Jane Smiley’s A Thousand Acres presents the dimensional characterization of Larry, Ginny, and Rose Cook (Brauner 664; Schiff 13 of 16), the contentious themes involving feminism and the deceptive appearance of the idealized “American Dream” (Carden 193); and the symbolically significant setting of a rural Iowa county during the presidency of Jimmy Carter ( Smiley 174 ; Holman “Setting” 120)—all of which serves to relate the impact of industry upon families living in America during such time (Smiley, 115). Smiley’s “parodic recasting of Lear” (Strehle 16 of 16) is evident as her “compelling” (Brauner 666) modernization of Shakespeare’s King Lear sufficiently depicts the evolution of societal representations of women (Schiff 12 of 16; Novy 362).
Smiley employed characterization within the character of Larry as his actions, speech, and social standing enabled the reader to fully comprehends the depth of his character. Characterization is the literary method that is the representation of persons in narrative and dramatic works. Characterization is used to attribute qualities in description or …show more content…
Upon the novel’s commencement, secrecy as a theme is evident within the novel in the form of disappearance, absence and silence (Brauner, 656). According to critic David Brauner, “The world of A Thousand Acres is one of secrecy and one of the great strengths of the novel is the skill and the timing with which it withholds and reveals its secrets “ (Brauner 656) Such silence is apparent as Ginny’s family obtains an abundance of secrets in the form of abuse and prosperity as their lifestyle is dependent upon the visage of an honest working farmer (Smiley 199; Brauner
Smiley employed characterization within the character of Larry as his actions, speech, and social standing enabled the reader to fully comprehends the depth of his character. Characterization is the literary method that is the representation of persons in narrative and dramatic works. Characterization is used to attribute qualities in description or …show more content…
Upon the novel’s commencement, secrecy as a theme is evident within the novel in the form of disappearance, absence and silence (Brauner, 656). According to critic David Brauner, “The world of A Thousand Acres is one of secrecy and one of the great strengths of the novel is the skill and the timing with which it withholds and reveals its secrets “ (Brauner 656) Such silence is apparent as Ginny’s family obtains an abundance of secrets in the form of abuse and prosperity as their lifestyle is dependent upon the visage of an honest working farmer (Smiley 199; Brauner