Symbolism in Shiloh and Story of a Hour

A detailed Summary of Symbolism in Shiloh and Story of a Hour

Symbolism in 'Story of an Hour' and 'Shiloh'

Symbolism is widely used in both "Story of an Hour" and "Shiloh," and plays a key component in understanding the story. The stories are similar because they're both about a wife that is trapped in a marriage. Both of the wives in the stories wanted to be free and go on with their lives, but the endings are very different from one another.

In "Shiloh," the author Bobbie Ann Mason, uses symbolism in many different ways. Leroy saw himself as the man of the house, and the author made that apparent with the symbolism shown in the story. Mason used foreshadowing and symbolism to clue the reader into the eventual fate of Leroy and Norma Jean's marriage. You can tell on many different occasions that Norma Jean is ready to move on with her life while Leroy is sitting around getting high and smoking joints, only talking about getting on with his life. I believe that the author is suggesting that marijuana is making Leroy very unmotivated to do anything with his life.

Kate Chopin's "A Story of an Hour", is packed with symbols that contribute to understanding what happens to Mrs. Mallard. Many references to spring time as well as her upstairs location and her chair, are both symbols used in the story. The first reference to spring time occurred right after the tragic news that her husband had been killed. This symbolizes a new beginning for Mrs. Mallard. Immediately after she heard the news she went upstairs to her chair and looked out the window. Trees are "aquiver with new spring life." She smells "the delicious breath of rain." Sparrows are "twittering in the leaves." All of these things symbolize being free and out of the marriage. In the story she loved him sometimes but often she did not. This symbolizes how the many marriages that go without fulfillment these days. In the story the room where Mrs. Mallard escapes to, to be alone, symbolizes the marriage. Mrs. Mallard goes to the room to sit in the chair, but always is exhausted when she sits. This symbolizes how sh

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Approximate Word count = 688
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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