit to Mr. Gessler to thank him for the splendid boots he
made, the narrator was shocked to see an Englishman had taken over the
shop. He informed the narrator about the death of Mr. Gessler due to
starvation. The tragedy is risen by the fact that even the Englishman
agreed that he (Mr. Gessler) made the best boots in London.

“And there he'd sit, goin' on and on--I will say that for him--not a man in
London made a better boot!” (Page 6)

“He regular let his fire go out. He was a character. But he made good boots.”
(Page 6)

This acknowledgement was the tribute to Mr. Gessler and his art.

POINT OF VIEW
● A first-person narrator
● Not disclosed by a name and an age
● Gender: male
● Using first-person narrator:

→ A close connection between readers and the story

→ A part of the story rather than an observer → share personal thoughts

and feelings

→ Using “I” and “me”: “I remember” and “seemed to me then, and still seems
to me,” → confirm the narrator's personal involvement****

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→ A realistic picture of the struggle faced by the handicraft industry and
the artisans during the Industrial Revolution

● In the excerpt from "Quality" by John Galsworthy, the literary point

of view is first person. The narrator is not disclosed by name as well
as his age, but it is inferred that he is male. The narrator is a very
loyal customer and fan of Mr. Gessler’s shoemaking. Therefore,
when using first person to tell the story, the author wants readers
to transform into the role of that customer. Imagine that you buy
something whose quality is really good and you will feel more
clearly the role of the narrator when he buys high-quality boots
made by a bootmaker who cares about his profession. Not only that,
the first person narrative also helps to provide a realistic picture of
the struggle faced by the handicraft industry and the artisans
during the Industrial Revolution by referring to the actual
encounter between the narrator and the artisan (Gessler Brothers)
● Using first person narratives, The narrator shares personal
thoughts and feelings, indicating that he is part of the story rather
than simply an observer. → This way takes the readers along the
flow of the story from a perspective that helps them immerse
themselves in the story like the reader themselves is the narrator,
causing the reader to have thoughts and feelings of sympathy for
Mr. Gessler. Through Narrator’s point of view, readers can easily
accept and understand more deeply the difficult life of Gessler
Brothers according to what the narrator experienced, seen, felt, and
heard. Two parts that clearly show this point of view are when the
narrator expresses personal thoughts about the puzzling sight of
the boots in the window, and later, the narrator's reflection on the
dignity of the shoemaker and the importance of the trade. These
introspective thoughts suggest a personal connection and a level of
intimacy with the subject matter that is characteristic of a
first-person narrative. Additionally, the use of 'I' and 'me'
throughout the text is a clear indication of a first-person
perspective. Examples such as 'I remember' and 'seemed to me then,
and still seems to me,' confirm the narrator's personal involvement

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 and a viewpoint keyed to one individual's observations and feelings
toward the characters and events being described.
● If the author uses the second or third person, the perspective
seems too objective, unable to bring out the emotions the author
wants to convey to readers. This can limit point of view, limit
omniscience.

THEMES:

Commitment:

1.1 Commitment to his work

Mr. Gessler spends all his time in his shoe shop.

● At no stage does Galsworthy take Mr. Gessler from the shop →

highlight the commitment that Mr. Gessler has when it comes to
making boots.
● The imagery of dream and an owl who works throughout the night
● Traditional working style
● Their attributes as traditional, slow and quality - conscious artists
● Despite the loss of his brother, he continues to work. → Not
insensitive but the most important thing in Mr Gessler’s life is to
make boots that are comfortable and long lasting for people.
● Mr Gessler was so committed to his job that he even went as far as
forgetting to eat. “Never gave 'imself time to eat; never had a penny
in the house.”
● Mr. Gessler stood out in this world controlled by consumerism by
staying true to his art and through sheer dedication to his
craftsmanship.

The overarching theme of Quality is a commitment to his work and

quality.

● For the entire duration of the story Mr. Gessler spends all his time
in his shoe shop. At no stage does the author take Mr. Gessler from
the shop. This may be important as the author may be using the
setting of the story to highlight the commitment that Mr. Gessler

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 has when it comes to making boots. We can see this commitment
through some details from the story:

→ First, Dedication, commitment of the Gessler Brothers can be

seen through the imagery of a dream and an owl who works
throughout the night: Can you help me to read the evidence? “...as if
awakened from some dream of boots, or like an owl surprised in
daylight and annoyed at this interruption.”

→ Gessler Brothers’ traditional working style has been shown

through the ambience of their shop and their attitude towards their
work: This is the evidence → Going to Gessler Brothers, the
narrator seemed to him like going into a church. The atmosphere of
their shop was very peaceful and filled with the smell of leather
which painted his shop with the color of vintage and traditional
style.

→ The author has employed apt imagery to depict the appearance

of the Gessler Brothers and their attributes as traditional, slow and
quality - conscious artists. The author has compared Mr. Gessler
with leather to define both the artist and his art. Show the
evidence. He has a deep, guttural, monotonous voice with a strong
German accent. He has been characterized as a piece of leather,
implying that while he is firm like leather, he is also "slow of
purpose," or slowly carrying out his duties.

● ****It might also be important that Mr. Gessler, despite the loss of
his brother, continues to work. “He was a good man, he made a good
bood; but he is dead." And he touched the top of his head, where the
hair had suddenly gone as thin as it had been on that of his poor
brother, to indicate, I suppose, the cause of death. "He could nod ged
over losing de oder shop. Do you wand any boods?" And he held up the
leather in his hand: "Id's a beaudiful biece.”. After he tells about his
brother’s death and its reasons, he immediately continues to work
by asking the narrator whether or not he wants any new boots and
gives a compliment to a leather. Perhaps he is not insensitive but it

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 is as if the most important thing in Mr. Gessler’s life is to make
boots that are comfortable and long lasting for people. Mr. Gessler
does not appear to mourn the loss of his brother which may leave
some readers to suggest that not only is Mr. Gessler committed to
his work but he is also driven.

● His commitment to his work is also shown through the

acknowledgement of the young man. The young man considered
that Mr. Gessler was so committed to his job that he even went as
far as forgetting to eat. “Never gave 'imself time to eat; never had a
penny in the house.” Mr. Gessler’s all his energies to his work just as
an artist would. He also strives to make the best boots possible just
as an artist would attempt to make the best piece of art that they
could.

1.2 Commitment about the quality

● When the narrator tells Mr Gessler about the pair of boots that
creaked, he makes every effort to rectify the matter.
● “Quality is the most valuable”
● When the narrator tells Mr. Gessler about the pair of boots that
creaked, he makes every effort to rectify the matter. This would
suggest that not only is Mr. Gessler looking after his customers but
that he is honest too. “Quality is the most valuable” Mr. Gessler was
very disciplined, once he heard the request from his customer. He
would finish the boots as soon as he could, he would make the boots
with the authentic materials. It means that he wanted to give
priority to the quality of the boots he made.
● One of the massive pitfalls of mass production was a downgrade in
quality. Big companies produce products in bulk with no regard for
the unique requirements of each client. To compensate for this loss
of quality and win clients, they practiced aggressive marketing and
advertising to succeed in the capitalist game of consumerism. “Dose
big virm ‘ave no self-respect. Drash”, “Dey get id all, dey get id by
advertisement, nod by work.” Mr. Gessler stood out in this world
controlled by consumerism by staying true to his art and through

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 sheer dedication to his craftsmanship. He refused to let anybody
other than his brother make boots for his company. “You see he
went to work in such a way! Would keep the shop on; wouldn’t have a
soul touch his boots except himself. When he got an order, it took him
such a time. People don’t wait. He lost everybody”. And each boot
that left his store was unmatched in quality, for it was the product
of hard manual labor instead of blind mechanization. This
commitment to quality caused Mr. Gessler made huge losses, but he
bore them with dignity because producing high-quality boots was
the biggest priority of his life as an artist. He refused to stoop so
low as to partake in the mad advertising game, for he believed that a
product’s quality was the prime concern of any trade. “And there
he’d sit, goin’ on and on - I will say that for him - not a man in
London made a better boot! But look at the competition! He never
advertised!” In the end, we see that this commitment to quality
ultimately drains the life out of an old Mr. Gessler, who could not
make ends meet. However, he is the real hero in the reader’s heart,
for he stood true to his principles.

Competition: between small businesses and big firms.

Competition between small businesses and big firms

● The lives of traditional workers who had fought a losing war against
the industrial revolution in the 20th Century
● Human tragedy resulting from the cut - throat business
competition of today.
● The story highlights the decline of handicrafts and cottage industry
due to stiff competition from big firms in the backdrop of the
Industrial Revolution in England in the 20th century. The story
shows that the big trading companies increase their trade and push
the small traders back by advertisement, not by quality of work.
They (the big companies) bring out cheap showy things on a large
scale and succeed in driving the better and more durable products
out of the market. The author has presented in this story the
moving human tragedy resulting from the cut - throat business
competition of today. “... outside one of two little windows of his shop

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 another name was painted, also that of a bootmaker - making for the
Royal Family. The old familiar boots, no longer in dignified isolation,
were huddled in the single window. Inside, the now contracted well of
the one little shop was more scented and darker than ever” In the
story, Mr. Gessler not only maintains the quality of his boots but
also improves them to the best of his ability. He spends all that he
earns on buying the leather of best quality and makes artistic boots
but never increases their price. The competition is so tough that
there is no chance of increasing prices. The result is that he has to
starve himself to death.
● Central to the narrative is the juxtaposition of traditional
craftsmanship with the rise of industrialization. Gessler embodies
the falling art of artisanal craftsmanship, characterized by
meticulous attention to detail and pride in one's work. In contrast,
the emerging industrial era prioritizes efficiency and mass
production, often at the expense of quality. Galsworthy highlights
the tensions between tradition and progress, urging readers to
contemplate the value of preserving time-honored skills in the face
of technological advancement.

Integrity: The tragedy of the Gessler brother signifies that human values
are threatened by material gain.

The tragedy of the Gessler brother signifies that human values are
threatened by material gain.

● His integrity shines through in instances when:

→ He offered a full refund for worn boots that had creaked.

→ Mr. Gessler was dedicated to his craftsmanship till his very last days.

→ Despite facing adversity and financial hardship, he refuses to

compromise on the quality of his shoes, demonstrating the importance of
maintaining one’s principles and standard.

The other themes are dedication and integrity.

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 ● His integrity shines through in instances when he offered a full
refund for worn boots that had creaked. “Zome boods are bad from
birdt. If I can do noding wid dem, I dake dem off your bill.”
Although when hearing the narrator’s complaint about the poor
condition of boots, Mr Gessler has a little frustration and denies its
condition at first “Id should’d ‘ave greaked.” Then he tries to
remember about those boots and asks the narrator to send them
back to him to look at.
● Mr. Gessler was dedicated to his craftsmanship till his very last
days. He did nothing other than make boots, not even setting aside
time to eat and attend to himself. He was just sitting and making
boots whenever it was day or night. He did not let himself have any
time to eat or relax. He spends all of his earnings on the best leather
in order to create elegant and long-lasting boots at the same retail
cost. “...he was sittin’ over his boots day and night, to the very
last…Never gave ‘imself time to eat; never had a penny in the house.
All went in rent and leather.”
● Despite facing adversity and financial hardship, he refused to
compromise on the quality of his shoes, demonstrating the
importance of maintaining one’s principles and standard. Despite
the fact that his business is dwindling, he continued his struggle for
existence without giving in to the pressure of competition and
advertisements. He is forced by circumstances to give away a part
of his shop. “Two little windows of his shop, another name was
painted, also that of a bootmaker--making, of course, for the Royal
Family. Inside, the now contracted well of the one little shop was
more scented and darker than ever.” “But look at the competition. He
never advertised” His refusal to advertise his products in a world
thriving on marketing also bears testimony to his integrity, for Mr.
Gessler was a true artist and not a sell-out.

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGES:

Metaphor:

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 ● Definition: a figure of speech which makes a direct comparison of
two unlike things without using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’.
● Artistic effect: create vivid descriptions or imagery, helping readers
visualize things being described.
● Evidence:
● Those pairs could only have been made by one who saw before him the
Soul of Boot—so truly were they prototypes incarnating the very spirit
of all foot-gear.

⇒ Content effect: The author uses this metaphor to describe the essence
of a perfect boot, suggesting that Gessler did not just craft footwear, but
captured the ideal spirit of boots themselves. This metaphor creates a
sense of admiration for the craftsmanship and artists involved in creating
the boots, elevating them to a higher status beyond material objects.

● A guttural sound, and the tip-tap of bast slippers beating the narrow
wooden stairs, and he would stand before one without coat, a little
bent, in leather apron, with sleeves turned back, blinking—as if
awakened from some dream of boots, or like an owl surprised in
daylight and annoyed at this interruption.

⇒ Content effect: This metaphor portrays Gessler's constant

preoccupation with his craft. [We could see that] this comparison
emphasizes the character's passion and commitment to his profession,
highlighting the depth of his involvement and investment in the art of
boot-making.

Simile:

● Definition: a figure of speech that makes a direct comparison, using

the words ‘like’ or ‘as’.
● Artistic effect: create vivid descriptions or imagery, helping readers
visualize things being described.
● Evidence:
● One went in, not as into most shops, in the mood of: “Please serve me,
and let me go!” but restfully, as one enters a church; and, sitting on
the single wooden chair, waited—for there was never anybody there.

165
⇒ Content effect: So we could see that by comparing going to The
Gesslers’ shop as entering a church, the readers can feel a sense of
tranquility or purity in the shop. Furthermore, we can see a contrast
between the typical atmosphere of a normal shop and the unique
ambiance of this particular shop.

Hyperbole

● Definition: a figure of speech in which the truth is exaggerated or

overstated.
● Artistic effect: create emphasis, emotional, humorous effect.
● Evidence: ‘Besides, they were too beautiful—the pair of pumps, so
inexpressibly slim, the patent leathers with cloth tops, making water
come into one’s mouth, the tall brown riding boots with marvelous
sooty glow, as if, though new, they had been worn a hundred years.’

⇒ Content effect: This hyperbolic statement exaggerates the appearance

of the tall brown riding boots, suggesting that despite being new, they
have the worn and weathered look of boots that have been used for a long
time. This exaggeration emphasizes the durability and timeless quality of
the boots.

Personification

● Definition: a figure of speech in which objects and animals have

human qualities.
● Artistic effect: create vivid descriptions or imagery, helping readers
visualize things being described.
● Evidence: I cannot forget that day on which I had occasion to say to
him: “Mr. Gessler, that last pair of town walking boots creaked, you
know.” He looked at me for a time without replying, as if expecting me
to withdraw or qualify the statement, then said: “Id shouldn’d ’a’ve
greaked.” “It did, I’m afraid.”

