Summary Of Shiloh By Bobbie Ann Mason

In Bobbie Ann Masons short story “Shiloh” it shows the struggle of a marriage trying to survive despite several problems. As in many relationships, the lack of socializing prevents the marriage from being perfect. Both husband and wife are unable to face the problems that they need to overcome if the marriage is going to survive. Mason places the story in the 1970’s in Kentucky during a political, economical, and social change. Shiloh is told from omniscient narrator. Mason used this to give a broad overview of every characters thoughts through the story. It helps show that Leroy and Norma Jeans marriage has weakened. It is also based on a third person point of view from leroy. The main characters are Leroy and Norma Jean Moffitt. Leroy

Now he has no way to occupy himself. While he is recuperating, he finds ways to learn more about his wife, who he is now ready to "settle down with" (Mason 63). He dreams are building her a log cabin, where they can spend the rest of their lives. They were the type of people who always rented there house but while Leroy was hurt he decided he wanted to build Norma Jean her very own house. Mason uses feminine and masculine traits in many of the characters actions to represent dominance in the house. It started with Norma Jean is weight lifting while Leroy sits and watches. This shows that Norma Jean is already trying to adapt herself. Leroy had nothing better to do with his time so he started building models and knits. The changing of roles in this case is to represent that while Leroy is injured and not up to his responsibilities anymore Norma Jean feels that she needs to be the one to take his place as head of the house. It seems as if Norma Jean appears to be a strong and capable individual but as the story develops she seems to be getting exhausted by her own efforts. Mason also uses a third and final character in this story. Norma’s mother plays a remarkable role in the

There was political, social, and economic change. She had focused on the impact of the real world during these changes. The characters seem to be getting away from the old classic values and ways and there became new ways of life that earlier generations could have never