The setting in the short story “Shiloh” by Bobbie Ann Mason works well to accentuate the theme of the story. The theme portrayed by Mason is that most people change along with their environment, with the exception of the few who are unwilling to adapt making it difficult for things such as marriage to work out successfully. These difficulties are apparent in Norma Jean and Leroy’s marriage. As Norma Jean advances herself, their marriage ultimately collapses due to Leroy’s unwillingness to adapt with her and the changing environment.
Leroy Moffit is a truck driver, and over the years as his wife Norma Jean is adapting to the changing community his adaptation to things consist of pretty much the way he drives his truck. During this time Norma Jean is left at home to fend for herself and learn the wor
Setting also comes into play by supporting the theme in the latter part of the story when Leroy and Norma Jean travel to a civil war battleground named Shiloh. On this ground a battle took place due to the clashing of two sides. One side was unwilling to adapt, similar to Leroy’s unwillingness. While they are at the battle ground Norma Jean tells Leroy that their marriage is over, like she is ending a war that has been going on for too long. The setting of the battleground accentuates the decline of Norma Jean and Leroy’s marriage ultimately coming to an end.
falls behind causing the marriage to pull apart.
The story of “Shiloh” is an example of what happens when a person is unwilling to adapt to his or her environment, ultimately resulting in a conflict and an ending. As Norma Jean adapts to
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