Leaving The Iron Lung Analysis

In the short story "Leaving the Iron Lung" Carter underlines how physical condition can limit someone from accomplishing their dreams. For example, when Pauline is shouting at the top of her lungs while watching hockey night in Canada provoking her mom to wind up furious at her, Agathe, Pauline's mother "[clicks] over the kitchen floor" to heave at Pauline who waits with her “[shrivel] legs”(84). The condition of Pauline's legs demonstrates that she can't run away from her baffled mother and therefore she is frozen on her favorite window seat. Her polio limits her from avoiding mischief she has caused. In addition, her shrivel legs uncover how her dream is stuck inside her .Hence, the author uses physical condition to reveal that it can limit

Therefore, Carter employs physical disease to prove that it can prevent us from constructing our dreams. Lastly, when Pauline moves in the opposite direction of her mother after being yelled at for playing with her metal figuring, she sees her dad skating "smooth eight figures" around the lawn arena (84). She then wishes she can "fly" like her dad "powerful" and "free"(84). Pauline's craving indicates she desperately wants to skate and feel freedom. However, to her this is just a dream and in her mind she can't reach it. Thus, the writer uses physical disability to show us that it can restrict someone from achieving their dreams. To sum it up, the author uses the protagonist, Pauline, to show that even our dreams have a frontier.

Secondly, the author in “Leaving the Iron Lung” emphasize on character contrast to demonstrate that dreams and safety have their own limits. First, Agathe represents Pauline’s safety and Tante Marie represents Pauline’s dream. For example, when Tante Marie comes to Pauline’s house from Montreal and asks her to “[grab] her coat” for a walk (85). However, Pauline’s mother didn’t like the idea that they walk, so she comments that “it’s too icy” and Pauline could get herself injure (85). When Marie tries to ask