Symbolism In Shiloh By Bobbie Ann Mason

Symbolism is a literary device used to represent complex ideas with only a few words. Symbols can have many different meanings as it depends on the reader and their perspective. “Shiloh” is a short story by Bobbie Ann Mason and symbols play a huge role in the story. This story can either be comprehended in the stated view or with the use of recognition and understanding of the symbolisme. This story represents the relationship between two people; Norma Jean and Leroy Moffitt.

Birds are able to flap their wings and this motion gives the thrust to elevate themselves from the earth. As birds are able to soar above the face of this earth, they represent freedom. “For a long time, they sit by the kitchen window watching the birds at the feeder.”. Norma Jean and Leroy find themselves watching and caring for the birds in this story. They observe …show more content…
After Leroy’s accident, he does not know what to do with himself and so he come up with the idea of building a log cabin and he begins to grow an obsession of this project. “You can’t get me into a log cabin… I was raised in one and , it’s no picnic, let me tell you”. He is told by several people that this is an impractical idea and Norma Jean states that she is not interested. This idea of building a log cabin symbolises the marriage between him and Norma Jean. Nothing can dissuade him and he does not consider all the factors involved in building a cabin like the cost or the inefficiency. Just as he won't give up on the idea of a log cabin, he also won’t let go of the idea of his marriage coming to an end although his wife already did. In Shiloh, Leroy realizes that his dream of building a log cabin was just a fantasy just like the idea of his marriage with Norma Jean. He registers the fact that his marriage now is as empty and abandoned as his fictional log cabin. The symbolic link between the trance of a log cabin and his failed marriage become a clear image to