Critical analysis of Elizabeth Bowen's short story 'The Demo
Bowen uses vast amounts of narrative in this story as opposed to dialogue. This, combined by her created objects of dramatic function and choice of language convey the feeling of suspense and intensity that she wants the reader to feel throughout the story.After detailed reading of the story, one cannot be sure Mrs Drover's return to the house is physically happening, however is definitely occurring in her mind. The "unfamiliar queerness" of the surroundings she should be so comfortable with further suggests that the "several things" she returns to the house to collect may be memories rather than actual objects. The point of the story seems to be Mrs Drover's journey into her past, in an attempt to find out how she used to be as she seems discontent and resentful at her current self, which is described as "prosaic". This suggests she is reasonably simple, ordinary and possibly quite a boring individual. Her "movements" are described as "circumscribed", which suggests her only real focus and ambition in life was to settle down with a husband and children. Thus meaning she wanted to follow convention more than find an enjoyable life, heightening the idea of her current personality being so "prosaic".
From the language this seems symbolic, as the "lock" to her past was difficult to open, but now she has enough strength to finally go back and face what has caused her so much grief and pain in the past. In one of the few parts of dialogue, Mrs Drover says,"The hour arranged . We are never fully sure of "the hour arranged", and when this is to be. This gives the narrator more freedom to add great detail to areas where the story's pace needs to be increased or decreased for dramatic effect. However, one could be led to believe that the only mention of "God" is after "The hour arranged", possibly suggesting her husband is dead and God will decide when this hour will be. Bowen leaves the reader with an open ending. The simple fact that the letter from the "Demon Lover" sparks the suspense and interest in the story emphasises the title to be fitting and intelligent. "The Demon Lover" does set a slightly ambiguous and sinister tone, however provides some aide to many of the ideas the reader may have construed. At this stage she seems to be at the furthest point from "the safe arms of her mother", which ironically is the place she was after his last contact with her. The word "lover" is to reiterate to the reader that even if "he was never kind" to her, she did love him and it was probably her first love. This is to focus the reader on the fact she is alone in this journey, as the only dialogue is a conversation she had with her fiance in the past.
Common topics in this essay:
Demon Lover,
,
Analepsis Prolepsis,
God God,
demon lover,
throughout story,
enters house,
story drover's,
reader feel,
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