Mason's story is well told and has all the classic literary tools that make for a good story. I particularly liked the setting because it seems real, in today's world. It informs the reader how "Subdivisions, USA" originated. No one noticed how small towns and farmers disappeared; people only realized these places and people were no longer around when they finally looked. No one noticed how big cities and subdivisions came to be. Again, people just noticed these cities and subdivisions were there one day. This setting symbolizes how Leroy never noticed Norma Jean was changing until he took the time to examine her closer. Leroy did not know or simply did not care to think about the changes Norma Jean was experiencing. Norma Jean is just as guilty. Although, Norma Jean is interested in improving and educating herself, she does not take the time to consider the changes her husband h

I am a reader who reads in hopes of gaining some knowledge about life other than my own personal experience. This story showed me marriage is difficult to maintain. Norma Jean and Leroy allow themselves to lose sight of love and commitment and I find it very disturbing. I find it more disturbing than Yukio Mishima's short story "Swaddling Clothes". In "Swaddling Clothes", Toshiko is a passionate person who willingly sacrifices herself because of the love she has for her child. In "Shiloh", Norma Jean and Leroy are willing to sacrifice their marriage because they are not willing to remember and hold on to love. A married couple has to try to appreciate each other and understand the changes that life brings their way. In short, a married couple has to focus more on love and hold on to the commitment of loving each other. Once married, a couple is no longer two separate people. They are supposed to grow and change together, to stay together.

In "Shiloh", Mason does not mention the word love once. Mason does not say that Leroy "loves" to smoke marijuana. Mason does not say that Norma Jean "loves" to write compositions. Mason does not even mention how much Mabel would "love" to go to Shiloh. Throughout the story Mason does little to show the emotions the characters go through or how they feel about what has occurred in their lives. Even when she writes abo

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 927
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)