Language

The short story’s language is generally easy to understand, although there are some complex words such as “suffusing” (l. 1), “scrutinizing” (l. 10), “dispossessed” (l. 17), or “implausible” (l. 74).

Indhold

Style of writing
Choice of words
Imagery
Antithesis
Similes
Metaphors
Symbols

Style of writing

The writer conveys direct speech without quotation marks, suggesting a less formal style of writing: “I count six bottles of mustard, Renee says. And butter.” (l. 5).

Instead, quotation marks are used when Butler wants to convey the characters’ irony or sarcasm: “Renee had hated his mother’s ‘fashion’… ” (ll. 12-13)

Another interesting aspect of the language is the fact that the writer often uses sentences that omit the subject. This choice suggests that the main character feels lost without his mother and is about to lose his wife as well:

“Blows at them, angrily, as if they were mosquitoes, wasps.” (l. 8);

“The cotton worn so thin it was like gauze.” (ll. 18-19);

“Dispossessed the wire hangers of their clothing.” (l. 17)

Choice of words

The choice of words reveals that the author uses a few descriptive phrases that are typically related to setting or clothing: “white light” (l. 1), “black garbage bag” (l. 2), “elbow-length yellow rubber gloves” (l. 7), “rich food” (l. 21), “Cold winter nights” (l. 23), “pink fiberglass insulation” (l. 79), etc.

Some words and phrases in the text have a negative meaning and are meant to suggest conflict, the main character’s frustrations with his marriage, and his sadness about his mother’s death: “barren” (l. 4); “angrily” (l. 8), “”hated” (l. 10), “obstinate” (l. 12), “disgusting” (l. 20), “Smiling grimly” (l. 28), “disagreed so vehemently” (l. 52), “A bad quiet” (l. 61), “tension and anger” (l. 69), “a madman, a rapist” (l. 70), “tired, lonely, heartsick” (l. 116), etc.

The words related to his mother are typically more positive and convey Mason’s nostalgia and affection: “loved her cooking” (l. 21); “come over for a feast” (l. 105); “chews, smiles” (l. 142).

Imagery

Imagery means creating mental images for the readers related to characters, setting, or actions. For example, the story opens with imagery showing what the c...