Shiloh
"Shiloh" by Bobbie Ann Mason represents a change over the course of a young woman's life. Bobbie Ann Mason uses Norma Jean to help clarify that relationships can fail and that roles do change in today's relationships. Mason uses the character Norma Jean to give her audience an idea how times have changed as well as people. Norma Jean, who was forced to marry at a young age, sees a new path as the modern days draw near. Norma Jean is a woman who has very low confidence, very dependent on her mother, her husband, and is motivated to change her life. As time passes, she begins to change from being dependent on everyone to a woman who is very independent and gains confidence in herself. Norma Jean has many traumatic events in her life. At the age of eighteen, she was pregnant and was forced to marry Leroy, the baby's father, because of "southern traditions". When the baby, Randy, was four months and three days, Randy died of sudden infant death syndrome, as Mable thinks Randy died of neglect. As they took Randy to the emergency room, the doctor told them, "It just happens sometimes" (Mason 48). Here she was married to a man that she made a mistak
Although Norma Jean is motivated by the changing times, by herself, and by Leroy, Norma Jean's and Leroy's trip to Shiloh, seemed to bring Norma Jean to the truth. This trip brings Norma Jean to see the truth. She realizes that they are two different people. As they were sitting in silence staring at the cemetery, Norma Jean says, "I want to leave you" (Mason 54). After silence Leroy finally says, "No, you don't" (Mason 54). Leroy is trying to deny it. He doesn't want to face the fact that she is going to leave him. What will Leroy do? There is not going to be anyone to support him. Norma Jean wanted this change in her life for the longest time. She did not want to be in the "woods" her whole life. Norma Jean did not want to die before it was too late. Shiloh helped her spread her wings and leave Leroy. The basic, overall changed that Norma Jean goes through is changing into a person that was very dependent on her husband, into a person who in very independent. She thought that she needed Leroy to pay the bills, and to have a job so that she could have a life. When Leroy was finally at home with her she got to see his true side, she came to a realization. Norma Jean finally realized that she did not need Leroy in her life in order for her to survive. She was a strong woman mentally. Norma Jean had graduated from a six-week bodybuilding course and now is taking an adult-education class at the local community college. To Leroy, she is intimidating him with the English lessons. Leroy asks, "What are you doing this for, anyhow?" (Mason 52) as she shrugs, she says, "It is something to do." (Mason 52) The relationship between Norma Jean and Leroy is becoming non-existing. Since she has realized that she doesn't need him, she is going out and making a life for herself. She felt that she had the power while she left Leroy at hom
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Approximate Word count = 1253
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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