⇒ Content effect: The verb ‘creak’ here means that something makes a
long low sound when it moves or is moved. The personification in this
passage serves to enrich the narrative, helping readers visualize the
interaction between the character and the boots.

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Parallelism

● Definition: a repetition of the same pattern of words or phrases

within a sentence or passage to highlight the importance of those
ideas.
● Artistic effect: create a satisfying rhythm in the language an author
uses, emphasizing the articulation (expressions).
● Evidence:
● ….“he was a good man, he made a good bood; but he is dead.”... “He
could nod ged over losing de oder shop.”

⇒ Content effect: The repetition of the phrase “he was a good man, he
made a good boot, but he is dead,...” illustrates the contrast between the
character's identity and skill and the reality of the marketing
industrialization. “He could nod ged over losing de oder shop” - This
sentence conveys a sense of loss, highlighting the character's struggles
and the impact of external factors on their livelihood.

● “Dey get id all,” “dey get id by adverdisement, nod by work. Dey dake it
away from us, who lofe our boods.

⇒ Content effect: This parallelism draws attention to the disparity

between those who achieve success through hard work and dedication
versus those who rely on advertising and marketing tactics.

[The use of parallelism in these passages not only creates a rhythm in the
language, but also emphasizes the key themes and contrasts in the story]

[By repeating similar patterns of words and phrases, the author

effectively highlights the importance of certain ideas and the overall
impact of the narrative.]

Climax:

● Definition: the arrangement of ideas in an increasing order of their

importance.
● Artistic effect: create a satisfying rhythm in the language an author
uses, emphasizing the articulation (expressions).
● Evidence:

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 ● “Slow starvation, the doctor called it! You see he went to work in such
a way! Would keep the shop on; wouldn’t have a soul touch his boots
except himself. When he got an order, it took him such a time.
● People won’t wait. He lost everybody. And there he’d sit, goin’ on and
on—I will say that for him—not a man in London made a better boot!
● But look at the competition! He never advertised! Would ’a’ve the best
leather, too, and do it all ‘imself.

⇒ Content effect: Starting with the mention of "slow starvation," the

author indicates a problem faced by the character. Continuing reading,
[the reader can feel] the ‘tension’ increasing (increases) with each
revelation about the character's actions. The insistence on doing
everything himself, from keeping the shop open to making the boots,
demonstrates his struggles and alienates potential customers. The
climatic moment occurs with the realization that despite the characters’
dedication and skill in making boots, he is unable to compete with others
in the market.

[From Parallelism & Climax, we could see how the rhythm in the language
can push the emotions of readers, helping readers to better understand
the emotions or the consciousness of the characters.]

Symbolism

● Definition: the use of one object to suggest another, hidden object

or idea.
● Artistic effect: act as a visual aid for readers to better understand
the complex ideas of concepts.
● Evidence:

The first image of symbolism is The Gesslers’ boots. [In particular, they are
obviously high-quality boots with the best leather.]

⇒ Content effect: This image represents the intrinsic value of human

nature (the supreme quality of character) and also the talent of the artists
who make them.

The second image of symbolism is The Gesslers’ shops.

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⇒ Content effect: It stands for small businesses in the Industrial
Revolution in England in the 20th century. They are enthusiastic business
owners, however, they face up to difficulties when competing with large
firms. [So we could understand that there were a lot of businesses that
would end up closing during that time].

The third image of symbolism is The Gessler brothers.

⇒ Content effect: They represent talented artists who always want to

devote themself to the sake of customers and society. However, they are
put in a tragedy in which people seem to care more about the “outlook”,
not the “quality”. By portraying their image, the author signifies the
reality of modern society: material gain may defeat intrinsic values.

The fourth image of symbolism is The Gesslers’ language.

“Id is an Ardt” - “I will ask my brudder”

⇒ Content effect: How the Gesslers - as foreigners, struggle to integrate

themselves into the local community and into the marketing
industrialization.

Onomatopoeia

● Definition: an imitation of natural sounds by words.

● Artistic effect: create mental pictures that appeal to readers,
making readers imagine how things sound.
● Evidence:
● “A guttural sound, and the tip-tap of bast slippers beating the narrow
wooden stairs, and he would stand before one without coat, a little
bent, in leather apron, with sleeves turned back, blinking—as if ….
● “And as I moved to the door, I would hear the tip-tap of his bast
slippers restoring him, up the stairs, to his dream of boots.”

⇒ Content effect: The auditory imagery transports the reader into the
scene, letting them to imagine the rhythmic sound of the slippers as the
character moves about his environment. [So not only can we see pictures
in our imagination through the descriptions, the author also creates some
sounds to make the story more exciting.] The onomatopoeic language

169
creates a sensory experience for the reader and also contributes to the
development of character and atmosphere.

Imagery

● Definition: the use of words to represent things, actions, and ideas

by sensory descriptions.
● Artistic effect: create mental pictures that appeal to readers,
making readers imagine how things look, feel, smell, sound and
taste.
● Evidence:
● Himself, he was a little as if made from leather, with his yellow crinkly
face, and crinkly reddish hair and beard, and neat folds slanting down
his checks to the corners of his mouth, and his guttural and one-toned
voice; for leather is a sardonic substance, and stiff and slow of
purpose.

⇒ Content effect: This imagery paints a vivid picture of the character's

appearance, comparing him to leather to demonstrate resilience,
durability, toughness. [Leather is often associated with strength and
resilience, implying that the character has gone through numerous
challenges and hardships in life.] This expression enriches the readers’
understanding of the appearance, and also the character of Mr Gessler.

● ….And looking at his lined face I saw things I had never noticed before,
bitter things and bitter struggle—and what a lot of gray hairs there
seemed suddenly in his red beard!

⇒ Content effect: The imagery of the character's lined face and gray hairs
conveys a sense of hardship and bitterness in his past. These details add
depth to the character, revealing hidden struggles and challenges. [This
imagery enhances the emotional impact of the story, readers will have a
feeling that they have a strong connection with characters].

Analysis

In Galsworthy's short story "Quality," Mr. Gessler, a traditional German

shoemaker, places a high value on the quality of the shoes he crafts.

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Gessler Brothers sets itself apart from the start by eschewing any
reference to the Royal! Family on their storefront. What greets visitors is
a straightforward yet impactful signboard bearing the words "Gessler
Brothers" in German—a symbolic embodiment of the authority derived
from their name and unparalleled craftsmanship, an authority wholly
original.

Described as a diminutive figure with "his yellow crinkly face and crinkly
reddish hair and beard, his guttural and one-toned voice," The phrase "his
yellow crinkly face" conveys not only the yellow hue of his skin but also
the presence of wrinkles and lines, creating an image of time and
experience. The description of "crinkly reddish hair and beard" adds
uniqueness and embellishment to Mr. Gessler's appearance, contributing
to a distinctive impression. This characterization is purposeful, conveying
that Mr. Gessler is "stiff and slow of purpose," akin to leather. Despite the
deliberate pace, he proves as reliable as the quality of the leather he
meticulously uses in crafting his shoes. The narrator further notes that
Mr. Gessler's perfectionist ideals are reflected in his gray-blue eyes,
possessing "the simple gravity of one secretly possessed by the ideal."
Having devoted his life to the tireless craft of boot-making since youth,
Mr. Gessler's mission revolves around creating.

First of all, in John Galsworthy's "Quality," the depiction of Mr. Gessler and
his attributes as an artist becomes a remarkable exploration. He is the
focal point of the story, and as we delve into his artistry, we discover
unique and profound characteristics that the author has crafted to shape
an unforgettable character. For Mr. Gessler, shoemaking transcended
mere employment; it embodied a sacred calling, an "art" where he
fervently considered himself an artist. When asked about the challenges
of his craft, a smile graced Gessler's face as he affirmed, "Id is an Ardt!"—it
is indeed an art. His unwavering dedication and perpetual eagerness to
learn underscored his perception of shoemaking as a continuous artistic
endeavor. Gessler's humility shone through when he declined to remake a
pair of shoes solely based on his uncompromising standards, declaring, "I
do not mend my own work. If the shoes are not good, they are not worthy
of mending." This statement underscored his prioritization of
craftsmanship over personal pride. Gessler's hands-on approach, from

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working on the leather with admiration—"What a beautiful piece!"—to
meticulously taking measurements and tenderly crafting each shoe,
vividly portrayed his profound passion for the craft.

Furthermore, Mr. Gessler exhibited an unwavering commitment to

precision and meticulous attention to detail. This dedication was evident
in his practice of crafting shoes exclusively on a made-to-order basis,
tailoring each pair to the unique needs of individual customers, and, in his
words, "feeling himself into the heart of one's requirements." Firmly
opposed to mass production, he prioritized the creation of footwear that
seamlessly blended comfort and durability. Mr. Gessler's emphasis on
quality over quantity extended to the point of delaying the delivery of
shoes if they fell short of his exacting standards. The Gessler brothers,
true to their ethos, considered quality paramount.

In this context, we gain a more nuanced understanding of the artistic

quality inherent in his professional endeavors. His profound expertise
allowed him to discern, with a mere glance, whether a pair of shoes bore
his craftsmanship or belonged to another. More remarkably, he possessed
intimate knowledge of his trade to the extent that, by examining a shoe,
he could anticipate potential areas of discomfort or injury for the wearer.
This level of craftsmanship, infused with Mr. Gessler's intuitive
understanding of both his creations and their impact on the wearer,
elevated his shoemaking from a mere skill to an art form.

Secondly, delving into the work "Quality" by the author, we continue to

explore an even more remarkable aspect of the character Gessler: an
artist with exceptional determination and ethics, manifested through his
humility and integrity. These qualities are not only personal attributes of
Gessler but also the key to unlocking a deeper world of art and values in
this literary work. He looked like he was made of leather, with his yellow,
crinkly face, crinkly reddish hair and beard, neat folds running down his
cheeks to the corners of his lips, and his guttural, one-toned voice.
Leather is a sardonic material, stiff and slow in action. Galsworthy has
imbued a person with the attributes of an inanimate material (leather) “a
little as if made from leather”. This literary method is known as
chremamorphism, and it describes a human being in terms of

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characteristics that are primarily associated with non-living things. Mr.
Gessler not only makes high-quality boots “ I will not make bad shoes”,
but he is also willing to listen to client complaints and make
improvements to his work if necessary. This demonstrates the artist's
humility. Mr. Gessler's humility helps him enhance his craft because art
necessitates it. If his consumers are dissatisfied with his work, he will
even cancel charges. When the narrator tells him about a creaking boot,
this is what she says: “Zome boods,” he said slowly, “are bad from birdt. If I
can do nodding with Dem, I will take dem off your bill”. This is the
integrity of a man deeply committed to his craft, placing the perfection of
his work above financial gains. It is precisely this integrity and self
respect which the big firms lack, whose work is driven by profit and not
passion. He said: “ Dose big virms ve no self-respect. Darash”. However,
despite the quality of his work, he inevitably loses out to the aggressive
advertisement pursued by the big firms. "Sometimes I think I do wrong to
make them good shoes... The bad shoes would have cost just as much to
make. That is the great trouble—the good shoes cost as much as the bad
ones to make. It is almost as much as if the better the shoes, the less they
wear,” he reflects, showing profound contemplation on fairness in
business. The line "Dey dake away from us, who lofe our boods" is the
most depressing. It's true that his livelihood has been stolen by large
corporations; "they get id by advertisement, nod by work." However, it
doesn't end there. The large corporations also mercilessly deprive him of
what gives his life purpose, even though creating boots has always been
his passion and his art his most prized possession. The large companies
threaten to kill him mentally and physically. Mr. Gessler, though,
perseveres. He doesn't sacrifice the caliber of his work in order to
support himself. The last pair of boots he made for the narrator was the
"best he ever made," which lets us know this even in the face of such
unfavorable circumstances. The narrator's commentary highlights the
Gessler brothers' superb craftsmanship and their eventual decline into
obscurity as a result of their inability to adjust to consumerist culture. It
is possible to see Mr. Gessler as an anti-establishment rebel who refuses
to give up to mass murder even after suffering significant losses. During a
time when businesses valued quantity over quality and promotion over
workmanship, Mr. Gessler persisted in creating custom shoes by hand

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that were painstakingly made to fit each client's feet precisely “ would
have the best leather, too, and do it all ‘imself”. His obsession with
perfection and quality brought him to the brink of extinction “slow
starvation”. Nevertheless, he upheld the ideal of quality above all else,
staying loyal to his workmanship and integrity until his very final days.

John Galsworthy conveys a crucial lesson to his readers by illustrating the

losing battle between consumption and quality. Mass manufacturing was
a direct attack on artisans like Mr. Gessler, who were professionals in
their field, following the industrial revolution. Even though he was among
the best bootmakers of his era, Mr. Gessler was compelled to live in
"poverty" he never gave “ ‘imself time to eat; never had a penny in the
house' ' because he preferred the boot's excellence to speak for itself and
did not want to promote it. Mr. Gessler's failure is a result of his lack of
dedication to excellence. His collapse is evidence of humanity's
deterioration since honest artists will starve in this world unless they can
sell their things more loudly than their rivals, a shallow marketing tactic
made possible by consumerism. And in the case of Mr. Gessler, the unholy
union of consumerism and advertising won, and his “craftsmanship” and
dedication to his trade failed. In addition, the work presents situations
and character psychology descriptions in a subtle manner, allowing
readers to empathize with and gain a deeper understanding of Mr.
Gessler's soul, from his dedication to the experiences of loss and sacrifice.

The importance of Mr. Gessler's giving up his life to preserve art Facing
setbacks and adversity head-on while pursuing greatness and quality
sends a compassionate message about endurance and fortitude. He has
dedicated his professional life to producing the highest caliber shoes for
his clients as a shoemaker. Mr. Gessler is not a lighthearted or amusing
guy; rather, he is a serious and solemn individual. He offers his clients
nothing but the best because he is a perfectionist. Human values are
fundamental to Mr. Gessler's authenticity and honesty in upholding
personal ethics and excellence. The huge companies also mercilessly rob
him of what gives his life purpose, even though he has dedicated his life
to manufacturing boots and considers his craft to be his greatest
possession. Furthermore, the Gessler Brothers lose important clients
despite their fame because they are unable to adapt to the shifting needs

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and fashions. They lose business progressively and steadily due to their
inflexible, fixed attitudes and work ethics, which worsens their condition
and causes them to starve. Because society cannot support individuals
such as him, the only outcome of such integrity is death. When it comes
to the influence of big business and advertising, the work is against the
imposition of capitalism and the erosion of human rights. The sadness is
compounded by the fact that his replacements' competitors concur that
he was the best boot maker in London. In a time when promoted
mediocrity had become the norm, he passed away both in spite of and
perhaps precisely because of his merit. His death was caused by the
caliber of his work and his unwavering quest for it.

