The short story “Taking Care” by Joy Williams fixates on the world of a preacher named Jones, an altruistic, self-analysing man, who places all of his hopes in his religious beliefs, even in times of distress. The story begins in medias res, with Jones visiting his ill wife in the hospital in hopes of getting good news back from the doctor. Not only does Jones cares deeply for his wife, he also cares for everybody else around him. He visits his sick parishioners and takes care of his granddaughter and dog while his daughter is in Mexico. He cleans the house, runs errands, and makes certain everything is in order for when his wife comes home. In addition to that, he stays faithful to his job and continues to preach even though he feels as
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His kind-heartedness among other traits are demonstrated throughout the story. Jones truly is an amiable character; his kindheartedness is demonstrated as he strives to care for his family and church. Jones holds the baby “...and is feeding her. The evening meal is lengthy and complex. First he must give her vitamins, then, because she has a cold, a dropper of liquid aspirin” (97). Jones genuinely makes an effort to care for his family, because Jones is a cordial character Williams creates these admirable moments throughout the story. His love and loyalty towards his granddaughter and dog demonstrates how much family really means to him. Williams produces a beautiful sentiment, as she shows Jones struggling to let go of his wife who will be “...coming home in a few days, in time for Christmas. Jones has already put up the tree and brought the ornaments down from the attic. He will not trim it until she comes home” (98). Jones gets his house ready and puts up the Christmas tree and anticipates his wifes homecoming; he …show more content…
Throughout the story there are many references to divinity or some sort of heavenly power. Jones even sees“...holiness in the snow, a promise. He hopes that his wife will know that it is snowing even though she is separated from the window by a curtain”(94). Williams show a glimpse of Jones faith when he finds Godliness in the white snow that he sees on this drive with his granddaughter. This moment in the story is beautiful for Jones; it takes his mind off everything and momentarily reminds him of his beliefs that he has been contemplating. The purity makes him think of his wife and how he wishes that she could see it. Jones also sees a promise in the snow which foreshadows his faith being renewed at the end of the story as he, “...helps his wife up the steps to the door. Together they enter the shining rooms”(98). This affirming metaphor that ends the story shows that Jones faith is reborn and he has finally accepted the death of his wife; he is no longer battling it internally. Jones has whole new perspective on life and his religion. His Christian morals tell him that everything has happened for a reason. It is apparent from the beginning that Jones is a religious man; even the first sentence states that he is a preacher. By description and his actions, it seems obvious that he is a true-hearted Christian, but it is apparent that there is this internal struggle going on inside of
His kind-heartedness among other traits are demonstrated throughout the story. Jones truly is an amiable character; his kindheartedness is demonstrated as he strives to care for his family and church. Jones holds the baby “...and is feeding her. The evening meal is lengthy and complex. First he must give her vitamins, then, because she has a cold, a dropper of liquid aspirin” (97). Jones genuinely makes an effort to care for his family, because Jones is a cordial character Williams creates these admirable moments throughout the story. His love and loyalty towards his granddaughter and dog demonstrates how much family really means to him. Williams produces a beautiful sentiment, as she shows Jones struggling to let go of his wife who will be “...coming home in a few days, in time for Christmas. Jones has already put up the tree and brought the ornaments down from the attic. He will not trim it until she comes home” (98). Jones gets his house ready and puts up the Christmas tree and anticipates his wifes homecoming; he …show more content…
Throughout the story there are many references to divinity or some sort of heavenly power. Jones even sees“...holiness in the snow, a promise. He hopes that his wife will know that it is snowing even though she is separated from the window by a curtain”(94). Williams show a glimpse of Jones faith when he finds Godliness in the white snow that he sees on this drive with his granddaughter. This moment in the story is beautiful for Jones; it takes his mind off everything and momentarily reminds him of his beliefs that he has been contemplating. The purity makes him think of his wife and how he wishes that she could see it. Jones also sees a promise in the snow which foreshadows his faith being renewed at the end of the story as he, “...helps his wife up the steps to the door. Together they enter the shining rooms”(98). This affirming metaphor that ends the story shows that Jones faith is reborn and he has finally accepted the death of his wife; he is no longer battling it internally. Jones has whole new perspective on life and his religion. His Christian morals tell him that everything has happened for a reason. It is apparent from the beginning that Jones is a religious man; even the first sentence states that he is a preacher. By description and his actions, it seems obvious that he is a true-hearted Christian, but it is apparent that there is this internal struggle going on inside of