A Critical Analysis of the Opening Pages of Chaper Nine
             from "The Go-Between" by LP Hartley
             The beginning passages of chapter nine are illustrative of the plot intensifying and depict a heightened relationship between Leo and Ted Burgess. They are symbolically indicative of "the calm before the storm."
             The written use of imagery, metaphor and symbolism contribute to the novel as a whole and add a richness of meaning. The continuation of natural imagery attributed to Ted allows the reader to once again connect Ted with the natural world; " he was usually working in the harvest fields" and Leo "has a fancy that he was a sheaf." Even colour is used to symbolically trap Ted in the natural world; "Standing their the colour of corn." However, our final vision of natural imagery is paradoxical and ambiguous, implying a bitter tone as Ted is seen "standing with his gun waiting for the rabbits." Here the reader is introduced to the weapon . It is significant that the reader makes this link before Leo, thus being able to fully watch and interpret Leo's reactions when the weapon has it's final use. This somewhat sardonic imagery is followed by more ironic symbolism as the reader hears of Ted being the colour "between red and gold." Red alerts the reader to danger and gold a word normally attributed to the sun -or as we are about to hear: "Golden afternoons," - is at once inextricably linked with Marion - the symbolic sun, whom people fly to close to and are burned. The fact that Ted is "in between" the two colours suggests that either way he is doomed and destined to destruction. Throughout the opening passages, time and superstition are portrayed symbolically in a way that suggests the novel was written for the critics. The passage starts on a "Tuesday" which is three days before "that fateful Friday." The r...