III. Conclusion

In John Galsworthy's "Quality," the character of Mr. Gessler, an artisan

bootmaker, highlights the harsh realities of modern-day marketing and
mass production. Through dialogue and a few rhetorical devices, the
essay primarily analyzes the psychological growth of Glesser's character.
Galsworthy's story highlights the cruelty of capitalism, where those who
prioritize quality may face destitution. Through the story, Gessler's life
serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a commitment to
quality in a world driven by profit. The big companies' profit-driven
marketing campaigns have destroyed product quality and killed "quality"
artists like Mr. Gessler. The story's language is straightforward but
formal. The fact that Mr. Gessler speaks with a native accent is one of the
crucial elements. Since he immigrated from Germany, his mother tongue
has an influence on the English language that he has learned. Mr. Gessler
pronounces p, t, and k as b, d, and g. The story is narrated in the
first-person point of view. Galsworthy employs a refined language and
vivid descriptions to convey not only the shoemaking process but also the
emotions and thoughts of the characters. This enhances the artistic value
of the work.

To Build a Fire
1. On an extremely cold and gray morning without any trace of the sun in
the Yukon forest, an unnamed man was determined to reach the camp
before six o’clock that day. --> exposition

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“Day had broken cold and gray, exceedingly cold and gray, when the man aside
from the main Yukon trail and climbed the high earth bank,..., dip and immediately
from view.”

→ In Jack London's "To Build a Fire," there's a man, a protagonist, we don't know
his name, who travels in the freezing cold of the Yukon, trying to make it to
camp before it gets dark. The whole place is covered in ice and snow, and he's
following the dark trail. In the exposition of the story, London really paints a
picture of how harsh and isolated it is out there. You can practically feel the
bitter cold and the vast emptiness of the wilderness. It's like nature itself is
against him. And you just know that his deciding to go it alone in such brutal
conditions is setting up a showdown between his determination and the
unforgiving elements.

2. The man, despite being warned about the cold, still arrogantly decided to
head off. --> conflict

“But all this - the mysterious, far-reaching hair-line trail … That there should be
anything more to it than that was a thought that never entered his head.”

→ Even though the old-timer warned the man about how crazy cold it gets out
there, he just brushes it off and goes anyway. And that's where the big conflict
between man and nature kicks in. This man, he's described as kind of clueless,
like he doesn't really get how serious the situation is. He's not even fazed by the
stunning but dangerous surroundings. He's just like, "I got this," thinking he's
some kind of expert who can handle anything. But he's totally missing the point.
He doesn't realize how messed up it is out there, and that's his big downfall.

3. While he was walking, a big native husky followed him.

“The man took a chew of tobacco and proceeded to start a new amber beard … he
foundered out to the firm crust”

→ There's a dog, a native husky,

right? He's not just tagging along for fun; he's actually crucial for the man’s
survival. This dog is like a main character too, but in a simpler, more instinctive
way. He gets how tough it is out there in the cold, and he's always wishing for a
fire or some shelter. He's not exactly buddy-buddy with the man either. He's

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kinda wary and doesn't fully trust him. He's just sticking around out of fear and
the need to stay alive, not out of loyalty or anything. But here's the thing: this
dog is more than just a furry sidekick. He's a symbol of animal instincts,
connecting humans with the natural world. Even though he's still very much a
wild animal, he's gotten used to depending on humans for food and warmth. So,
he's like straddling both worlds, staying close to humans but still holding onto
his wild instincts.

4. Even though he was careful, he still fell into the freezing water covered
by soft snow and had to create a fire to warm himself --> rising

“Empty as the man’s mind was of thoughts …sometimes wetting himself to the
waist”

→ There's this intense moment in the story where the main guy falls through the
ice into this freezing stream, hidden under soft snow. It's like a major turning
point that ramps up the tension big time. Now he's facing hypothermia and
death head-on, realizing just how vulnerable he is out there. Plus, the snow
covering up the water makes it even trickier, showing how sneaky and
dangerous the environment can be, and how clueless the man is about it all.

̀5. He successfully built a fire, but snow from the spruce tree destroyed it all. -->
climax

“But before he could cut the strings, it happened. It was his own fault or rather, his
mistake … Where it had burned was a mantle of fresh and disordered snow.”

-> This man’s chilling under this spruce tree, right? He's got this fire going,
feeling all warm and cozy. But then, bam! The heat from the fire melts the snow
on the branches above him, and the clumps of snow come crashing down,
snuffing out his fire. Talk about bad luck! He's sitting there thinking, "Seriously?
My fire's gone just like that?" And to top it off, he's kicking himself for not
noticing those snow-covered branches earlier. I mean, who wouldn't see that
coming, right? So now he's feeling pretty dumb. His fingers are so numb from
the cold that he can hardly move them. He tries to get another fire started, pulls
out his matchbox, but his fingers are like blocks of ice. So, what does he do? He
ends up grabbing a match with his teeth, of all things! Desperate times call for
desperate measures, I guess. But even with the match in his teeth, he can't seem
to get it to light. So, he's there, struggling away, until he's like, "Screw it!" and
tries lighting all the matches at once. And what do you know? It actually works!

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He gets the fire going again. But just when you think he's got it figured out, he
goes and does something stupid—knocks over the matches and poof, the fire's
out again. Talk about frustrating!

→6. He struggled to make another fire and had the idea of killing the dog to
warm his hands, but failed because he was too weak. --> conflict himself

“He made a new foundation for a fire, this time on the open, where no treacherous
tree could blot it out.” “The sight of the dog put a wild into his head … this unusual
posture again excited suspicion, and the animal sidled mincingly away.” “As it
came within reaching distance … while it snarled and whined and struggled”

→ The guy's desperately trying to keep the fire going, but his hands are so
frozen that he ends up accidentally smothering it with moss. And while he's
struggling, he gets this crazy idea to kill the dog and use its body to warm his
hands. But when he calls the dog, there's this scared tone in his voice that freaks
the poor thing out, so it won't come close. He even tries to crawl after it, but he's
too weak to catch it. So, he just gives up on that plan. Then, he starts freaking
out, running around like a madman, trying to warm up his freezing body. It's like
he's facing this big internal battle, realizing how weak and vulnerable he really is.
And when he can't manage to start another fire, it's like he's hit rock bottom,
physically and mentally drained. The thought of killing the dog shows just how
desperate he's become, and the moral struggle he's facing in this fight to stay
alive.

7. . The man gave up hope on building a fire because it was impossible for him to
pick up the matches.

→ “Next he brought out his bunch of sulphur matches. But the tremendous cold
had already friven the life out of his fingers. In his effort to separate one match
from the others, the whole bunch fell in the snow. He tried to pick it out of the
snow, but failed. The dead fingers could neither touch nor clutch. He was very
careful. He drove the thought of his freezing feet, and nose, and cheeks, out of his
mind, devoting his whole soul to the matches. He watched, using the sense of vision
in place of that of touch, and when he saw his fingers on each side of the bunch, he
closed them— that is, he willed to close them, for the wires were down, and the
fingers did not obey.”

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 8. The man ran blindly and fearfully, until the second time he fell. -->
falling
“He ran blindly, without intention, in fear such as he had never known in his life.
Slowly, as he ploughed and floundered through the snow, he began to see things
again—the banks of the creek, the old timber-jams, the leafless aspens, and the sky.
The running made him feel better. He did not shiver. Maybe, if he ran on, his feet
would thaw out; and, anyway, if he ran far enough, he would reach camp and the
boys. Without doubt he would lose some fingers and toes and some of his face; but
the boys would take care of him, and save the rest of him when he got there”

→ He tried to run to the mining camp as fast as he could in hopes of restoring

the blood circulation in his body. The camp was not so far away from the man at
that time. All he wanted was to get to the camp and block out the thought that
he would die soon enough. Unfortunately, he felt that his feet began to get
frozen. He could not run anymore and decided to take a rest for quite some
time. Having had enough rest, he forced himself to walk. He soon fell down
again. Panicking, he run again for the last time. He fell down again miserably.

9. He sat up, remembered the advice of the old-timer, and realized that he
would not be able to make it to the camp.
“The old-timer had been very serious in laying down the law that no man must
travel alone in the Klondike after fifty below. Well, here he was; he had had the
accident; he was alone; and he had saved himself. Those old-timers were rather
womanish, some of them, he thought.”
10. He died with a sense of peace, and the dog continued going to the
camp. --> resolution

“Then the man drowsed off into what seemed … and five-providers”

→ So, the guy starts feeling all cozy and drifts off into what he thinks is the best
sleep ever. Meanwhile, the dog sticks around, waiting for him to wake up. But
the guy just lies there, not moving a muscle. Eventually, the dog senses
something's not right and bails, heading off to the camp to find some food and
warmth. As the man knew that he had no other way to succeed in getting to the
mining camp, he decided to meet death with dignity. He remembered that the
told-timer from sulfur creek reminded him about the danger of traveling alone
in Yukon when it was too cold. He could find himself being surrounded by his
friends from the mining camp. He genuinely admitted that the old timer was

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completely right and yet he did not seem to feel regretful for what he had done
so far. Having made this sincere admission, he died.
CONFLICTS:
Man vs nature:
Nature's massive impact on humans takes center stage as a major
external conflict in London's short story. The biting cold and endless snow
create a perilous grip on the man. It's so bone-chillingly cold that even his
spit freezes in mid-air! “He knew that at fifty below spittle crackled on the
snow, but this spittle had crackled in the air." Throughout the story, the
man demonstrates a sense of arrogance and underestimates the power of
nature. He disregards the old-timer’s advice and decides to venture into
the harsh, freezing Yukon wilderness alone. As a result, this nature
constantly throws obstacles at him. For example, although he is very
careful and lets the dog go first, the man break the ice and falls into the
icy water covered by soft snow. I really think nature wanted to trap the
man. When he falls, it becomes a defining moment where nature asserts
its dominance, highlighting the consequences of his hubris. On one hand,
the freezing temperature rapidly saps his body heat and he must contend
with the numbing cold and the weight of his soaked clothes. On the other
hand, he struggles to pull himself out of the water and finds a way to keep
his body warm. The conflict between nature and man remains unresolved,
ultimately leading to the man's downfall. As he is sitting to build a fire
under the spruce tree, but the weight of snow on the tree branches
becomes too much, causing it to shake and release its load of snow. The
falling snow extinguishes the man’s fire, leaving him a precarious and
life-threatening situation. The fire represents his attempt to assert his
dominance over natural elements and protect himself from the extreme
cold. However, the snowfall demonstrates the futility of his efforts. You
can see, those scenes serve as the stark reminder that nature is a
formidable adversary capable of extinguishing even the most carefully
constructed human defenses. It emphasizes the need for humility and
respect when facing the power and unpredictability of the natural world.
Man vs Nature:
- The nature: The biting cold and endless snow create a
perilous grip on the man. It's so bone-chillingly cold that
even his spit freezes in mid-air! “He knew that at fifty below
spittle crackled on the snow, but this spittle had crackled in
the air."

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 - The man: demonstrate a sense of arrogance and
underestimate the power of nature
=> The man falls through the ice -> how strong nature is and
how the man’s pride leads to trouble
=> Even when he tries to make a fire, the falling snow puts it
out -> nature is stronger than him
=> These scenes serve as a stark reminder of nature’s power
and unpredictability, emphasizing the need for humility and
respect when facing the natural world.

Man vs man:
Despite being warned about the dangers of traveling alone in the Yukon
when temperatures drop below fifty below zero, the man disregards the advice.
“The old-timer had been serious in laying down the law that no man must travel
alone in the Klondike after fifty below.” The conflict arises from the man’s
rejection of the old-timer’s advice. The old-timer warns the man about the
extreme cold and the dangers of traveling alone. He warns the man to never
travel without a partner when the temperature is 50 degrees below zero.
However, the man dismisses these warnings, believing that he knows better and
can handle the journey on his own. The conflict between the man and the
old-timer represents a clash of perspectives. The old-timer’s advice is rooted in
experience and understanding of the realities of survival in the Yukon. He
recognized the unforgiving nature of the environment and acknowledged the
need for caution and preparation. In contrast, the man's arrogance blinds him to
the old-timer’s wisdom, leading him to underestimate the challenges he will
face. As a result, the man encounters a series of obstacles and setbacks that test
his survival skills.

Man vs man:
- The old-timer: warn the man about the extreme cold and the
dangers of traveling alone; warn the man to never travel without a
partner when the temperature is 50 degrees below zero.
- The man: dismiss these warnings, believing that he knows better
and can handle the journey on his own.
=> The conflict between the man and the old-timer represents a
clash of perspectives. The old-timer knows about surviving in the
Yukon and warns the man to be careful. However, the man ignores
him because he thinks he knows better -> leads to problems for the
man, who faces challenges he did not expect.

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 Man vs himself:
From the beginning of the story, the man is portrayed as self-assured and
overconfident in his abilities. He believes that he can conquer the harsh
environment solely through his own intelligence and willpower. This internal
conflict is evident in his disregard for the old-timer’s advice
The man's self-reliance becomes a defining characteristic of his struggle.
He places his faith in his own abilities, underestimating the power and
unpredictability of nature. He disregards the signs of danger and fails to
recognize the significance of small mistakes or miscalculations. This internal
conflict between his self-assuredness and the reality of his situation contributes
to his downfall.
As the story progresses, the man's internal conflict intensifies. He faces
numerous challenges, including the extreme cold, difficult terrain, and his own
physical limitations. The internal struggle between his confidence and the
mounting evidence of his vulnerability creates a sense of tension and
anticipation.
One key moment that highlights the man's internal conflict is when he
falls through the ice into a frozen creek. This event serves as a turning point,
where the man's self-reliance and arrogance are directly challenged by his
physical limitations and the unforgiving nature of the environment. He becomes
aware of his fragility and the precariousness of his situation.
The man in the story is torn between his logical thoughts and his gut
feelings. He tries to make smart decisions based on reason, but his instincts tell
him when things are going wrong. This battle inside him shows how humans
sometimes think they're smarter than nature, but our basic instincts can still
warn us about danger.
Ultimately, the man's internal conflict reaches its climax when the falling
snow from the spruce tree extinguishes his fire. In this pivotal moment, his
reliance on his own abilities is shattered, and he confronts the stark reality of his
vulnerability. The conflict between his self-assuredness and the overwhelming
power of nature leads to his tragic demise.

