Miriam Toews

In Miriam Toews's Irma Voth, Mennonite shunning is practiced within the Mennonite community; being shunned is a form of punishment for unacceptable behaviour in which an individual is ostracized or "ghosted" from Mennonite society (Dirks). The use of shunning influences the quality of life and is the primary purpose of this novel. In this essay, I will analyze the consequences of shunning, which are shown through the impacts on Irma Voth's relationships and self-actualization. The author reveals…

At what point is an individual’s relationship with another determined meaningful, and if determined, to what extent does the relationship with another determine the impact of separation? Exploring the point at which a relationship is meaningful, results in no correct answer, as the idea of meaning to one individual will differ greatly from another’s, due to the many factors which contribute to the act of providing meaning to relationship. Furthermore, the two subjective ideas when looked at…