Summary Of Shiloh By Bobbie Anne Mason

Ignorance is Not Bliss The short story titled “Shiloh” by Bobbie Anne Mason focuses on a married couple by the name of Norma Jean and Leroy Moffit. At first glance the story follows unemployed Leroy as he discovers his marriage is falling apart. Leroy was hurt in an accident on the job and has been spending his time at his house now with Norma Jean and his mother-in-la, Mabel who sometimes visits. Through out the story Leroy exhibits a lack of general awareness. The reappearing theme of inadequate self awareness is highlight by Hal Blythe, a literary critic. He also proves that Leroy views the world in a childlike manor; Bylthe also makes a statement by proving Leroy is quite oblivious as he cannot detect that “the Moffit marriage is dead

The reader can gather from this short story that Leroy is a bit behind on noticing the events that occur around him. As the story goes on his awareness of his wife’s habits and their failing marriage increases until Norma Jean finally confronts him. Leroy is also unaware about other aspects of his life, for example when talking about building a cabin he mentions his current house and how he realizes: “It does not even feel like a home, Leroy realizes now” (Mason 219). Norma Jean also mentions to Leroy that he would not be able to build a cabin in any of the subdivisions which Leroy either did not consider or was not aware about entirely. When Leroy suggests that perhaps his increased presence at home upsets his wife he relates the cause to memories of his infant who had died earlier on in their marriage. He does not even consider the possibility that Normal Jean may feel differently about him or their marriage alone as a reason for her attitude towards him being home. In fact, one could find irony shortly after in the passage when Leroy tells his wife that, “[She] didn’t miss a thing” (220). The hint of irony comes

He notes the most prevalent examples of Leroy’s ignorance as well. Indeed, he is unrealistic and very out of touch with the reality around him. For example, Leroy focuses on building a house even when Norma Jeans talks about getting a job and he changes the conversation topic to building the log cabin. Leroy seems to have no desire to look for a job, or even acknowledges his unemployment is an issue despite Normal Jean’s remarks about money and jobs. However, building this house seems to be on his mind a lot, even though they have a home already. Leroy mentions that one day he would like to build her a home, which she does not seem to be too interested in. Blythe also makes note that whenever Leroy builds models of the cabin house he utilizes childish materials: kits, popsicle sticks, and Lincoln Logs. The critic really makes the statement that Leroy is immature clear. When confronted that the marriage must end Leroy has difficulty focusing on the issue at hand while his mind drifts off to pondering about the place he is at. In fact, the author makes it seem as if Leroy’s mind is jumping from one thing to another as if this sudden confrontation is too much to handle as he has been ignorant this whole time. He thinks about white slabs in the cemetery and the fact that a bunch of solider died at the place they are at. It is at this point in the story that he finally realizes that building a house is not a good