Man vs himself:
- The man starts off as confident in his abilities and ignores the
old-timer’s advice
- He relies too much on himself, underestimating nature’s strength
- As the story progresses, he faces many challenges, which highlight
his vulnerability despite his confidence

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 - When he falls through the ice, it it turning point that shows how his
arrogance clashes with the harsh reality
- His struggle between logic and instinct reflects the broader theme
of humans versus nature
- Eventually, when his fire is put out by the falling snow, he realizes
his vulnerability, leading to his downfall

4. Character analysis (main & minor)

- The man - protagonist
+Background information
+Appearance
+Clothes and survival things
+Purpose to travel

How many characters are there in this story? There are 5 characters: the man,
the dog, the nature, the old-timer, and the boys. Now, we’ll analyze the man
first. In the short story “To Build a Fire” by Jack London, the protagonist is the
unnamed man who travels across the trail. Elements related to his outer
characterization are scattered throughout the story. First, let’s talk about where
he is from. Look at the evidence that I’ve provided on the screen
“…the thick German socks were like sheaths of iron halfway to the knees...” (page
6, paragraph 2, lines 2-3)
“When he got back to the States he could tell the folks what real cold was.” (page
9, last paragraph, line 1 from the bottom up)
The mention of the man returning to "the States" implies that he is from the
United States. Additionally, the reference to "thick German socks" suggests that
he may have some German heritage. These details give us some insight into the
man's background and possibly his cultural heritage. He might be an American
with German roots or someone who has traveled to Germany.
Furthermore, London also portrays the protagonist as “...a newcomer in the
land, a chechaquo, and this was his first winter.” (page 1, paragraph 3, lines 3-4)
He seems new, inexperienced, and unfamiliar with this region. Despite being
new to this particular area, he shows familiarity /fə,mili'æriti/ with enduring
harsh conditions, such as the prolonged absence of sunlight.
“He was used to the lack of sun. It had been days since he had seen the sun… dip
immediately from view.” (page 1, paragraph 1, lines 1-3 from the bottom up)

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This suggests that while he may lack experience specifically in this place, he has
encountered challenging environments before and has adapted to them.
“...he had been out before in two cold snaps. They had not been so cold as this,
he knew…” (page 2, last paragraph, last line)
The mention of him being accustomed to the lack of sunlight indicates his past
experiences in regions with similar climate conditions. Therefore, although he
is inexperienced in this specific location, he likely possesses the skills and
knowledge to deal with unpleasant environments. What’s more interesting is
the man is an unnamed character. By not giving the protagonist a name, London
creates a sense of universality /ˌjuː.nɪ.vɜːˈsæl.ə.ti/. The man represents everyone
who underestimates the power of nature and overestimates their own abilities.
This makes it easier for readers to relate to the story. Additionally, not having a
name makes us pay more attention to the dangerous wilderness where the
story takes place. London's choice to omit the protagonist's name allows the
setting to play a more prominent role in the story. The harsh conditions of the
Yukon territory become a character in their own right, shaping the actions and
fate of the protagonist. This emphasis /ˈem.fə.sɪs/ on setting contributes to the
story's vivid atmosphere and reinforces /ˌriː.ɪnˈfɔːs/ its themes of man versus
nature.

Next, we will discover how he looks through some pieces of evidence in Jack
London’s work. From the descriptions provided in the story, we can infer that
the man has a big, red beard and mustache. The descriptions mention it being
"frosted" and "solidly," which means it's probably quite bushy and thick and is
covered with ice due to the cold weather.
“The man's red beard and mustache were likewise frosted, but more solidly…”
(page 2, paragraph 3, line 2 from the bottom up)
His beard is described as "warm-whiskered" and takes on a crystal-like
appearance, resembling amber.
“He was a warm-whiskered man…” (page 2, last paragraph, lines 2-3)
The ice forms a muzzle around his mouth, making it difficult for him to speak
or clear his chin. Another detail we learn is that the man chews tobacco. But
because of the ice on his face, he can't easily get rid of the leftover juice. This
ends up adding to the growth of his "amber beard."
“Also, the man was chewing tobacco, and the muzzle of ice held his lips so rigidly
that he was unable to clear his chin when he expelled the juice. The result was that
a crystal beard of the color and solidity of amber was increasing its length on his
chin.” (page 2, last paragraph, lines 4-6)

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In addition, the icy build-up on his beard is also a foreshadowing of his demise
thereafter.
“If he fell down it would shatter itself, like glass, into brittle fragments.” (page 2,
paragraph 5, lines 2-3 from the bottom up)
Overall, we don't get details about his age, height, or other features, but these
quotes paint a picture of a rugged /ˈrʌɡ.ɪd man with a prominent red beard,
struggling with the harsh conditions.

Then, we’ll talk about his clothes and what he brings with him. Throughout the
story, we can see that he has mittens, ear-flaps, cozy moccasins, and thick
socks to shield himself from the cold.“...guarded against by the use of mittens,
ear-flaps, warm moccasins, and thick socks.” (page 2, paragraph 1, lines 3-4 from
the bottom up)
He also wears 2 layers of clothing, including a shirt and a jacket, to stay snug
/snʌɡ/.
“...under his jacket. It was also under his shirt…” (page 2, paragraph 2, line 4 from
the bottom up)
From these details, we can tell that the man doesn't wear a lot to keep warm.
His survival gear is pretty basic too: just a knife, some matches, and biscuits
wrapped in a handkerchief for lunch.
“...he drew his sheath-knife.” (page 6, paragraph 2, line 1 from the bottom up)
“...he was glad he was without a sled, travelling light. In fact, he carried nothing
but the lunch wrapped in the handkerchief.” (page 2, paragraph 3, lines 2-3)
Even though it's freezing and tough out there, he chooses to travel light,
without a sled or extra stuff. This could mean he's either really confident or
doesn't realize how risky it is.

Finally, we will take a look into the reason why he came to this land. The man's
journey to this region seems to be about business.
…while he had come the roundabout way to take a look at the possibilities of
getting out logs in the spring from the islands in the Yukon. He would be in to
camp by six o'clock… (page 2, paragraph 2, lines 6-8)
We can indicate that from the word “the possibilities of getting out logs” that
he's interested in finding logs in the area, possibly to trade or sell them. This
suggests he might be a trader looking for opportunities to make money from
the natural resources in the wilderness. However, as this short story is set in
the Klondike Gold Rush era, I think this man might also be a gold seeker who
comes to this area to find a life-changing opportunity.

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We’ve gone through the man’s outer characterization. Now, let’s move to his
inner one.
Inner characterization
+ Underestimate the power of nature
+ Determined - gold rush done
+ Logical, calm and careful
+ Overconfident/stubborn done
+ Lack of imagination done
+ Lack of sympathy done
+ Brave/heroism
The man’s inner characterization is rendered both directly, by the narrator, and
indirectly through the man’s actions and attitude.

The narrator first presents the man as someone who lacks imagination,
which means he does not care about grand existential /ˌeɡ.zɪˈsten.ʃəl/ questions,
and has a practical approach to everything: “The trouble with him was that he
was without imagination. He was quick and alert in the things of life, but only in
the things, and not in the significances.” (page 1, last paragraph, lines 3-4 from
the bottom up)
This suggests that the man's mindset is grounded in the tangible aspects of life
rather than abstract concepts. Therefore, to him:
“Fifty degrees below zero was to him just precisely fifty degrees below zero.”
(page 1, paragraph 3, lines 2-3 from the bottom up)
For many of us, 50 degrees below zero is alarmingly dangerous. Staying in this
environment can lead to frostbite within a minute if we don’t take proper
precautions. However, for him, a temperature of fifty degrees below zero is
simply that—extremely cold. This indicates that he lacks awareness or
understanding of the inherent risks associated with such extreme conditions.
He just focuses solely on the practical aspect of the temperature without
considering its implications for his safety or well-being.

Despite his lack of imaginations for the dangers of the wilderness, the man
demonstrates a strong sense of determination. He is focused on reaching his
destination at a specific time, showing his commitment to his goal.
“He was not much given to thinking, and just then particularly he had nothing
to think about save that he would eat lunch at the forks and that at six o'clock
he would be in camp with the boys.” (page 3, paragraph 3, lines 5-7) This
determination is evident in his brisk pace of four miles per hour, which is such a
high speed in these harsh conditions.

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“He was making four miles an hour, and he calculated that he would arrive at
the forks at half-past twelve.”
Additionally, the man's determination is visible in his single-mindedness. He
stays focused on reaching camp by six o'clock without getting distracted or
thinking deeply along the way. This shows how determined he is to accomplish
his goal, even when things get tough.

However, his determination also shows that he's overly confident and stubborn,
as he doesn't realize the dangers of the harsh wilderness. His choice of clothing
and survival gear indicates he might not understand how risky it is out there.
He doesn't wear enough to stay warm, and when his cheeks get frosted, he
doesn't seem to care. “But it didn't matter much, after all. What were frosted
cheeks? A bit painful, that was all; they were never serious.” (page 3, paragraph
4, lines 1-2 from the bottom up)
This reveals that he doesn't take the extreme weather seriously enough.
Secondly, his stubbornness is also revealed in his decision to travel alone and
ignore the dangers of the cold, although he has been advised not to.
“...The old-timer had been very serious in laying down the law that no man must
travel alone in the Klondike after fifty below.” (page 6, paragraph 1, lines 1-3)
“Well, here he was; he had had the accident; he was alone; and he had saved
himself. Those old-timers were rather womanish… All a man had to do was to
keep his head, and he was all right. Any man who was a man could travel alone.”
(page 6, paragraph 1, lines 3-6)
By stating “Well, here he was; he had had the accident; he was alone; and he had
saved himself.” he basically says "Look at me, I had an accident but I'm fine" This
shows his arrogance. He believes that he is better than those who have faced
the harsh realities of the Klondike before him. So he doesn’t follow any advice
but still can overcome every obstacle. What is more, by using the word
"womanish," the author suggests that the man sees the person giving advice as
weak or overly cautious, similar to how some people might stereotype women
as being more cautious or afraid. It reflects the man's belief that he's tougher
and braver than those who caution against traveling alone in such harsh
conditions. In fact, the man’s actions and attitude indicate that he thinks he is
above nature and that a rational, calm mind can overcome any obstacles: “All a
man had to do was to keep his head, and he was all right. Any man who was a
man could travel alone.”
From this evidence, we can infer a sense of arrogance in his mindset. Because of
this, the man in the story thinks he's superior to nature and believes that as
long as he stays calm and rational, he can win. In other words, he sees the

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dangerous and vast nature as something to conquer, not something to respect
and be careful of. I think because he has matches to make fire, which is a
powerful human-made weapon against the cold, he believes that he can win
nature. That is an explanation for his overconfidence and stubbornness. Thus,
he considers eighty-odd degrees of frost as a surprising discomfort and not a
matter of death and life.
“Fifty degrees below zero meant eighty-odd degrees of frost. Such fact
impressed him as being cold and uncomfortable, and that was all.” (page 1, last
paragraph, lines 1-3 from the bottom up)
We can see that his overconfidence blinds him to the real dangers, and his
stubbornness keeps him from turning back when he should. Even though he
starts to realize how cold it is, he still refuses to give up on his journey. This
ultimately leads to his downfall, showing that sometimes, it's better to listen to
the wisdom of others and respect the power of nature.

When the story progresses, the man unfortunately gets himself wet: “He wet
himself halfway to the knees before he floundered out to the firm crust.”
Do you think the man deserves this due to his carelessness or it is simply an
accident? Actually, he has a cautious and intelligent trait in his personality. So I
believe that it is just an accident and to understand it clearer, we’ll delve back
into his actions before he floundered.
“...he knew likewise their danger. They were traps. They hid pools of water
under the snow that might be three inches deep, or three feet.” (page 3,
paragraph 4, lines 3-5 from the bottom up)
We can see that the man knows there are hidden traps awaiting him on his
road. That is the reason why he takes the time to analyze the creek-bed to
determine the safest path.
“He stood and studied the creek-bed and its banks, and decided that the flow of
water came from the right… then skirted to the left, stepping gingerly and
testing the footing for each step.” (page 3, last paragraph, lines 4-6)
By observing the flow of water, choosing to skirt to the left, and “stepping
gingerly” - cautiously, he demonstrates some level of intelligence and
awareness of potential dangers. Based on these details, we can infer that he is a
careful and clever person to some extent. And that helps him successfully cross
so many traps without being wet.
“In the course of the next two hours he came upon several similar traps.” (page
3, last paragraph, lines 3-4 from the bottom up)
However, despite his efforts to be careful, nature can be unpredictable.

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“At a place where there were no signs, where the soft, unbroken snow seemed
to advertise solidity beneath, the man broke through.”
The word “no signs” illustrates that it is impossible to predict the circumstance.
Therefore, in one spot where it is seemingly safe and the snow appears solid, it
turns out to be a trap, and he ends up breaking through and falling into the cold
water.
When the man wet himself, he becomes angry and curses his luck.
“He was angry, and cursed his luck aloud.”
This suggests that his fall into the cold water is not solely caused by his
carelessness but seems more like an unfortunate twist of fate.

Nevertheless, as he begins to build the fire to warm up, he carelessly makes a

terrible mistake. He is meticulous and calm, but reckless at the same time
because he decides to make the fire under a tree filled with snow. His
carelessness has devastating consequences because snow from the branches
falls and puts out the fire:
“It was his own fault or, rather, his mistake. He should not have built the fire
under the spruce tree... But it had been easier to pull the twigs from the brush
and drop them directly on the fire.” (page 6, paragraph 3 lines 1-3)

This shocks the man and sends him a first wake-up call, making him realize how
close to dying from hypothermia he is.
“The man was shocked. It was as though he had just heard his own sentence of
death. For a moment he sat and stared at the spot where the fire had been. Then
he grew very calm.” (page 6, paragraph 4, lines 1-2)
Despite this setback, the man manages to calm himself down and gather the
strength to build another fire. He regrets not having someone else with him, but
he focuses on fixing the situation rather than dwelling on his regrets. He keeps
himself busy by working methodically /məˈθɒd.ɪ.kəl.i/ to gather branches and
rebuild the fire, so as to prevent himself from negative thoughts.
“Such were his thoughts, but he did not sit and think them. He was busy all the
time they were passing through his mind.” (page 6, paragraph 5, lines 1-2)
“He worked methodically, even collecting an armful of the larger branches to be
used later when the fire gathered strength.” (page 6, paragraph 5, lines 2-3 from
the bottom up)
However, gradually, his body – wet hands and feet that grow numb because of
the frost – betrays him. The man struggles to light the fire, but he ends up using
the whole set of matches and then scattering the little fire because he cannot
feel his limbs /lɪm/ and control them. He reaches a point of desperation, having

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no other matches and no physical strength to make another fire, so he accepts
his death.
“Well, he was bound to freeze anyway, and he might as well take it decently.... A
good idea, he thought, to sleep off to death. It was like taking an anesthetic.
Freezing was not as bad as people thought. There were lots worse ways to die.”
(page 9, paragraph 4, lines 1-4 from the bottom up)
Even though he knows he might freeze to death, the man stays surprisingly
calm. He accepts that death is coming and tries to make peace with it. He even
finds the idea of drifting off into death somewhat comforting, like falling asleep
under anesthesia. This shows his bravery in facing the scariest thing, death,
without fear. He understands freezing to death is inevitable and decides to face
it with dignity. This calm acceptance of his fate reveals his ability to stay
composed and courageous, even in tough times. It's clear he's not afraid of
what's coming, and he's ready to meet it head-on.

