Monday, June 22, 2020
The Detriment of Freedom - Literature Essay Samples
People take freedom for granted, on many levels, but have they ever questioned whether freedom is bliss, or a curse? The Lamp at Noon illustrates the protagonist, Ellenââ¬â¢s internal conflicts about fleeing the dust-ridden, barren, prairie farm during the Great Depression, longing for freedom. All in fear for her babyââ¬â¢s well-being, she makes multiple proposals to her husband, Paul, regarding abandoning the farm and moving to the city with her father. Paul hardens, and refuses her offers. Meanwhile, their babyââ¬â¢s health falters and is a risk of dust asphyxiation. Ellen desperately seeks paths to protect their child, and ultimately runs away from the farm on foot with the baby. Paul finds her subsequent to the death of their son, huddled in the sand. With all hope lost, Paul prays for a better tomorrow. Sinclair Ross demonstrates the theme that the tempting freedom may not be the ideal choice through his usage of setting, foreshadowing, as well as his diction. Ross set s the stage for a desaturated story depicting of a conflicted couple longing to escape the barren Prairies during the 1930s Dust Bowls. The hideous sand storms of the Prairies during the Great Depression plays an essential role in the plot and the theme. It is the driving force behind Ellenââ¬â¢s pessimistic perspective, her hopes of leaving, and her internal conflicts, which then leads to her absconding the farm. A dark, solemn atmosphere is immediately created when the protagonist ââ¬Å"lit the lampâ⬠¦ a little before noonâ⬠(Ross 140), needing artificial lighting when the sun hangs directly above. The author conveys the idea that without freedom, life is mellow and monotonous, which later gives Ellen a pessimistic perspective on events. Additionally, Ellen could not stand the desolate, infertile farm. As seen on page 143, she begs Paul to abandon their farm, ââ¬Å"ââ¬â¢Look at the skyââ¬âwhatââ¬â¢s happening. Thistles and tumbleweedsââ¬âitââ¬â¢s a desert. You wonââ¬â¢t have a straw this fall. You wonââ¬â¢t be able to feed [the animals]. Please Paul, say weââ¬â¢ll go awayâ⠬ââ⬠(Ross 143). She pleads her husband to abandon their farm and depart for her father due to the atrocious conditions. From this, the reader can interpret that the setting fuels Ellenââ¬â¢s hopes of leaving and her compulsion for freedom. Ellen debated leaving due to the weather, resulting in her internal conflicts. ââ¬Å"See Paul ââ¬â I stand like this all dayâ⬠¦ if only I could run!â⬠(Ross 148). The weather has pushed Ellen to her extremes, leaving her with nothing to do all day and dreaming of freedom. As the reader can conclude, the setting of the short story is crucial to the development of the theme. The couple is metaphorically caged and isolated by the setting, hence their desire for freedom. Moreover, foreshadowing is a recurring literary device that elucidates on the theme. As illustrated through Ellenââ¬â¢s departure and the death of the coupleââ¬â¢s unnamed son. Ellenââ¬â¢s disappearance was hinted at through her speech during the rising action, ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m so caged! If only I could run!â⬠(Ross 148). Ross hints subtly that Ellen will subsequently run away from the farm in pursue of freedom. Additionally, foreshadowing is also imminently present in when the author introduces Ellen and Paulââ¬â¢s son. Ellen is overcome with fear ââ¬Å"that in the dust-filled air he might contact pneumoniaâ⬠(Ross 141). Later on in the story, the reader is made known that he had perished due to Ellenââ¬â¢s desperate need for freedom. Her attempts of fleeing to the city by foot has taken the life of her son. Through Rossââ¬â¢ recurring use of foreshadowing, he exemplifies the idea that despite the temptation of freedom, it can be detrimental. Furthermore, Ross deliberately chose to use descriptive diction to illustrate imagery, emphasize on pathos, and to give the reader perspective on the characters. Extending the idea of isolation and hopes for freedom, Paulââ¬â¢s farm is notably seen as an isolated outpost erected out of nowhere. ââ¬Å"â⬠¦Beyond: obscuring fields and landmarks, the lower of dust clouds made the farmyard seem like an isolated acre, poised aloft above a somber void. At each blast of wind I shoot, as if to topple and spin hurtling with the dust-reel into spaceâ⬠(Ross 140). The farm is portrayed as an ââ¬Å"isolated acreâ⬠(Ross 140). Through imagery, Ross illuminates the reason behind Ellenââ¬â¢s urge to escape into the city, yearning for freedom. Likewise, Ross inspires pathos and sympathy in the reader for the infant through his careful selection of words, ââ¬Å"the child was quite cold. It had been in her arms, perhaps too frantic to protect him, or the smother of dust upon his throat and lungsâ⬠(Ross 150). Ross subtly makes it apparent that the child has perished in Ellenââ¬â¢s struggle to escape the dust-reel. In addition, to get a deeper understanding of a character, Ross gives the reader an in-depth view of Paulââ¬â¢s mind and to fathom his struggles. ââ¬Å"He ran a long time ââ¬â distraught and headlong as a few hours ago he had seemed to watch her run ââ¬â around the farmyard, a little distance into the pasture ââ¬â and then at a stumble down the road for helpâ⬠(Ross 150). His words allow the reader to sense Paulââ¬â¢s struggles in search of Ellen, and to visualize his memories of her. Through Paulââ¬â¢s thoughts, Ross indicates that Paul is aware that Ellenââ¬â¢s departure will not end up advantageously. In essence, without Rossââ¬â¢ extensive vocabulary, the story would have been monotonous and emotionless. One can conclude that his usage of words and phrases are essential to the development of the theme. Concisely, as can be seen through the setting, the usage of foreshadowing, and the authorââ¬â¢s careful choice of diction, Ross accentuates the idea that despite the constant temptation of freedom, it can also be detrimental. Some take freedom for granted, and some fight to earn themselves freedom, but is it really the best choice of action?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)