How Green Was My Valley
In some relationships between couples, things may not go according to plan. There are stones in their paths that do not allow them to continue on, as a couple. In How Green Was My Valley, by Richard Llwellyn, characters are unable to express their true feelings for each other. Mr. Gruffydd and Owen do not follow the real desires of their hearts because their pride gets in the way; this decision ends up hurting not only them, but also destroying Angharad and Marged, the women they love. Mr. Gruffydd and Owen deny their true feelings because they let their ego interfere. For example, when talking to Bronwen about Marged, Owen tells her that "he is not in love with [Marged], after everybody [has] a hand in the courting" (p. 94). Owen wants his relationship to be kept a secret, but Marged's father sees them kissing. He lets his pride get in the way of how he truly feels and he can not continue to love Marged anymore. In addition, after Marged's father finds them making out, Owen realizes that he "will never forget that as long as he is living" (p. 91) and later on "Owen [could] not be found that night" (p. 91). After being tortured by his brothers, Owen is scarred for life with a memory that will never go away. Owen has to
run away from his problems, because he could not stand the embarrassment. Like Owen, Mr. Gruffydd also allows his self-respect to get in the way; for example, when Huw and Bronwen are talking about Mr. Gruffydd's problem, Bronwen says, "[Mr. Gruffydd's] trouble is conscience. [Angharad] is going on for eighteen. He is near to forty. And a poor man to the end of his days" (p. 263). Mr. Gruffydd is letting his age difference get in the way of falling in love with Angharad. Even Bron thinks his working conditions will not be enough to support Angharad and himself. Owen and Mr. Gruffydd let their pride get in the way and it prevents them from loving the ones they really love. Because the Mr. Gruffydd and Owen are unable to be with the ones that they are madly in love with, their emotions drain out. For example, when Owen is trying to get Marged back, he sobs "'Oh, Marged, my beautiful one. What did I do to you, devil from Hell that I am? What did I do?'" (p. 127). Owen feels really terrible now that Marged is no longer his. He wonders why she will not accept him anymore, even though he wants to be with her once again. Along with Owen, Mr. Gruffydd's feelings also disappear, like when Huw asks Bron how different Mr. Gruffydd is, she replies "Empty he is, empty as a split pea pod" (p. 296). Mr. Gruffydd's thoughts and dreams vanish into thin air and even Bronwen realizes it. Without Angharad, he can not be complete. Furthermore, when Huw finally notices Mr. Gruffydd's change, he "[thinks he is] the only one in the village
Some common words found in the essay are:
Gruffydd Owen, Owen Marged, Marged Owen, Angharad Tyn-y-Coed, Owen Marged's, Bron Gruffydd, Furthermore Huw, Huw Owen's, Bronwen Gruffydd's, Huw Gruffydd, gruffydd owen, love gruffydd owen, unable ones, vanish thin, true feelings, thin air, marged's father, love marged, angharad owen, owen gruffydd, love gruffydd, vanish thin air,
Approximate Word count = 1040
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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