In relationship with his dog, we can also find out that the man lacks sympathy
for the animal: “On the other hand, there was no keen intimacy between the dog
and the man. The one was the toil-slave of the other, and the only caresses it
had ever received were the caresses of the whip-lash and of harsh and
menacing throat-sounds that threatened the whip-lash.” (pages 4-5, last
paragraph, lines 1-2 from the bottom up)
The term "toil-slave" suggests that the dog is seen as nothing more than a
worker or servant to the man. There's no sense of friendship or companionship
between them. Instead, the man treats the dog harshly, using threats and
whip-lash as the only form of interaction.
His treatment of the dog indicates that he views it as a necessary tool, valuable
only for its practical use in helping the man navigate the extreme wilderness.
He takes care of the dog when the animal falls into the water, but we get the
impression that it is only time because the man needs the dog to survive. This
becomes even more evident when the man faces a life-threatening situation. He
considers killing the dog to use its body for warmth, showing that he values his
own survival over the life of the animal.
“He remembered the tale of the man, caught in a blizzard, who killed a steer and
crawled inside the carcass, and so was saved. He would kill the dog and bury his
hands in the warm body until the numbness went out of them.” (page 8,
paragraph 2, lines 1-3)
This highlights the man's lack of empathy and a little selfishness, as he sees the
dog as nothing more than a means to an end. However, from another

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perspective, his strong desire to stay alive might explain why he's willing to do
something so cruel.
In a life-or-death situation like the one the man finds himself in, survival
instincts can override feelings of empathy or compassion. The sentence “He had
forgotten for the moment that they were frozen and that they were freezing
more and more. All this happened quickly..” (page 8, paragraph 3, lines 2-4 from
the bottom up) illustrates this well. The man forgets momentarily about the
pain and suffering of both himself and the dog, focusing instead on the
immediate need for warmth. He acts quickly, without fully considering the
consequences of his actions because his primary concern is his own survival.
While it may seem cruel to consider killing the dog, it's important to remember
that extreme circumstances can lead people to make desperate choices they
wouldn't otherwise make. This doesn't excuse the man's actions, but it helps us
understand why he might be willing to do something so evil in such a dire
situation.

Besides his outer and inner characterization, we can see from the beginning to
the end of his journey, that he seems to lose connections with himself, with
everything, and with everyone. He was disconnected from himself because he
was unable to imagine and didn't notice when parts of his body lost sensation
from the cold. He was disconnected from the dog because he didn't have a close
relationship with it. He was disconnected from nature because he didn't realize
how dangerous it could be. And he was disconnected from other people because
he was far from the boys, he didn't listen to the advice of the old-timer and
thought he could handle everything on his own.
However, before he dies “He pictured the boys finding his body next day. Suddenly
he found himself with them, coming along the trail and looking for himself. And,
still with them, he came around a turn in the trail and found himself lying in the
snow. He did not belong with himself any more, for even then he was out of
himself, standing with the boys and looking at himself in the snow.” (page 9, last
paragraph, lines 1-4)
The man imagines what it would be like for the boys to find his body the next
day. He even imagines himself with them, looking for his own body on the trail.
This is a big change from how he was at the start of the story.
Back then, he was arrogant and didn't understand the power of the wilderness.
So, he was disconnected from himself, from the dog, from nature, and even
from other people. But as he faces death, he realizes how small he is compared
to nature. He accepts that he can't control it, can’t conquer it, and can’t win it.
And in that acceptance, he reconnects with himself, with the dog, with nature,

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and with other people. That's why he can imagine the boys finding his body and
even dreaming of joining them in the search.
- The dog - main character
Besides the man, there is one other important character in the short story “To
Build a Fire” by Jack London, the dog. Although it is not human, the author
portrays it in contrast to the man and makes readers feel like the dog is also
thinking and has his own wisdom.

The dog functions as a symbolic character in the short story, as it is the

opposite of the man. It represents nature and the natural survival instinct. His
outer characterization presents him as “…a big native husky, the proper
wolfdog, gray-coated and without any visible or temperamental difference from
its brother, the wild wolf.” (page 2, paragraph 4, lines 1-2)
Through the adjective "native," the author is telling us that the dog belongs to
this place naturally. It's like it's meant to be there, unlike the man who is
described as a "newcomer," meaning someone new or unfamiliar to the area.
This highlights a big difference between them – while the man is trying his best
to adapt to the environment, the dog is right at home. This also suggests that
the dog has instincts and skills suited for surviving in the harsh environment,
just like its wild wolf relatives. So, in a way, the dog represents the wisdom of
nature and survival that the man lacks. Furthermore, it is a “native husky”,
therefore, it has one feature that is perfectly suited for the cold environment - a
natural coat. That is why the protagonist felt envious of it.
Another point that is also noteworthy is the author uses the noun “wolfdog” to
introduce the animal. Why did he put “wolf” before “dog” but not the opposite?
Maybe because he wants to unveil a hint that this dog is not a regular pet.
Instead, it's a mix of a wild wolf and a domesticated dog. By doing this, the
author suggests that this dog has some wild and tough characteristics, “similar
to its brother, the wild wolf.” It's not like the cuddly pets we might be used to
seeing in warm homes. Instead, this dog is tough and used to the cold, maybe it
is a sled dog that usually works in icy environments. This sets the tone for the
dog's role in the story as a strong and resilient creature, capable of surviving in
the harsh wilderness.

Inner characterization
A great instinct
The main trait of the animal’s inner characterization is his wisdom coming from
his instinct for survival. While the freezing weather to the human is “It certainly
was cold”, the dog is aware that such cold weather is not for traveling, and that

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the cold can be dangerous for living creatures: “The animal was depressed by
the tremendous cold. It knew that it was no time for travelling.” (page 2,
paragraph 4, lines 2-3) It possesses an acute awareness of the deadly
environment and the dangers posed by extreme cold. This instinctual
understanding guides its actions and decisions throughout the story. Unlike the
man, who relies heavily on his rationality and judgment, the dog trusts its
instincts implicitly because: “Its instinct told it a truer tale than was told to the
man by the man's judgment.” (page 2, paragraph 4, lines 3-4). This instinctual
wisdom serves as a stark contrast to the man's overconfidence and ignorance of
nature's power.

Like any animal, the dog is concerned with its own survival and well-being. It
can sense impending danger, such as the bitter cold of the Yukon, and
instinctively seeks out shelter and warmth to protect itself. It’s a terrible idea to
continue their journey in such deadly weather. This is why it feels the lunch fire
should not have been abandoned and why it seems to be constantly ‘thinking’
about taking shelter from the cold:
“It experienced a vague but menacing apprehension that subdued it and made it
slink along at the man's heels, and that made it question eagerly every
unwonted movement of the man as if expecting him to go into camp or to seek
shelter somewhere and build a fire.” (page 2, paragraph 4, lines 2-4 from the
bottom up)
And it is also the explanation for the dog’s disappointment when the man kept
going to the camp: “The dog was disappointed and yearned back toward the
fire.” (page 4, last paragraph, line 3)
This shows that the dog really gets the rule of survival. Its innate awareness
underscores its profound connection to the environment and its ability to
navigate the wilderness with a deep understanding that eludes the man. It
knows how to survive in the wild without overthinking. While the man attempts
to conquer and control nature, the dog embraces its inherent place within the
natural world and trusts its instincts to stay safe.

Furthermore, the dog seems to instinctively know more about nature than the
man, as it initially opposes walking on some ice the master tells him to, which
turns out to crack down: “The dog did not want to go. It hung back until the
man shoved it forward, and then it went quickly across the white, unbroken
surface.” (page 3, last paragraph, lines 1-2 from the bottom up)
Unlike the man, the dog is able to take care of itself after falling in the cold
water, licking and biting the ice off. It didn’t know why it had to do that, and it

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only followed the voice coming from its deep side. “It did not know this. It
merely obeyed the mysterious prompting that arose from the deep crypts of its
being.” (page 4, paragraph 1, lines 6-7)
But the man knew. If it didn’t take the ice particles out of his forefeet, that
would cause bleeding, soreness, and even death. He is more intelligent than the
dog. But he is unable to recognize the threats around him.
A strange relationship
The animal also seems aware that his master treats him badly and it is afraid of
him. His attitude toward the man is skittish and untrusting, he follows him out
of fear and the need for survival rather than loyalty.
“On the other hand, there was no keen intimacy between the dog and the man.
The one was the toil-slave of the other, and the only caresses it had ever
received were the caresses of the whip-lash and of harsh and menacing
throat-sounds that threatened the whip-lash.” (pages 4-5, last paragraph, lines
1-2 from the bottom up)
The quote highlights the dog's lack of "keen intimacy" with the man, which
means there's no real friendship between them. The dog isn't a loyal companion,
but a "toil-slave." The only "caresses" it receives are painful punishments like
whiplashes and threatening noises from the man. This creates a dynamic of fear
and mistrust. The dog understands fire provides crucial warmth for survival. It
yearns to return, but the man's harsh commands ("sound of whip-lashes") leave
it with no choice but to follow, prioritizing its own safety over any loyalty to the
man.
“So the dog made no effort to communicate its apprehension to the man. It was
not concerned in the welfare of the man; it was for its own sake that it yearned
back toward the fire. But the man whistled, and spoke to it with the sound of
whip-lashes, and the dog swung in at the man's heels and followed after.” (page
5, paragraph 1, lines 2-5)
The dog doesn't try to communicate to the man. This reinforces the one-sided
nature of their relationship. The man doesn't seem interested in the dog's
well-being, and the dog has learned not to expect understanding.

When the man falls into the water himself and fails to build a fire, later deciding
to kill the dog, the animal can tell something is wrong with his master from his
behavior.

“…in his voice was a strange note of fear that frightened the animal, who had
never known the man to speak in such way before. Something was the matter,

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and its suspicious nature sensed danger--it knew not what danger, but
somewhere, somehow, in its brain arose an apprehension of the man.”
The dog notices something different in the man's voice, a strange fear that it
hasn't heard before. This is unusual because the dog has "never known the man
to speak in such a way before." Even though it can't pinpoint the exact threat, it
senses danger "somewhere, somehow" based on the man's behavior. The dog
flattens its ears, which is a sign of anxiety and its movements become "restless"
and "hunching," further showing its unease. It also lifts and shifts its paws as if it
is unsure of what to do.
“It flattened its ears down at the sound of the man's voice, and its restless,
hunching movements and the liftings and shiftings of its forefeet became more
pronounced; but it would not come to the man.” (page 8, paragraph 2, lines 3-7
from the bottom up)
When the man becomes "peremptory" and uses a voice that sounds like
"whip-lashes," the dog falls back on its learned behavior of obedience.
“... when he spoke peremptorily, with the sound of whip-lashes in his voice, the
dog rendered its customary allegiance and came to him.” (page 8, paragraph 3,
lines 4-6)
The dog is not just afraid of punishment, but also capable of reading emotional
cues. It can sense the man's fear and recognize a shift in their usual dynamic.
Even though the dog wants to avoid danger, its fear of the man's harshness
ultimately forces it to comply.

When the man catches the dog near him, he tries to kill it but fails, so he lets it
go. After being freed, the dog keeps its distance from him. When the man dies,
the dog initially whines, maybe because it senses the man's death. This howl
could mean a few things, like expressing grief or loneliness, calling for help
(though there's no one else around), or signaling its own survival and departure.
But ultimately, the dog's instinct for survival wins out. It howls at its master's
death but then leaves to find food and shelter, prioritizing its own survival over
staying with the man.:
“Later, the dog whined loudly. And still later it crept close to the man and
caught the scent of death. This made the animal bristle and back away. A little
longer it delayed, howling under the stars that leaped and danced and shone
brightly in the cold sky. Then it turned and trotted up the trail in the direction
of the camp it knew, where were the other food-providers and fire-providers.”
(page 10, paragraph 2, lines 1-4 from the bottom up)

A bridge between humans and nature

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It's worth noting that the dog is also acts as a bridge between humans and the
natural world. This feature is visible in the word “wolfdog” that I have explained
before. It’s not simply a domesticated pet but it still keeps some wild
characteristics from its brother - the wild wolf. Throughout the story, we can
infer that the dog is still a part of the natural world as it retains its instincts and
understands how to survive the cold weather without human tools. However,
the dog also longs for the fire and stays close to the man.
“The dog had learned fire, and it wanted fire, or else to burrow under the snow
and cuddle its warmth away from the air.” (page 2, paragraph 4, lines 1-2 from
the bottom up)
The fact that the dog has learned about fire indicates a degree of domestication
or interaction with humans in the past. It implies that the dog has had some
exposure to human civilization and has picked up certain behaviors or skills as a
result. This contrasts with its wild instincts, highlighting the complex interplay
between its natural instincts and learned behaviors. Even though it has no
attachment to the man, in this way the dog remains both a part of the wild
landscape and the human one though it chooses to stay near the humans. It's
become accustomed to looking to them for food and warmth.

- The nature - main character/antagonist

In Jack London's "To Build a Fire," the biggest antagonist isn't a person or
animal, but the harsh environment of the Yukon wilderness itself. This means
the setting—like the freezing temperatures, snow-covered landscape, and
hidden dangers—poses the biggest threat to the main character's survival. Let's
break it down.

What is nature in this short story? It is the snow, the river, the coldness, the
sun, etc. The dog is also a part of nature. First, throughout the story, the most
notable thing about the Yukon wilderness is how incredibly dangerous and
harsh everything is. Nature is described as “cold and gray, exceedingly cold and
gray”, which means the environment is not just cold, but tremendous cold, it is
also freezing and gloomy.“Day had broken cold and gray, exceedingly cold and
gray…” (page 1, paragraph 1, line 1)
It’s so cold that it coats everything in a layer of darkness, emphasizing the
severity of the conditions. “It was a clear day, and yet there seemed an
intangible pall over the face of things, a subtle gloom that made the day dark,
and that was due to the absence of sun.” (page 1, paragraph 1, lines 3-5 from the
bottom up) The landscape is also covered in thick layers of snow, which makes it
difficult to navigate and adds to the overall sense of isolation and vulnerability.

