a broken wing
What is it like to be free? Bobbie Ann Mason, the author of "Shiloh" puts NormaJean Moffitt through different tests in her life before she can find her freedom. Masonintroduces us to a character who yearns to be free from her husband and mother.Throughout Norma Jean's life she has dealt with many difficult and trying times thatsometimes may not make sense to her and finally this thirty-four-year-old woman is readyto spread her wings; fly away and see what it is like to be free. Throughout the story, Norma Jean's desire to be free is evident in tasks that she istaking on that she would not normally do, leaving her mother and husband blind to thefact that change is coming. Norma begins taking a bodybuilding class, an Englishcomposition class and a course in cooking exotic foods. These changes in Norma's lifeare evident to the reader that she is trying to rediscover herself and find her sense ofidentity. Her husband Leroy takes notice late in the story to this situation and does notunderstand why she is going through all of these classes. In a conversation with Mabel,
She needed tobe free from all her worries and the two people that were holding her down. Norma has to adjust her lifestyle to accommodate Leroy whom sheis not used to living with. When it is mentioned that the two go to Shiloh, it issuggested that Mabel accompany them. The meaning of freedom may have different meanings from person to person. Oneday Norma is in her house with the door closed and in comes Mabel catching herdaughter smoking a cigarette. The character and strength of Norma are challenged by Leroy and Mabelthroughout the story. He wouldrather a quiet rural area with a log cabin and she wants to be with the crowd and wantsnothing to do with Leroy's cabin. When Norma does finally get the strength she needs and her emotional wounds arehealed she leaves Leroy and Mabel with a broken wing but strong heart and takes off intoa new world of freedom where she can carry out her dreams. The classes are giving Norma the space she had while Leroy was working, butthey are also the tools she needs to distance herself from Leroy and Mabel. Mabel immediately comes down on her daughter saying that she did not raise herto speak with that tone of voice and Norma's reply is that she has not seen anything yet. Norma Jean is given some massive dilemmas to act upon. Norma is found later crying to Leroy how her privacy wasinvaded by her mother. Still her mother, Mabel is watching every move she makes. She does not want the same things in life as he does. Norma and Leroy lost a baby when they were eighteen years olddue to SIDS.
Common topics in this essay:
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Leroy Mabel,
SIDS Mabel,
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Broken Wing,
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Ann Mason,
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story norma,
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Acceptance Essays
