Themes In Anna Hope's A Gap Of Sky

Pressure and expectations are a part of the modern society. A general thought is that you are free to create your own happiness; however, adolescents still have behavioral expectations attached such as getting an education and a well paid job. Thus, growing up and choosing your own path comes with certain difficulties. The short story “A Gap of Sky” by Anna Hope depicts a nineteen year old teenager named Ellie living in London and the trouble she has in finding the balance between society’s expectations, and her own aspirations; even though she may not know what she wants. “A Gap of Sky” begins in medias res and the narrative is told from a 3rd person limited omniscient narrator following the perspective of the main character, Ellie. This …show more content…
The story is as before mentioned set in London; a city which is an epitome of a modern and urban city. It is a centre of noise and activity and Ellie lives in the middle of it, which also influences her behavior. It is a constant source of inspiration such as when she sees the black leather glove with the middle finger raised upwards, and she feels immense possibilities together with the freedom to do what she wants. However, it does also come with anonymity which makes it easier to hide and sustain a poor habit like drugs, and having a rough time in school, since it can seem like nobody cares about you, due to the massive size and the amount of people in a city like …show more content…
3, l. 110-112). Previously she thought the stone was a “daft” gift, but she realizes it was an attempt for her mother to show her love, and she took it for granted. But as Ellie envisions her mother, she realizes that it is not too late to appreciate and love her. Upon this realization Ellie undergoes a change and feels alive, and perhaps now she can leave behind the drugs. The ending therefore depicts a possible positive outcome where Ellie leaves her bad habits behind, but as it is an open ending, it is unknown if she decides to return to her drug habit. The title can also be interpreted as reinforcing the idea of a positive ending, since she sees a gap of sky in the story; a gap that can be seen as a metaphorical way of leaving her previous unhealthy life.
To conclude “A Gap of Sky” tells the story of the mental journey of the nineteen years old main character, Ellie. In a city such as London that provides both opportunities and challenges for Ellie, she experiences her most important development as she finally understands that her mother loves her; someone cares about her, and perhaps now she can leave behind her poor