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“The Yukon lay a mile wide and hidden under three feet of ice. On top of this ice
were as many feet of snow. It was all pure white, rolling in gentle undulations
where the ice-jams of the freeze-up had formed. North and south, as far as his
eye could see, it was unbroken white…” (page 1, paragraph 2, lines 1-4)
The coldness of the Yukon also impacts the protagonist's ability to stay warm
and survive. Even at midday, when the sun should be at its brightest, it still fails
to provide adequate warmth or light due to its far position in the sky. “At twelve
o'clock the day was at its brightest. Yet the sun was too far south on its winter
journey to clear the horizon.” It is quite unusual because at that time, normally,
the temperature is supposed to be less cold and the sun should be in the most
visible position. Maybe London portrays this lack of sunlight to create a
desolate and oppressive atmosphere, further adding to the harshness of the
environment faced by the protagonist.

Second, the extremities of nature also brutally affect both the man and the dog.
The dog is depicted as being depressed by the intense cold, “The animal was
depressed by the tremendous cold.” (page 2, paragraph 4, lines 2-3) and the man
experiences the loss of feeling in his toes, fingers, and some parts of his face.
“His wet feet froze the faster, and his exposed fingers numbed the faster,
though they had not yet begun to freeze. Nose and cheeks were already
freezing, while the skin of all his body chilled as it lost its blood.” (page 5,
paragraph 5, lines 1-3 from the bottom up)
The unfriendly weather conditions make it increasingly difficult for them to
maintain their body temperature and carry out essential tasks, such as building
a fire for warmth. It's so cold that even a short moment without gloves can
provide an opportunity for the chill to creep into your fingers. “The action
consumed no more than a quarter of a minute, yet in that brief moment the
numbness laid hold of the exposed fingers.” (page 4, paragraph 2, lines 6-8) This
brutal cold makes it nearly impossible to stay warm.
Furthermore, the Yukon's harshness is also presented through the fact that
there is no one coming to this area for a long period. “A foot of snow had fallen
since the last sled had passed over.” (page 2, paragraph 3, lines 1-2)
The absence of human presence is emphasized by the fact that no one has
traveled along the trail for weeks, if not months. This isolation underscores the
harshness of the environment and the dangers it poses to anyone foolish
enough to venture into its depths. The silence and emptiness of the place add
another layer of danger. There's no one to help if something goes wrong. Plus,
hidden dangers are lurking around, like the concealed river under the snow and

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other traps that could trip up the main character. It's like there's always
something unexpected waiting to catch them off guard.

From these details, we can also indicate that nature in this region is unsuitable
for living creatures.

Then, another thing that we can infer from nature is its unpredictability. This is
evident in the traps bubbling with water beneath them. “They were traps. They
hid pools of water under the snow that might be three inches deep, or three
feet. Sometimes a skin of ice half an inch thick covered them, and in turn was
covered by the snow.” (page 3, paragraph 5, lines 2-4 from the bottom up)
Sometimes, there might even be a thin layer of ice hiding the water, making it
even harder to spot the danger. It's like nature is playing a guessing game – will
you step on solid ground or plunge into a freezing pool of water?
Moreover, in the phrase “a skin of ice”, the author has used the word “skin” for
the ice to show how thin and fragile it can be. It's almost like the ice is alive and
has a thin layer of "skin" on it. This makes the danger even more unexpected
because the ice seems almost invisible under the snow. Even when things seem
fine, like when the man carefully avoids falling into the icy water, he suddenly
wet himself in one spot that looks completely safe. At one moment, the fire
might be burning, shining and bright, but the next, snow could come crashing
down from the trees, destroying the young flame in the blink of an eye.
There's no guarantee of safety in this environment. So, it's hard to know what to
expect next, and that makes the situation even scarier.
Nature is not only unpredictable but it is also indifferent. No matter how
desperately he fights to build a fire to stay warm and survive, the harsh
wilderness just keeps on doing its thing, unfazed by his struggle. The story
paints a vivid picture of this indifference with the scene of the falling snow.
“High up in the tree one bough capsized its load of snow. This fell on the boughs
beneath, capsizing them. This process continued, spreading out and involving
the whole tree. It grew like an avalanche, and it descended without warning
upon the man and the fire, and the fire was blotted out!” (page 6, paragraph 3,
lines 1-4 from the bottom up)
The man has just built a fire, but for a brief moment, the snow from the
branches tumbles down, knocking his only flicker of hope. By using the word
"avalanche," London has depicted a powerful image that emphasizes the sudden
and unstoppable nature of the event. The snow crashing down "without
warning," shows that nature doesn't care about the importance of the fire to
human survival – it just simply follows its own course. There's no mercy from

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the harsh reality of the Yukon. The man is just an unwelcome visitor in a place
that has existed for millennia and that place doesn’t even concern about either
his presence or his fate.
The way nature acts in "To Build a Fire" doesn't just make survival difficult, it
also shows how tiny and powerless humans can be compared to the raw power
of the wild. Do you remember the scene with the falling snow that I have just
mentioned? It is even more apparent how powerful nature is when contrasted
against the man in the wilderness. The fire the man builds is fragile and needs
constant care. “This served for a foundation and prevented the young flame
from drowning itself in the snow it otherwise would melt... Placing it on the
foundation, he fed the young flame with wisps of dry grass and with the tiniest
dry twigs.” (page 5, paragraph 3, lines 1-4 from the bottom up)
We can see that clearer in the adjective “young” of the word “young flame”. By
calling it "young," the author gives it human-like qualities of youth and
innocence. This choice of language highlights the vulnerability of the fire. It also
suggests that the flame is still small and struggling to grow, much like the man's
hopes for survival in the face of overwhelming adversities. The Yukon
wilderness, on the other hand, has existed for thousands of years and doesn't
even seem to notice the man is there. He's like a single grain of sand on a giant
beach – small and easily forgotten. By showing nature as indifferent and the
man's fight for survival as almost pointless, the story emphasizes how powerful
the wild world is and how insignificant humans can be in the face of it.

Thus, although he is constantly battling the cold and trying to avoid the hidden
dangers around him, nature is still the winner. “He was losing in his battle with
the frost.” (page 9, paragraph 4, line 4) So, in "To Build a Fire," nature isn't just a
backdrop—it's the main antagonist, making life incredibly difficult for anyone
trying to survive in its harsh embrace.

- The old man from Sulphur Creek - minor/major character

The old man from Sulphur Creek is a significant character in the story, serving
as a symbol and a guide for the protagonist. Despite not physically appearing in
the narrative, his presence looms large in the protagonist's thoughts,
representing wisdom, experience, and a connection to the natural world.

Firstly, the old man acts as a mental companion for the protagonist, providing
advice and guidance even though he is not physically present. The protagonist
frequently recalls the old man's warnings and advice throughout his journey,
indicating the influence the old man has on his thoughts and actions. The man

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first scoffs at this advice when he is still able to make a fire and protect himself
from the cold. Later on, he admits the accuracy of the old man’s advice as his
circumstances becomes worse and he acknowledges his own death. “That man
from Sulphur Creek had spoken the truth when telling how cold it sometimes
got in the country. And he had laughed at him at the time! That showed one
must not be too sure of things. There was no mistake about it, it was cold.” (page
4, paragraph 3, lines 2-5)

Additionally, the old man represents the humans’ respect and understandings of
nature and the wisdom gained from living closely with it. The man is a
newcomer to this land, but the old-timer, he knows thoroughly about it. He
experienced the previous fall and harshness of nature for his whole life and we
can see that through: “The old-timer on Sulphur Creek had told him about it the
previous fall, and now he was appreciating the advice.” (page 5, paragraph 5,
lines 1-2)
“That man from Sulphur Creek had spoken the truth when telling how cold it
sometimes got in the country.” (page 4, paragraph 3, lines 2-3) Unlike the
protagonist, who initially relies solely on his rationality and human-made
resources, the old man understands the dangers of nature and the importance
of respecting its power. He also seems to understand the natural world in more
instinctual ways, as the dog does, and he does not believe mankind can rely on
his resources for survival. This contrast highlights the protagonist's
overconfidence and the old man's humility and understanding of the natural
world.

Furthermore, the old man embodies common sense and practical wisdom. His
advice, such as not traveling alone in extreme cold, proves to be crucial for
survival. “He remembered the advice of the old-timer on Sulphur Creek, and
smiled. The old-timer had been very serious in laying down the law that no man
must travel alone in the Klondike after fifty below.” (page 6, paragraph 1, lines
1-3) While the protagonist initially doubts the old man's wisdom, he eventually
comes to realize the truth in his words as his circumstances become dire.
“Perhaps the old-timer on Sulphur Creek was right. If he had only had a
trail-mate he would have been in no danger now. The trail-mate could have
built the fire.” (page 6, paragraph 4, lines 2-4)

Finally, in my opinion, the old man also serves as the man’s human side.
Throughout the story, no matter the hardship, no matter the biting cold that
numbs his hands and feet, the man's thoughts always return to the old-timer

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and his words of wisdom. However, when the man decides to kill the dog—an
innocent creature—for warmth and survival, he loses control and at that time all
thoughts of the old-timer vanish.“He remembered the tale of the man, caught in
a blizzard, who killed a steer and crawled inside the carcass, and so was saved.
He would kill the dog and bury his hands in the warm body until the numbness
went out of them.” (page 8, paragraph 2, lines 1-3) He didn’t think of the old man
but of another story that one man survived by killing a steer and crawling inside
the carcass. It is at this moment that the animalistic side of the man overtakes
his humanity.

Overall, the old man from Sulphur Creek serves as a multifaceted character,
representing wisdom, experience, common sense, and humanity's connection
to nature. Through his guidance, the protagonist learns important lessons about
survival and humility, ultimately realizing the value of the old man's advice.

- The boys - minor/major character

In Jack London's story "To Build a Fire," the idea of "the boys" seems simple, but
it conveys a lot of meaning. Even though they never show up in person, they're
an important part of the story. Let's look at what they represent:

At first, the boys represent the man’s destination, safety, and comfort. They're
like a warm hug in the freezing cold of the Yukon wilderness. The main
character looks forward to being with them and just thinking about them keeps
the man going: “He would be into camp by six o'clock; a bit after dark, it was
true, but the boys would be there, a fire would be going, and a hot supper would
be ready.” (page 2, paragraph 2, lines 5-6 from the bottom up) The boys are like a
symbol of returning to a normal life, away from the scary isolation of the
wilderness, where you're not alone and freezing in the extreme weather. They
mean a hot meal by a crackling fire, and most importantly, having some buddies
around. They mean feeling safe and cared for. That is the reason why the man
was motivated to walk quickly: 4 miles per hour.

Moreover, the boys represent a sign of civilization - a world of people, where

things make sense and humans have some control over what happens. This is
very different from the wild, unpredictable nature of the Yukon wilderness. The
man is separated from the boys because he is alone in nature which presents
danger, isolation, and indifference. Reaching the boys would mean going back to
a place where things are more familiar and less scary. The man is battling the

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harshness of the environment, and reaching the boys means getting back to a
place where humans have some power and a higher chance of winning.

As things get tougher for the main character like the biting cold intensifies, and
his efforts to build a fire fail, the boys become a symbol of hope. But this hope
soon takes on a more desperate tone. They turn from a comforting destination
to a symbol of potential salvation. “Maybe, if he ran on, his feet would thaw out;
and, anyway, if he ran far enough, he would reach camp and the boys. Without
doubt he would lose some fingers and toes and some of his face; but the boys
would take care of him, and save the rest of him when he got there.” (page 9,
paragraph 1, lines 4-6) The man sees them as his way out of trouble, his chance
to survive. The thought of reaching them keeps him going, even when things
seem hopeless. They become a lifeline for him, a desperate grasp of hope as the
man realizes the severity of his situation. They represent not just comfort, but
survival itself. Here, the boys become a tangible goal, something to hold onto
when everything else feels out of control.

However, the problem is that the boys are never really there. The more trouble
the man is in, the clearer it becomes that they're far away, and he might not
make it to them. “And at the same time there was another thought in his mind
that said he would never get to the camp and the boys” (page 9, paragraph 1,
lines 4-5 from the bottom up) The main character's thoughts of being with them
can sometimes feel more like a daydream than something real, especially when
things get really bad. They're always just out of reach, like a dream that's
impossible to catch. They become a kind of hope that's slipping away as he gets
closer to death.“He pictured the boys finding his body next day. Suddenly he
found himself with them, coming along the trail and looking for himself. And,
still with them, he came around a turn in the trail and found himself lying in the
snow. He did not belong with himself any more, for even then he was out of
himself, standing with the boys and looking at himself in the snow.” (page 9, last
paragraph, lines 1-4) Here, the man starts to mix up reality with his wish to be
with the boys. The man's thoughts before his death reflect his deep longing for
social connection, particularly with his boys. As humans, we have an innate
need for companionship and support from others. The man imagines his boys
finding his body and then imagines himself being with them, almost as if he's
outside of his own body, watching the scene unfold. What’s interesting here is
the phrase “with them” was repeated twice and it also had a similar phrase like
“standing with the boys” within 4 sentences. This shows an emphasis on a
human basic need - a sense of belonging. We are social creatures who crave

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connection and rely on others for survival. This longing for connection with
loved ones is something all humans feel in their final moments, and it is the
same with the man in the story.

Lastly, because the story is set during the Yukon Gold Rush era, the boys could
also represent the elusive gold the prospectors seek. They become a physical
manifestation of the man's desire for wealth and the prosperous life it promises.
They represent the reason the main character is out in the cold wilderness –
the hope of finding gold. But just like the boys themselves, that dream is
impossible to reach and becomes the desperation that drives him forward.

In "To Build a Fire," the boys are more than just characters; they're symbols of
comfort, hope, and the struggle against nature. They represent the nice parts of
being around people, the dream of finding wealth, and the tough reality of the
wilderness. However, the allure of the boys ultimately proves to be the man's
undoing. His focus on reaching them becomes an obsession, blinding him to the
true dangers of the environment.

5. Themes

Instinctual Knowledge (the dog) vs. Scientific Knowledge (the man)

Jack London’s unique literary movement takes on Naturalism, which often
engages with the theme of “man vs nature”, focusing on the realism of human
experiences. Two types of knowledge discussed throughout the short story
represent a large distinction between nature and humans: instinctual
knowledge - which is associated with the dog - and scientific - which is
associated with the man. The dog cannot understand or reason, but his
instincts direct his survival:
- “The animal was depressed by the tremendous cold. It knew that it was
no time for travelling. Its instinct told it a truer tale than was told to the
man by the man's judgment”
The man, on the other hand, relies on information gained on logic and tools,
such as matches or knives. Throughout the story, there are 8 times the term “he
knew” appears (chỗ này chiếu slide 1 vài câu):
- He knew that at fifty below spittle crackled on the snow, …
- He was sure to frost his cheeks; he knew that … A bit painful, that was
all; they were never serious.
- He knew that the coldest snaps never froze these springs, and he knew
likewise their danger.

