What's Next?

The ending of Bobbie Ann Mason’s "Shiloh" is filled with ambiguity. Norma Jean had just told her husband, Leroy, that she doesn’t want to be with him. She then walks toward a bluff by the river. The reader is left with a comparison of the sky to the dust ruffle Mabel had made for them, and the story is over. We are then free to make assumptions or ask questions about what happens next. We can assume that Norma Jean and Leroy go their separate ways or we can ask some questions. Is there hope for them to stay together as a couple? Where is Norma Jean going? How will they interact after this? Will Leroy try to convince her to stay with him? Will Norma Jean say anything else to Leroy? Will she ask him for a ride home? Does Norma Jean intend to go home?

In my opinion, their marriage is not necessarily over. Although they lack the communication necessary for a marriage to function properly, I don’t think it’s too late for them to start talking. Perhaps this is just my nature to root for the seemingly hopeless, but looking at the end of the story—their time in Shiloh, that is—there are glimpses of hope through a couple of successful shared moments. After being in Shiloh for only a short period of time, Norma Jean sarcastically says, “Well we’ve seen it. I hope she’s satisfied.” Referring to her mother’s desperate desire for Norma Jean and Leroy to visit Shiloh, Norma Jean spurs Leroy and herself to “burst out laughing together.” Although this may seem simple, laughter and humor are two vital elements that have been missing from this marriage.

The following conversation between them is noticeably less humorous. Norma Jean voices her desire to leave Leroy. Looking closely at Norma Jean’s exact words, I noticed that she said she didn’t “want” to leave Leroy. Author Joyce Carol Oates could have completely rid the scene of any ambiguity by having Norma Jean say, “I’m going to leave you,” with no uncertainty present. This conversation is the first long dialogue between the couple throughout the story. And although it is not pleasant, the conversation is honest. It gives each a chance to voice an opinion. After this conversation, Leroy contemplates his next move—an assurance to the reader that he still has hope. During these thoughts, however, Norma Jean is “far away, walking rapidly toward the bluff by the river.”

So, while Norma Jean left to her own devices may never want to go home, Leroy’s voice is still audible in her ears, and I believe that the next chapter in their lives does not necessarily have to mean separation. After reading the story for the first time, the title appeared to be significant because it established the end of the central couple’s relationship. However, I believe that it could signify the end of one chapter in the couple’s lives, and the beginning of a new one—with more honest communication. I’m not saying that things will suddenly be perfect because of their brief shared laughter and a glimpse at an honest exchange. I do wonder, though, if Mabel sent them to Shiloh because she saw their marriage dissembling and hoped it would help them. Shiloh is undeniably a turning point in the story—whether it is for better or for worse, we shall never know.

And perhaps what happens next doesn't matter. But, then again, maybe it does. (582)

On the Verge of Death

When you know you are about to be killed, what should you do? Should you accept death with a gracious, “thank you” or should you beg and plead for your life? Similar questions arose during our class discussion of “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Conner. After Bailey and one of his sons are killed, the grandmother and mother, waiting with fearful anticipation for their own deaths, are left to face The Misfit and his men. The mother, with the baby and her daughter, June, is politely asked by The Misfit, “Lady, would you and that little girl like to step off yonder with Bobby Lee and Hiram and join your husband.” Without seeing this sentence in context, it appears merely as an invitation for a “lady” to reunite with her husband. However, in actuality, her husband is dead and this “invitation” is not for a reunion, but for murder. Because of the polite language of The Misfit, the mother responds courteously by saying, “Yes, thank you.” While, indeed, out of context, this response seems bizarre, looking at it in the text, the mother’s answer was more or less articulated unconsciously. Accepting her fate but paralyzed with shock of the murder of her husband and son, she is only able to murmur a quiet and gracious answer. Unfortunately, this shock, or some other unexplained reason, prevents the mother from trying to save her children.

