Student Name Heremr Martineng December 3, 2014 Shiloh

Student Name Heremr Martineng 102 Mwdecember 3 2014shilohin Any Rela

In any relationship, whether it be a marriage or even just a work partnership, communication is vital. In the short story Shiloh, Bobbie Ann Mason uses imagery, symbolism, and characters to show just how the failure to communicate can result in the destruction of even the strongest relationships. Imagery is one of the elements Mason uses to illustrate how an absence of communication can be damaging to a relationship. Leroy has spent most of his marriage on the road yet when he comes home for good he does not recognize his hometown or his marriage, and is not sure what to do to reconcile himself to either.

Mason shows this when writing, “He cruises the new subdivisions, feeling like a criminal rehearsing for a robbery. Norma Jean is probably right about a log house being inappropriate here in the new subdivisions. All the houses look grand and complicated. They depress him” (71). In a suddenly changing relationship a person can be caught off guard and confused, not knowing what if anything they can do to get used to those changes.

When Leroy and Norma Jean visit Shiloh, after years of being pushed to go by Norma Jean’s mother, their marriage finally disintegrates. Mason writes, “The cemetery, a green slope dotted with white markers, looks like a subdivision site. Leroy is trying to comprehend that his marriage is breaking up, but for some reason he is wondering about white slabs in a graveyard” (76). Divorce is often thought of as the death of a marriage, the end of an entire way of life in some ways. Like imagery, Mason also uses symbolism to show how a lack of communication can change relationships without the people in them noticing.

The organ that Leroy buys Norma Jean is an example of how much she changes just in the short time he is at home going from playing all kinds of music on it to not playing it at all. Mason illustrates this when she writes, “She doesn’t play the organ anymore, though her second paper was called ‘Why Music Is Important To Me’” (73). Sometimes it is smaller changes that indicate a larger issue in a relationship that people do not pay attention to. Throughout the story Leroy keeps insisting he wants to build Norma Jean a log cabin even after she tells him she does not want it, which highlights the fact that he does not really know his wife anymore and is not listening to how she is changing. Mason writes: “I’m going to build you this house,” says Leroy. “I want to make you a real home.” “I don’t want to live in any log cabin.” “It’s not a cabin, it’s a house.” “I don’t care. It looks like a cabin.” “You and me together could lift those logs. It’s just like lifting weights.” Norma Jean doesn’t answer. Under her breath, she is counting” (71). People tend to cling to their ideas of how their spouse should be and miss cues that could let them know that they are changing, and that the relationship is not as idyllic as it seems. Mason uses the characters of Leroy and Norma Jean to highlight how people in a relationship can miss or ignore all sorts of hints of discontent from the other.

Leroy is a simple man who does not know what to say to his wife, nor how to say it. Mason illustrates this when she states, “Now Leroy has the sudden impulse to tell Norma Jean about himself, as if he had just met her. They have known each other so long they have forgotten a lot about each other. They could become reacquainted. But when the oven timer goes off and she runs to the kitchen, he forgets why he wants to do this” (72).

Sometimes the lack of communication is not because a person does not know what is wrong but that they do not know how to bring up their awareness of a problem, so they simply leave it alone. Norma Jean is Leroy’s opposite, wanting for him to get a job again so that he is not dependent on her for all of his emotional needs. Even so, she does not tell him how unhappy she is until the very end, when Mason writes: “Everything was fine till Mama caught me smoking,” says Norma Jean, standing up. “That set something off.” “What are you talking about?” “She won’t leave me alone- you won’t leave me alone.” Norma Jean seems to be crying, but she is looking away from him. “I feel eighteen again. I can’t face that all over again.” She starts walking away. “No, it wasn’t fine. I don’t know what I’m saying. Forget it” (76). It is fairly common for the unhappy party in a relationship to keep all their issues and anger bottled up until they cannot contain it anymore and they let it all out at once, usually quite explosively.

People in relationships, especially those that span years, tend to forget to keep open lines of communication with each other. In Shiloh, Bobbie Ann Mason shows how that can ruin those relationships with her use of imagery, symbolism, and characters.

Paper For Above instruction

The short story Shiloh by Bobbie Ann Mason explores the devastating effects of broken communication in relationships, using imagery, symbolism, and character development to underscore this theme. The story reflects on how failure to communicate effectively leads to misunderstandings, emotional disconnection, and the eventual disintegration of relationships, a phenomenon that resonates with human nature, society, and cultural expectations regarding intimacy and communication.