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This knowledge gives him confidence in his ability to protect himself from the
natural elements, as he can build a fire. Because of this confidence, he ignores
the dog’s instinctual knowledge that the weather is too cold to safely travel. In
this way, the man is presented as separate from nature because he understands
the world scientifically rather than instinctually. Ultimately, the conclusion of
the story shows a triumph of instinctual knowledge and trust in one’s nature
over confidence in logic and reason, as do other Naturalist texts.

Chance and Human Error

The man’s initial mistake of traveling alone in extreme weather does not ensure
his fate of freezing to death, but it involves chance and human error. The man is
careful and prepared for the streams of water under the snow. Yet, he still
stumbles into an unexpected stream that was essentially invisible. This shows
that even an observant person may fall prey to chance. When the snow
extinguishes the man’s fire, it is both human error and chance: the man could
have been more cautious, but the snow might not have accumulated in that
area, and might not have fallen in such a way as to put out the fire entirely. The
interaction of chance and human error creates the chain of events leading to
the man’s death. This theme demonstrates that London’s Naturalism does not
prescribe “fault” to either nature or humans, only acknowledging the error in
underestimating the power of chance to provide unaccounted for
circumstances.

Fight for Survival vs. Acceptance of Death

As the man’s situation gets worse, his emotional state fluctuates between
determination and acceptance:
- When the snow falls on his fire, the man’s initial shock reflects his certainty
of his death. But as a living being, he instinctively wants to live, so he stays calm
and repeatedly lights the matches to build another fire.

+ The man was shocked. It was as though he had just heard his own
sentence of death… Then he grew very calm … it was up to him to build
the fire over again, and this second time there must be no failure.

- When the matches fail, his thoughts quickly turn to the price he’d pay for
survival: killing the dog to warm his hands. This thinking reflects a man in a
desperate situation, forced to think quickly and willing to kill for his own
survival.
+ The sight of the dog put a wild idea into his head … He would kill the dog and
bury his hands in the warm body until the numbness went out of them.

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- After he is unable to kill the dog, a “certain fear of death” comes over him. This
fear causes him to panic and run, an act of desperation. His repeated running
and falling shows the back-and-forth between his fight and his acceptance. His
final fall triggers his acceptance of death and he sits in the snow, waiting.
+ A certain fear of death, dull and oppressive, came to him… This threw
him into a panic, and he turned and ran up the creek-bed along the old,
dim trail.
+ It was his last panic … he sat up and entertained in his mind the
conception of meeting death with dignity.

The shifts between the man’s perspective on his life and death, his need to
struggle and his stages of acceptance, reflect the larger aspects of Realism in
London’s work. The story traces the internal response of any human to a
life-and-death situation, engaging with universal ideas of how humans react
with fear and acceptance.

Indifferent Nature
The main character inhabits an unforgiving and indifferent natural landscape
that does not care if he lives or dies: The setting of the Yukon is harsh and
unforgiving where one mistake can lead to death:
+ Day had broken cold and gray … main Yukon trail … was a steep bank …
There was no sun nor hint of sun
+ In reality, it was not merely colder than fifty below zero; it was colder
than sixty below, than seventy below.
+ … there were springs that bubbled out from the hillsides and ran along
under the snow and on top the ice of the creek … he knew likewise their
danger. They were traps. They hid pools of water under the snow that
might be three inches deep, or three feet.

This literary depiction of nature reflects Naturalism’s understanding of a harsh,

yet realistic natural world.

The theme of nature’s indifference is reflected not just in the setting and the
events that befall the main character, but also in the voice of the narrator. The
omniscient narrator does not give the man a name. This frames him as
insignificant in the grand scheme of things. The narrator also describes the
intense cold dispassionately, making note of things the man clearly doesn’t
know (the exact temperature, for instance).

When the man dies, the event is described in the same removed style, and the
perspective then switches to describe what the dog feels and does. The dog,

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representative of nature, also reflects indifference toward the man. To the dog,
the man is a source of food and protection only, not a companion. After the man
dies, the dog cannot feel any emotion about the death, and quickly seeks out
other humans who will provide the food and shelter it needs. In changing
perspective, the author is draining the man’s experience of significance. It is
almost as though he never existed in the first place, and life goes on
indifferently without him.

Youth’s Ego vs. Wisdom’s Experience (này t vừa kết hợp cái sự ngu của ổng dới
tôn trọng người lớn luôn á)
A clear contrast is set up between the old-timer’s advice and the actions taken
by the man. Due to the man’s arrogance and shortsightedness, he does not
follow any of the old-timer’s advice well enough. Though the man is intelligent,
he is not adapted, physically or in terms of experience, to survival in the
inhospitable environment, unlike the old-timer.
+ That man from Sulphur Creek had spoken the truth when telling how
cold it sometimes got in the country, and he had laughed at him at the
time!
In fact, he didn’t know anything about the harshness of the Yukon, as evidenced
that he didn’t know how cold it was. He let his pride take over him, and this led
to his demise.
+ This man did not know cold. Possibly all the generations of his ancestry
had been ignorant of cold, of real cold, of cold one hundred and seven
degrees below freezing-point.
Within a few paragraphs later the man wishes he would have listened to the old
man's advice which was not to travel alone when it gets to 50 degrees below or
lower.
+ He remembered the advice of the old-timer on Sulphur Creek, and
smiled. The old-timer had been very serious in laying down the law that
no man must travel alone in the Klondike after fifty below

6. Point of view - Third person omniscient

The story uses an omniscient narrator who understands “the man” and his
inner world but maintains a judgmental distance. The narrator has a much
better understanding of the Yukon and its dangers than the man does. The man
accepts the cold unthinkingly, causing the narrator to criticize the limits of the
man’s imagination. While concern over the extreme temperature “never
entered the man’s head,” the narrator knows the cold is dangerous and even
knows that it is 75 degrees below zero, not 50 below as the man thinks, drawing
a distinction between what the man believes and what the narrator explains is

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the situation’s reality. The narrator keeps a distance from the man that makes
him less of an individual and more of an “everyman” character caught in a
predicament. However, the narrator clearly blames the man for putting himself
in this situation; the narrator describes the man’s errors as well as their
consequences with indifference. In contrast, the narrator describes the dog’s
feelings more deeply and with less judgment. The narrator seems to have more
sympathy for the dog, a creature in the service of a cruel human, forced to
travel when it is too cold. In the end, the narrator leaves both the man and dog
to their fate: the man to his death, and the dog to a chance of finding food and
survival with other humans.
7. Setting
Hello everyone. I’m Nguyen Ha Truc, now I would like to charge the next two
parts: Setting and Figurative Language. Now, let’s begin with my analyzing
Setting.

a. Place

The setting of To Build a Fire is in the extreme cold in Yukon territory, almost
nobody lives there. This big cold wilderness is a big clue about what would
happen. We get details like the man’s beard getting frozen and how the cold
made his face so stiff he couldn’t even spit. It’s so cold it’s scary, but it didn’t care
about the man. The man made a big mistake by not realizing how powerful this
cold place was. The author wants us to feel this harshness, not just physically but
also in a deeper way. It’s a reminder that there are places on Earth that are wild
and unforgiving, and humans aren’t always in control. The lack of even sunlight
makes it seem more alien, like another planet.

Why did Jack London choose the Yukon territory in To Build a Fire?

For the first reason, the Yukon is famous for its brutal weather. It’s incredibly
cold, which makes it a dangerous place to be alone. This extreme cold is the
main enemy the man faces in the story, and it highlights the theme of how weak
humans are against nature’s power. Additionally, the Yukon is vast and wild.
There aren’t many people around, and the environment is harsh and unforgiving.
This isolation makes the situation even worse for the man. He’s all alone with no
help nearby if something goes wrong. By putting him in this lonely, dangerous
place, the author can emphasize the man’s struggle for survival.

b. Time

The time setting of the story is during the great Klondike Gold Rush when lots
of people tried to find gold, but they didn’t realize how tough it really would be.

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In the late 1890s, many people went to the Yukon territory (in Canada) after gold
was found there. By 1897, around 30,000 people had arrived in new towns like
Skagway and Dyea. Unfortunately, many people died on the way from hunger,
cold, or icefall. The gold rush only lasted a few years. This period was fueled by
dreams of riches. Setting the story during the rush emphasizes the potential
foolishness of risking your life in such a harsh environment for a chance at gold.
Moreover, it also highlights the hope and desperation that might drive someone
to take a risk. More narrowly, the story opens with a day with no sun, and no
clouds, and it was 9 o’clock. It’s so contradictory and it’s so harsh. In reality, the
more it goes to the midmorning, the warmer it would be. But in the case of the
story, it’s only colder.

8. Figurative language

In To Build a Fire, Jack London uses a variety of different types of figurative

language to help describe and develop the characters and the central themes
more accurately and vividly.

a. Simile

I would like to show you several notable similes that Jack London used in this
short story.

First, “Once, coming around a bend, he shied abruptly, like a startled horse, curved
away from the place where he had been walking, and retreated several paces back
along the trail.” (para. 12) A horse will become frightened by unusual things or
unfamiliar situations, and it will jump and run aggressively and it will not obey
the owner. So, the characteristics of a horse are applied to the man. When he
arrived at a bend, he was shocked and confused. He ran, back and forth, he was
panicked and scared. So, by comparing the man with a horse, the author wanted
us to imagine a man panicked like a horse so that we can know the situation
deeper. This using makes the short story more exciting and helps us imagine
what happened exactly.

Moreover, “But no sensation was aroused in the hands. He had an impression that
they hung like weights on the ends of his arms, but when he tried to run the
impression down, he could not find it.” (para. 33) Before the man realized his
hands felt like heavy weights, he knew the cold had made his body and hands so
numb (no feeling because of cold) he couldn’t even feel them anymore. The
author meant the man’s hands felt like weights pulling down on his arms, heavy
like the weights on a scale. This means his hands weren’t just stiff, they felt dead
and useless. He couldn’t even feel them because the cold had gotten so bad, it

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almost made him lose them. This comparison shows how heavy and lifeless the
man’s hands felt.

Additionally, “When he had recovered his breath and control, he sat up and
entertained in his mind the conception of meeting death with dignity. However, the
conception did not come to him in such terms. His idea of it was that he had been
making a fool of himself, running around like a chicken with its head cut off—such
was the simile that occurred to him. Well, he was bound to freeze anyway, and he
might as well take it decently.” (para. 37) The man’s pride was like his head,
guiding his actions. He ignored the warning of the old man about cold weather,
like a stubborn fool. Everyone knows only a dummy would travel alone in such
freezing weather. There’s also a saying about running around ‘like a headless
chicken’ which means doing things in a frantic way (I would like to explain the
word ‘frantic’ - unable to control your emotions because you are extremely
frightened or worried about something) without a plan. That’s exactly how the
man acted. He was busy trying to survive but his idea was silly and didn’t work.
He might have felt ashamed for ignoring and making bad choices. In the end, his
pride took a hit because he lost his ability to take care of himself like a man. So,
the author is saying his pride ended up being as useless as a headless chicken.

In short, using similes can help the the story more vivid and interesting, can help
explain abstract ideas more concreare and help the author put more emotional
level in the story.

b. Metaphor

“North and south, as far as his eye could see, it was unbroken white, save for a dark
hair-line that curved and twisted from around the spruce-covered island to the
south, and that curved and twisted away into the north, where it disappeared
behind another spruce-covered island.” (para. 3) The island in the Yukon island
looked like a person’s head (round with a high edge like the top of a head). The
trees on the island were like hair (spruce trees are thin and long). This makes us
imagine the trail the man walked on was narrow, dark, and winding - like walking
through someone’s hair with lots of long, thin stands of spruce.

Additionally, I would like to introduce another metaphor that can confuse. “He
held on through the level stretch of woods for several miles, crossed a wide flat of
nigger heads, and dropped down a bank to the frozen bed of a small stream.” (para.
9) The term ‘nigger-heads’ or negro head’ is used for various black or dark round
objects, the author didn’t mean to imply anything negative or racist, so the
readers or listeners need to read or listen and think carefully. They were

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roundish, black, and hard. The author tried to explain the condition of the place,
about what kind of place the man had passed.

You can see, the effects of using metaphors is partially like similies, help the
story become more vivid and interesting, more emotional, additionally,
metaphors can show the creaitivy of the author and make the story more
memorable and persuasive.

c. Personification

“The blood of his body recoiled before it. The blood was alive, like the dog, and like
the dog it wanted to hide away and cover itself up from the fearful cold.” The man’s
blood is like a cold dog that needs warmth. Our blood helps keep our body warm,
but the man’s blood wasn’t working well in the freezing weather. The author uses
this idea to show how hopelessly the man needed fire.

“Toes and nose and cheeks would be only touched by the frost, for the fire was
beginning to burn with strength. He was feeding it with twigs the size of his
finger.” The man ‘fed’ the fire twigs. It’s like the fire was hungry, just like a person
or an animal. The writer didn’t just say he ‘put’ twigs in, he used the verb ‘feed’ to
make it sound more exciting. This is because the fire was so important for
staying warm in the cold. It kept the man and the dog alive.

“He watched, using the sense of vision in place of that of touch, and when he saw
his fingers on each side the bunch, he closed them—that is, he willed to close them,
for the wires were down, and the fingers did not obey.” This tells us how the man’s
brain told his hands to build a fire, but they wouldn’t listen. The cold had made
them stiff and frozen, like they were asleep. The author used strong words to
show how important the man’s hands were - they were his only against the cold,
But they wouldn’t work. He couldn’t even feel them anymore, which shows how
bad things had gotten.

The effects of personification can make the inanimate objects more vivid and
interesting, it brings inanimate objects or abstract concepts to life.
Personification also helps readers to connect with the story on an emotional
level. They can feel empathy or sympathy with the man. Additionally,
personification can create a sense of silliness or humor.

Personification can help the story more interesting, emotional and can create a
sense of humor for the readers.

d. Repetition

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Repetition means specific words are mentioned many times throughout the
story. Do you remember which words are used the most in the short story? For
example, the word ‘cold’ occurs /əˈkɜːr/ more than 30 times., specifically 35
times. What is it for? To emphasize or to add the more powerful effect of what
the man is enduring. In my opinion, the effect of repeatedly using ‘cold’ is more
than emphasizing. Do you know the domino effect? The domino effect is like a
chain reaction. Imagine you line up a bunch of dominoes. If you push over the
first one, it knocks down the second one, which knocks down the third one, and
so on until all the dominoes fall down. In reality, the domino effect can be used
to describe many situations, where one thing leads to another and another until
you have a big result, both positive and negative. In the case of the man in the
story ‘To Build a Fire’, repeatedly using ‘cold’ makes me think about other words
or other related situations. It makes me think about the snow that chills him, the
way it might freeze his clothes and his body, the fear of getting so numb he can’t
build a fire, and the horrifying possibility of losing sensation, and ultimately,
leading to death. And truly, the man died eventually because of ‘cold’ - the cold
weather.

