Symbols in Allison's

A detailed Summary of Symbols in Allison's

Symbolic Themes in "Gospel Song" by Dorothy Allison

"Gospel Song" contains many complex, subtle analogies. Dorothy Allison, the author, repeatedly brings up the same traditional physical manifestations of specific ideas until they become thematic enough that the reader recognizes the symbolism as intentional. Most of these symbolic themes point to the longing pain and loneliness that is the narrator's perception of life. I will address three themes that do so directly and two that do so indirectly by referring to Shannon's body and her death. All these themes are also linked to gospel music, the central symbol of this longing.

The story concludes with the narrator recognizing that pure gospel is "absolute hopeless grief" (437). Allison depicts religion as a crutch for hypocrites. Too weak to face the reality of our lonely world, people invent a just, caring God. Therefore, a gospel song, as a petition to this imaginary loving being, epitomizes our hopeless emptiness.

Alcohol is a symbol of the ephemeral. Since the story takes place in a small Southern town with a strong Baptist presence, alcohol, which is brought up repeatedly throughout the story, is presented as evil and ungodly. Granny puts a twist on this whe

Allison also refers frequently to chicken, barbecue, and fat. She takes this beyond the most apparent link to transience: that people consume food without a second thought and it is gone. Not only is Shannon repeatedly referred to as "greasy," the narrator notes that, at her final barbecue, she looks "like a sausage" (434). Shannon actually dies holding a giant fork. These grotesque references to her nauseating body as meat show how people get hung up on her physical nature and fail to see her as just another human being. Similarly, the "familiar smell of frying fat" outside the White Horse Cafe reassures the narrator to make promises to God, though she knows she will not keep them long (406).

This comparison of Shannon to an angel or saint carries much significance. When they first meet, the narrator reasons that Shannon "would turn out to be saintlike" (409), in part why she takes "a shine to Shannon" (407). Shannon is referred to as "shiny" five times, and her white skin likens her to purity; both purity and shine are characteristic of traditional notions of saints. Her violent and resigned death by fire is a connection to martyrdom. The narrator analogizes her hair to "a crown of burning glory." The narrator never describes actually seeing Shannon's corpse. Rather, she discloses, "I saw Shannon Pearl disappear from this world" (436). This could even be a reference to a specific saint, the Old Testament prophet Elijah, whom God miraculously carried away in a chariot of fire and whose story is behind "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." Shannon desires acceptance, but as the object of ridicule, she distances herself or turns to hate in order to survive. This is what joined her to the narrator in the first place, and, in a broader sense, it is one thing that unites the entire human race. One characteristic of marty

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Approximate Word count = 1239
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English