Mental illness is a horrible thing and without a doubt one of a family’s worst fears. And the feeling of feeling powerless, because of this illness. The feeling of powerlessness mixed with guilt and despair. How is it possible to tell your child that their mother is mentally ill, and to live with it being a part of everyday life. In the short story “The Stormchasers” written by Adam Marek, 2013, portrays a father and son, as they “chase” tornadoes in a storm. The further they drive from the home, the calmer the storm becomes. The reader’s realization of what the storm is a symbol of becomes the metaphor and theme for the story – mental illness in the family.
Throughout “The Stormchasers”, Adam Marek vividly describes the atmosphere outside …show more content…
It doesn’t force the reader to read between the lines, yet give a slight indication for those reading without giving it much thought. The important thing becomes clear in the very last sentence “Only she and I know that the story about the dentist was a terrible lie.” Showing the clear plot twist of the story, and almost forcing the reader to give the story thought. By choosing to reveal the story in the very last sentence, we are never given the time for thought before the story is over, though this also giving us the unsatisfactory feeling of not knowing what happens next, a popular trick among well-known writers. The title also plays a major role is the trick of leaving the reader unsatisfied, by giving an almost ironical title if compared to the story’s real theme and message – leaving the reader in confusion. “The Stormchasers” doesn’t only become a symbol of the storms they are chasing, but also the ironic message that they are leaving the …show more content…
It touches upon the story of a son and father. At its heart, however, “The Stormchaser” is a story about mental illness. The main character shows his love towards his son throughout the story “I come off the motorway and go round the roundabout three times – our game when Mum's not in the car. Jakey giggles, pinned to the door by physics” which gives clear proof of their strong bond. This love is never described as the mother, an important point when describing the theme – as it is clear the mother is mentally ill, and the family is a having a hard time dealing with it.
An important part of the message is the parallel development of the storm compared to the further they get from the house. This shows the storm is coming from within, the storm is from their own house. “’Shall we turn around?’ It looks like the end of the world back the way we came” which symbolizes that they chose to drive back, yet with a different mindset, not to chase the storm, but to get home. Where the message becomes that even though it might be hard to deal with, running from the storm is not an option.
Although “The Stormchasers” By Adam Marek dates “back” 2013, its central themes of mental illness and how it is dealt with in a family, are very relevant today. Mental illness is on a rise, affecting especially teenagers, stressed about the requirements of the modern world. The story becomes a symbol of what is so important today, that it is dealt with and
Throughout “The Stormchasers”, Adam Marek vividly describes the atmosphere outside …show more content…
It doesn’t force the reader to read between the lines, yet give a slight indication for those reading without giving it much thought. The important thing becomes clear in the very last sentence “Only she and I know that the story about the dentist was a terrible lie.” Showing the clear plot twist of the story, and almost forcing the reader to give the story thought. By choosing to reveal the story in the very last sentence, we are never given the time for thought before the story is over, though this also giving us the unsatisfactory feeling of not knowing what happens next, a popular trick among well-known writers. The title also plays a major role is the trick of leaving the reader unsatisfied, by giving an almost ironical title if compared to the story’s real theme and message – leaving the reader in confusion. “The Stormchasers” doesn’t only become a symbol of the storms they are chasing, but also the ironic message that they are leaving the …show more content…
It touches upon the story of a son and father. At its heart, however, “The Stormchaser” is a story about mental illness. The main character shows his love towards his son throughout the story “I come off the motorway and go round the roundabout three times – our game when Mum's not in the car. Jakey giggles, pinned to the door by physics” which gives clear proof of their strong bond. This love is never described as the mother, an important point when describing the theme – as it is clear the mother is mentally ill, and the family is a having a hard time dealing with it.
An important part of the message is the parallel development of the storm compared to the further they get from the house. This shows the storm is coming from within, the storm is from their own house. “’Shall we turn around?’ It looks like the end of the world back the way we came” which symbolizes that they chose to drive back, yet with a different mindset, not to chase the storm, but to get home. Where the message becomes that even though it might be hard to deal with, running from the storm is not an option.
Although “The Stormchasers” By Adam Marek dates “back” 2013, its central themes of mental illness and how it is dealt with in a family, are very relevant today. Mental illness is on a rise, affecting especially teenagers, stressed about the requirements of the modern world. The story becomes a symbol of what is so important today, that it is dealt with and