Shell Shaker Analysis

Importance of Community A sense of community is an aspect that is present in just about every culture and in all people’s lives. In Shell Shaker, LeAnne Howe emphasizes the importance of having a relationship with one’s community. Howe’s form of community is important because it represents the need for people to come together in numbers when faced with threats, be a present support system for members in the community, and because community connects people together and forms a stronger bond for all the communities residents. Howe often speaks lightly when mentioning the community around the main characters. The reader should get the feeling that these background characters, this community within the main characters lives, is present in order to support them. This shows the need for people to understand how important community is to an individuals life and to …show more content…
When there is no support, even just from a small group of people, it can make someone to feel alienated and cause despair when going through something tough. Just like the support system of a family, it is important to have a support system of the community. And this support does not need to be vocally expressed like in the quote, “As her mother speaks to the crowd in front of the house, their unspoken affection hangs in the air. Ada feels is around her, warm as a goose down comforter”(Howe 108). This quote is a great example of how the author wants community portrayed. Their “unspoken affection” and “warm” are what the character feels and what the reader is supposed to feel and, although its not spoken outwardly, the act of community is like “a goose down comforter”. A strong sense of community also helps shape people and teach them skills that they would not get without a strong support system from people around them. Not only does it strengthen you in terms of power but also connects you to the people around you when