Divorce In John Updike's Still Of Some Use

Updike’s use of language in Still of Some Use helps convey Foster’s shifting attitudes about his divorce from unwilling to let go to acceptance. Foster is attitude of unwillingness to let go of his divorce is conveyed through Updike’s use of language. Through the connation of the word “melancholy” (69), Foster can be perceived as unhappy about his divorce. The connation implies a deeper sadness to Foster that would not be conveyed if Updike had used words like “sad” or “gloomy”. Foster feels melancholy because he does not want to let go of the past while everyone around him is. The connation of the word “emptiness” (92) reveals Foster’s emotional state by implying a profounder hollowness. Foster has the feeling of emptiness because he feels …show more content…
Updike’s use of figurative language in the line “he had not played enough of these games” (69-70) conveys Foster’s attitude towards his divorce. When Foster makes the comment “he had not played enough of these games” (69-70), he is implying a different meaning. It is implying that not only did Foster not play enough of the games, but also he did not spend enough time with his family. As Foster looks in the past, he realizes how much wasted time is between himself and his family. His constant reflection of the past shows how he is very unwilling to let go of it, specifically his own divorce. His constant reflection of the past is also seen through the description of his childhood house’s attic. He reflects on a time in which “he had crept up there” (76) and revisited the toys of his childhood. The inner reflection of the past again shows how strongly he holds on to it and how unwilling he …show more content…
The detail used to define Foster’s perception of his ex-wife and Ted shows Foster’s newfound acceptance toward their relationship and his own divorce. Updike describes Foster’s ex-wife and Ted’s gestures toward each other as “protective” (149) and Foster perceives them as “a touching, ageless couple” (156). Both details imply that Foster sees their relationship and accepts it. The detail of the fact that Foster “handed back the can” (158) again implies that Foster has accepted his divorce. Foster had first taken the can to prove his possession of his ex-wife to her boyfriend, but after accepting their relationship, he hands back the can symbolizing his true resolution of his attitude to not let go of the past and his new attitude of acceptance. “The light of olds payoffs flickered in his eyes as he gazed down at the rubble in his father’s hand” (186-188) creates a lighter tone in the peace, which symbolizes the change of attitudes between Foster’s low and depressed attitude to a lighter one. The words, such as “light” (186) and flickered (187), add a softer and lighter tone to the piece with their own connation. Foster’s acceptance attitude of his divorce is portrayed through the change of tone made prevalent by the connation of words used. Foster’s shift in attitude to acceptance of his divorce is seen through the different uses of language showed by