Another example is the word ‘fire’. It is repeated… how many times? More or less
than the word ‘cold’? More than 40 times, specifically 42 times. I feel that the
effect of this use seems to be similar to using ‘cold’. To add more hopefulness or
desire to survive of the man. But, I think, there is one more special thing here.
‘Cold’ and ‘fire’, they are quite contradictory. This repeatedly using emphasizes
the harsh nature and the human’s attempt to survive.

e. Title

The title ‘To Build a Fire’ is an infinitive phrase, and it isn’t a full sentence. I feel
that the title is a part of this statement “When it is seventy-five below zero, a man
must not fail in his first attempt to build a fire— that is, if his feet are wet.” (para.
18). There’s no guarantee of success, just the urgent necessity of the action. So,
you can see, the title implies the attempt of the man but his attempt was not
successful. The title can be a sign of the potential disaster or difficulty the man
might face. And really, he died because of the extreme weather and without the
fire to warm before. You can see, ‘To Build a Fire’ is an uncompleted action, like
you are halfway and you need to make a wise decision to stop or move. Your
decision can put you in extreme cases. Additionally, the title ‘To Build a Fire’ can
arouse readers’ curiosity, to make them want to know whether the man can
successfully build a fire. It’s a brilliant way to hook the reader from the very
beginning. Not only that, I feel that the title’s simplicity also allows readers to

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connect with a primal fear, the fear of being cold and alone in an aggressive
environment. Maybe you’ve ever experienced a situation where building a fire
felt critical, even if it wasn’t a matter of life or death. That personal connection
can heighten the tension of the story.

f. Language

(1) Tone

The tone of ‘To Build a Fire’ is realistic and ominous foreboding. What is
realistic? It refers to a sense of realism. It aims to represent subjects as they
appear in everyday life. It’s about true to life and practical in the portrayal of
characters, settings, and stories. So, the realistic tone helps to make the weather
or nature more powerful and more extreme and more real.

What is ominous foreboding? It describes a strong sense of potential threat or

danger about the future. In simple words, it refers to a feeling or atmosphere
that something bad is very likely to occur. This using in ‘To Build a Fire’ helps the
readers feel the suspense and tension of the story. It might cause a sense of
curiosity and caution about what would happen. Also, it can create a kinda of
nervousness for the readers.

(2) Choice of language

Jack London used intense words to describe the harshness of the weather such
as exceedingly cold, bitter and so on. The author used scale words such as vast,
and unconcerned to indicate the power and indifference of nature to human
suffering. He used animalistic words such as savagely suggest the Yukon is not
just a harsh landscape, but an active threat. By using this rich vocabulary, Jack
London created a story that is not just about survival, but about the
psychological impact of battling nature’s immense power.

Discussion
1 What is wild and instinctual in our nature, and how do we respond to it? How
does this response influence our relations with the outer world? - Something
wild and instinctual in our nature is fear. We respond to fear usually with some
sort of emotion in our response or reaction. This response influences our
relationship with the outer world because it makes us scared of dangerous
circumstances causing things such as injury, death or sickness, so we may avoid
these situations in the world altogether as much as we possibly can. I feel like
this makes us closer to others in society who may share some of the same fears.

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2. Why do you suppose the main character is called only “the man” or “he”? -
The narrator most likely did not give this man a name in the story because he
was travelling alone but more so it creates less sympathy for the reader almost
as if we cannot feel much emotion about his scary experiences without really
knowing his name or much about “the man.”

3. Jack London writes, “But all this – the mysterious, far-reaching hairline trail,
the absence of sun from the sky, the tremendous cold, and the strangeness and
weirdness of it all – made no impression on the man. It was not because he was
long used to it. He was a newcomer in the land, a chechaquo – and this was his
first winter. The trouble with him was that he was without imagination. He was
quick and alert in the things of life, but only in the things, and not in the
significances” (27). What do you think this means? - I think this means that the
man knew things but did not know necessarily what the circumstances, or
specifically consequences were for these certain things. For example, he knew
what cold was, but did not know what could happen to him if he was out there
for too long in this below 50 or below 75 degree weather. It’s as if he does not
apply his knowledge to how dangerous his situations around really are or really
can be.

4. Describe the relationship between the man and the dog. Find evidence from
the text to support your point. - The man and the dog clearly do not have a
loving relationship. The man uses the dog and the dog needs the man to merely
just survive. The author even adds himself that “there was no real bond between
the dog and the man. The one was the slave of the other. The dog made no
effort to indicate its fears to the man. It was not concerned with the wellbeing
of the man (7).” This is also clear when the man pushes the dog ahead of him to
see if there was a break in the ice, and the dog falls into the water instead of the
man. I knew the man didn’t care much about the dog but did not expect the man
to think of killing him.

5. As you look around the world today, do you see any situations in which
human beings might be blinded in ways similar to the man in London’s story? -
Some situations in real life that are similar to the man in London’s story could
be when kids don’t want to listen to their parents, although their parents have
experienced more things in life, and most of the time know what they are
talking about. Even the man in the story was talking about the old man who told
him that he needed a companion to travel, but the man didn’t listen, and he
should have.

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 Nature’s Role in The Open Boat and To Build a Fire

Does nature really care about humans? This is a question that can create
controversy and discussion. Some may believe God is nature and He does care,
others may disagree. Nature is collectively the world around us and all it
encompasses. It is rocks, plants, animals, climate, and landscapes. In The Open
Boat, written by Stephen Crane, we can see nature through the sea and how it
controls the movement of the sinking boat. Similarly, in To Build a Fire, written
by Jack London, we can see in detail nature’s honest relationship with human
struggle. Both of these short stories encapsulate how nature is ambivalent
towards human survival. This is evident through the passengers’ experiences
and the hiker’s story; however, we can also explore God’s creation of nature and
His ability to intervene.

The Open Boat depicts the raw struggle of being stranded on a sinking boat.
The waves are merciless and time after time destroy the remaining hope of the
four passengers. Repeatedly throughout the short story, the phrase “If I am
going to lose my life to the sea—if 1 am going to lose my life to the sea—why was
I allowed to come this far and see sand and trees?” (Crane 6). This quotation
shows how all 4 passengers were constantly realizing the possibility of death as
each wave lowered the boat deeper and deeper into the sea along with the
men’s sense of hope. This is an excellent example of how nature does not
perceive human emotion and struggle. If nature did have this ability, why would
this specific thought occur four times throughout the story? Why would nature
not settle the winds and sea, or even control the Moon’s gravitational pull on
the Earth to cease the intensity of the waves? One may argue that when the
correspondent was magically pushed to shore by the waves, this was a sign that
nature does in fact care. Or was it truly coincidental? These are the questions
that create discussion and rely on individual interpretation. All of this reasoning
shows how nature’s disregard for human survival is seen throughout The Open
Boat.

To Build a Fire is about a man who makes his way through the frozen woods. He
is on a mission to meet up with some men who were going to take a look at a
lumber opportunity. But he is going solo, with the exception of a dog whom he
has no bond with. The short story details his journey, with the struggles and the
relentless force of nature. Several times throughout the story, some part of his
body freezes as it is exposed to the air. He makes fire, but it is put out by a pile
of snow falling from a tree. Repeatedly there are instances where nature does

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not care about the man’s condition. He falls through a stream, the water soaks
his boots and feet, and he even loses his sense of touch all together. In one
scene, the man thinks he should kill the dog and use its skin as a cover. But his
lack of physical sensation permits him from doing so. He just holds the dog still
and realizes he has no power to harm the dog, or even reach into his bag for the
knife. Lone Star College writes in an essay, “The story’s central theme is one
portrayed by many existentialist writers—that man lives a solitary existence
which is subject to the relentless, unforgiving forces of nature; an ever so subtle
part of this theme is that it is man’s goal to find meaning in his existence.” They
allude to the fact that nature is even more cruel when someone is on a solitary
trip, it is just the human versus nature itself. This is how nature’s negligence to
human survival is seen throughout To Build a Fire.

God did create nature, just like He created mankind. You can see him
throughout nature, like in a beautiful sunset or an extensive, gleaming river. He
can be seen through full and green trees, and stunning crystals and rocks. But is
He nature itself? No. He has the ability to intervene and control the climate or
the environment, but He lets nature take its course. That is why the globe
experiences tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes, and any other natural disaster.
Nature can induce devastation and destruction that ruin lives. But that is why
nature is what it is. It is untouched and cannot fully be controlled by anyone but
the higher power. Although, nature does provide benefits for humans as well.
Ministry Magazine writes, “In the theistic worldview, God and nature are
separate but nature is not independent of God; God acts continuously to
maintain nature and occasionally acts in special ways to accomplish His will in
specific instances.” This quotation explains how nature depends on God in
certain situations, however they are separate theistically.

Both The Open Boat and To Build a Fire represent how nature does not care for
human struggle. These stories depict candid experiences of human life
competing against nature’s savagery. This idea is seen through the 4 passengers’
stories, the hiker’s story, and how God created nature but does not exist solely
through it. We can see God through nature, but nature always has its own
agenda for mankind.

Bible in to build a fire

Biblical References in “To Build a Fire” In works of literature, readers can find
that often the main focus writers and their stories take are based on teachings
of morals. In turn, the lessons that they teach us help people consider the labels

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“bad” and “good.” The main work of literature from which most moral ideas stem
from is the Bible. since the Bible is one of the oldest works of literature, its
stories have been taught for almost three centuries, and its no surprise that its
messages in the Bible have influenced many works of literature. Jack London
creates a deadly situation for an unnamed protagonist and his dog trekking
across the Yukon Trail in negative seventy-five degree weather; this
treacherous setting in “To Build a Fire” conveys moral and Biblical teachings
related to pride and friendship.

To Build a Fire begins it’s adventure with an unnamed protagonist, and his dog
trying to cross the Yukon Trail. The protagonist makes the immense mistake of
ignoring the advice of a local old-timer who says that he should not travel by
himself while it is more than negative seventy five degree fahrenheit. While the
narrator is trekking across the Yukon, intent on finding his destination, he falls
through ice into frigid water causing his feet to freeze. The narrator tries to
build a fire multiple times, but each time fails in his efforts. Sadly, in the end,
the narrators lied down in the snow and slowly dies.

One of the biggest Biblical teachings in “To Build a Fire” is related to pride and
the inability of the protagonist to take counsel from others because of that
pride. The Bible teaches in Proverbs (12.15) “The way of a fool seems right to
him, but a wise man takes advice.” David Haddon points out in his article, Never
Absolute Zero, that this Bible verse is a prime example of the lesson that the
protagonist learns during this story. When the protagonist is leaving to go on
his trek, he is told by the old-timer that he should not go out into the Yukon by
himself in this temperature. The protagonist not only dismisses the old-timer’s
guidance, but laughs at it because he thinks, “Any man who was a man could
travel alone” (London). Many times throughout the story, the narrator
contemplates about what the old-timer said and scoffs and chastises it, but
once the narrator falls into the ice he starts to reconsider what the man said
because if he had someone with him it would be much more manageable to
build a fire. Once the narrator starts the first fire, he thinks back to the
old-timer and how useless the advice is because of how he could build his own
fire and save his own life. The narrator says this not realizing that in his
panicked state he built his fire under a tree. The tree dispenses snow onto his
fire, putting it out and causing the narrator to change his perspective about his
the old-timer’s words of advice. “The chechaquo first remembers how he had
laughed at the old-timer when he told him how cold it could get in the Yukon;
but now, faced with the palpable effects of the extreme cold, he begins to

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appreciate the extent of the old-timer’s knowledge” (Haddon). If the narrator
had listened and grasped the old-timer’s advice he would have had someone to
help him and would have probably lived. However his pride was the cause for his
own death. At the end of the story, the narrator finally realizes his fault when he
is dying and says, “You were right, old hoss; you were right.” (London).

Another big biblical element in “To Build a Fire” is presented through the
relationship between the dog and the narrator. The dog and narrator have a
relationship that is not stable and the reader receives the impression that there
is no trust between the two companions. In Proverbs chapter 13, verse 20, it
says, “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers
harm.” This relates to the protagonist and dogs relationship because the dog is a
“companion of fools” and is taken out into the Yukon and almost “suffers harm”
when the narrator tries to kill him. An example of how the narrator treats the
dog in the story is when it says, “Once again, however, he had a close call; and
once, suspecting danger, he compelled the dog to go on in front. The dog did
not want to do it. It hung back until the man shoved it forward, and then it went
quickly across the white, unbroken surface. Suddenly it broke through,
floundered to one side, and got away to firmer footing.” This also has another
Biblical meaning in the phrase “Do to others as you would have them do to you”
as it says in Luke, chapter 6, verse 31. Because of the way the narrator treats the
dog it causes there to be a unhealthy relationship between them and eventually
leads to the dog abandoning the narrator when he dies. In Ecclesiastes, chapter
4, verses 9 through 10, it says, “Two are better than one, because they have a
good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But
pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up.”

The environment of the Yukon can be tied to Hell in the ways that it is a cold,
dead place. As it says in “Crystal Beards and Dantean Influence in Jack London’s
“To Build a Fire””, “In Structural terms the story has a repetitive, nightmarish
quality as ‘the man’ makes three desperate ventures to build a fire that are each
time frustrated” (Hillier) Death repetitively presents itself in front of the
narrator in the form of the absence of fire. Each time a fire is started it presents
a spark of hope, but every time the fire goes out hope of survival seems less
likely of an outcome for the narrator. This place seems to kill off any living
creature that come into it. Lee Clark Mitchell presents this idea in “Keeping His
Head”: Repetition and Responsibility in London’s “To Build a Fire” when he says,
“The repetition of things and events creates an environment that seems to
resist human interaction-one in which desires fail over and over to be able to

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shape results.” (Mitchell) Although Hell is most commonly related to fire and
brimstone, Hell can be relative to the person and the cold and solitude can be
connected to the narrator because of how his personality is cold and remote
and he always pushes people away. It makes perfect sense, then, that this was
his Hell. Because he pushed people away, like the dog and old-timer, he found
despair in a lonely death where he lacks help. Death, according to the Bible, can
be spiritual or physical, and this case it is both. He dies physically at the end of
the story, but he also dies spiritually, specifically when he let pride and
ignorance rule his life. “. . .its effect is entropic, reducing the man to the purely
physical by depriving him initially of a will, then of desires, and at last of life
itself.” (Mitchell)

The bible hides itself inside of works of literature like To Build a Fire by making
the circumstances of others teach lessons to those who read it, ultimately
making them realize the mistakes that they, or others around them, have made.
Such as the pridefulness of the narrator and how he treats the creatures around
him. The unnamed protagonist in To Build a Fire learns biblical teachings, such
as the importance of friendship and pride, while he is trekking across the Yukon
Trail in treacherous, unforgiving conditions.

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