The second notable pre-murder reaction is the grandma’s. Because the reader will never know what was going on in the grandma’s mind, her actions, or lack thereof, appeared selfish. While she was pleading for her own life, not once did she try to convince the killers to let her son, daughter-in-law, or grandchildren survive. She could have been in shock, but observing her talkative manner and focus on her own survival, it seems like she was fairly calm, compared to the mother, and simply being selfish. And unlike the mothers’ immediate acceptance of death, the grandma is persistent in her begging. Since she first met The Misfit, she tries to convince him—and herself—that he is a “good man.” She continues that she knows, “he wouldn’t shoot a lady!” and then, trying to convince herself of this, says, “Pray! Jesus, you ought not to shoot a lady.” Although this desperation and constant begging is not appealing; in the face of a murderer, it is certainly justifiable.

These interactions analyzed above demonstrate different characters’ reactions to death. In other words, a person’s actions and words when facing death largely depend on that person’s personality and the way in which the possibility of death confronts them. In the face of death, the grandmother does not act out of character—in the beginning of the story, she is begging to go to Tennessee and not Florida, despite the wishes of the rest of the family. In both situations she is acting selfishly through persistent begging, although in differing degrees.

What would you do in the face of death? What do you think you should do? Should you act honorably and politely or should you plead for your life? If my son and husband had just been shot, it might be easier to quietly agree to death. But I think (I hope) my inner instinct, even after such a tragedy, would urge me to resist (run fast or beg for my life)—if not for me, than for my kids. (575)

What Could Daisy Have Done?

One of the questions raised in class was, what could Daisy have done to be a better parent and stop Donny’s poor behavior? Throughout the story, I was frustrated with Daisy because she never seemed to take a stand against her son’s actions. Earlier in our class discussion on Teenage Wasteland, we talked about how Daisy acts more like a teenager than Donny does. In my opinion, this is the root of Daisy’s problem. Her lack of self-confidence and her quick change of opinions—both common characteristics of teenagers—hinder her ability to be a good mother. Her lack of self-confidence is shown when she and her husband are sitting in front of the principle, “worried about how they must look....an overweight housewife and a too-tall, too-thin insurance agent.” Later in the story, her inability to stand firm in her own opinions and her tendency to readily take the advice of others is shown when, after talking with Cal about her “controlling” nature, he tells her that Donny has low self-esteem and that Daisy should back away some. Daisy is quick to respond, “Well, I guess you’re right,” and proceeds to feel sorry for Donny. Soon after that, Donny’s history teacher calls and tells Daisy that Donny is progressively doing worse in math. After hanging up, Daisy “felt a rush of anger at Donny.” Then, Daisy calls Cal and gets upset with him about for not trying to improve Donny’s grades. Cal tells Daisy that there is more to life than grades, and quickly, Daisy changes her opinion, “it was Miss Evans she was angry it. What a narrow woman!” Empathy for her son, then anger at her son, then irritation with Cal, then great annoyance with Donny’s teacher—all felt by Daisy in a short period of time.

Through my experiences, the most effective parents have been those who aren’t preoccupied with being their kids’ friend. Instead, they are willing to go to any measure to protect their kids and keep them happy in the long run. Daisy is too focused on her appearance—not only does she not want to be seen as a failure, she also does not want appear as the “bad guy” with her son. She does take some action like trusting Cal to help her son, but inside, she is just craving for her little blonde-haired boy to be back, not sure how time flew so quickly.

Despite all of this criticism of Daisy, I do believe that Donny’s situation is delicate and has no easy solution. Daisy certainly tried to make her son happy, but didn’t go about it in the best way. In my opinion, Daisy needed to try different things—go to a different therapist, place more restrictions on Donny’s life outside of school, create a more enjoyable situation at home—to help Donny. Although Daisy should have been able to get help from therapists, teachers, and, at least, her husband, something needed to be done with Donny, and if no one else was going to do anything, she needed to make a move. (513)