The tone in the story is somber and sorry but barely sad. The author’s technique of short and quick sentences does not give the reader time to be sad for the characters. It only allows a feeling of eagerness for what the protagonist will do next. This, however, does not alter the cruelty of the land where the author has set her story. In this land, there is no good ending, no triumph, and no shred of tenderness in the difficult times when the story takes place. In her subtle way of telling events as if in passing, Annie Proulx leaves out deep emotions and lets the reader comprehend the events and decide what to feel. The brief narration of Leeland Lee’s story presents the futility of life in a clear and unforgiving manner. It offers a glimpse
