Character Analysis of Leroy Moffit from Mason's
In the story "Shiloh" by Bobbie Ann Mason, Leroy Moffitt is a truck driver and a husband to Norma Jean. For a long time Leroy's job has taken first priority in his life, but now things are starting to change. About four months ago Leroy was in a highway accident and seriously injured his leg. He is now stuck at home for a long time and probably will never be able to drive his rig again. Now that Leroy is at home he is trying to find activities to keep himself busy. "He started by building a miniature log cabin from notched Popsicle sticks (615)." Some other activities he has taken up are string art, a snap-together B-17 Flying Fortress, and he even made a lamp out of a model truck. Leroy seems like a hopeless romantic. "Ever since they were married, he has promised Norma Jean he would build her a new home one day (615)." He would love to build her a log cabin for them to live in together. They have always rented homes and he has always wanted a house of his own. The house he currently lives in doesn't even feel like home to him now. He still looks at his wife and sees the person he fell in love with. He thinks she is still as pretty as she was when he met her. Leroy is often confused about what his wife thinks about him. He
" In the story Leroy doesn't realize he is slowly becoming more distant from everyone and everything. has felt unusually tender about his wife and guilty over his long absences (615). They had a child who died as a baby years ago. When he snaps back to reality he sees Norma Jean walking off into the distance. He is also starting to feel distant from his wife. His wife Norma Jean makes him lists of things he could do. Leroy also realizes that in the years he was a truck driver he never took the time to examine anything and now appreciates the beautiful scenery around him. " He is confused by the small population growth and wonders who is living in all the new houses. " He is worried that he might remind her too much of the early days of their marriage before he was on the road all the time. Since he has been home he's been trying to create a better connection between Norma Jean and himself and ". Being that he had been on the road for such a long time and is now back in the town, he is noticing things are changing. He sometimes feels awkward around his wife because he wonders if he should mention their deceased child. It seems that maybe Leroy is afraid to start working again.
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,
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