Introduction

In Shiloh, Mason employs various elements of fiction to demonstrate how miscommunication and emotional neglect can undermine a relationship. The story primarily focuses on Leroy and Norma Jean, a married couple facing emotional distance. Through vivid imagery, symbolic objects, and nuanced characters, Mason highlights the importance of open dialogue and recognition of change within a partnership. The central theme revolves around how neglecting the subtle signals of discontent can cause profound damage, ultimately leading to separation. This thematic exploration is deeply rooted in human nature’s tendency to preserve familiarity and avoid conflict, as well as societal norms that often discourage honest communication.

Imagery and Its Implications in the Narrative

Mason’s use of imagery vividly depicts Leroy’s disorientation upon returning home and witnessing the changing environment around him. His feelings of alienation are encapsulated when Mason writes, “He cruises the new subdivisions, feeling like a criminal rehearsing for a robbery. Norma Jean is probably right about a log house being inappropriate here in the new subdivisions. All the houses look grand and complicated. They depress him” (71). This imagery not only emphasizes Leroy’s inability to adapt to change but also symbolizes the emotional barriers developing in his marriage. The evolving physical environment mirrors the shifting emotional landscape, illustrating that change—if uncommunicated—can be disorienting and damaging.

Furthermore, the imagery of the cemetery, with “white markers” that resemble a subdivision site, serves as a somber symbol of the death of the marriage. Mason writes, “The cemetery, a green slope dotted with white markers, looks like a subdivision site. Leroy is trying to comprehend that his marriage is breaking up” (76). This visual representation metaphorically signifies the death of their union, reinforcing how silent discontent fosters emotional decay and eventual rupture.

Symbolism and Hidden Messages in the Story

Throughout the narrative, Mason employs symbolic objects to emphasize relational change. The organ Norma Jean acquires symbolizes her evolving personality and emotional state. She initially plays music on it but later stops altogether. Mason notes, “She doesn’t play the organ anymore, though her second paper was called ‘Why Music Is Important To Me’” (73). This signal of silence and inactivity reflects her internal dissatisfaction and the disconnect from Leroy, who remains oblivious or unwilling to confront these changes.

Leroy’s insistence on building Norma Jean a log cabin symbolizes his desire to restore or rekindle their relationship, yet it also signifies his misunderstanding of her needs. Despite her expressions of disinterest, Leroy persists: “I’m going to build you this house,” says Leroy. “I want to make you a real home” (71). The log cabin, a traditional symbol of stability and simplicity, becomes a misinterpreted attempt to reconnect, ignoring Norma Jean’s emotional withdrawal. Mason’s portrayal demonstrates how symbolic actions, if misaligned with true emotional needs, can exacerbate misunderstanding.

Character Development and Its Role in Communicating Discontent

The characters of Leroy and Norma Jean exemplify contrasting approaches to communication. Leroy’s straightforward demeanor and limited emotional expressiveness depict a man unable to articulate or recognize the subtle signs of emotional drift. Mason states, “Now Leroy has the sudden impulse to tell Norma Jean about himself, as if he had just met her. They have known each other so long they have forgotten a lot about each other” (72). His reluctance or incapacity to engage in meaningful dialogue leaves unspoken issues festering beneath the surface.

Norma Jean, on the other hand, embodies the suppressed discontent that builds over time. Her tendency to bottle up her frustration is evident when she finally vents explosively, declaring, “Everything was fine till Mama caught me smoking” (76). Her crying and avoidance indicate her difficulty in confronting her feelings directly, reflecting societal pressures that encourage women to mask their dissatisfaction rather than address it openly.

Conclusion: The Consequences of Silence in Relationships

Mason’s story portrays how the breakdown of communication, often composed of small, unnoticed cues or unresolved issues, can lead to emotional erosion and separation. The imagery of the changing environment and death symbolism, along with characters’ behaviors, underscores that neglect and silence foster disconnection. Mason’s narrative emphasizes that understanding and addressing these subtle signs are vital to maintaining healthy relationships, a message deeply intertwined with human tendencies to avoid conflict or change. Ultimately, Shiloh underscores that effective communication is essential for emotional intimacy and that neglect can inexorably lead to the dissolution of bonds that once seemed unbreakable.

References

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