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The Symbolism Of Water In The Housebreaker Of Shady Hill

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1. In many pieces of literature and film, water in a literal and figurative sense is always significant. In “The Housebreaker of Shady Hill” Johnny Hake has an eye opening experience with water in the form of rain. The rain seems to clear Johnny’s mind and set him free from the sins he has committed. The water is significant because it is a baptism of sorts for Johnny. One Sunday morning Johnny’s Church holds communion; while Johnny is preparing to take communion he is distracted by a rat gnawing at a floorboard he misses communion. When a Christian does not take communion they are not taking the Blood of Christ, which separates them from the Lord. The rainfall at the end of Cheever’s “The Housebreaker of Shady Hill” is even more significant …show more content…

The lack of water and rain is crucial to the Mischief’s relationship with the Grandmother. Grandmother was a lukewarm Christian all her life until her last words when she finally became one with the Lord and saw the Mischief not as a criminal and murderer, but one of God’s children, one of her kind. When the Grandmother reaches out to the Mischief to try and get through to him, the Mischief panics and shoots the Grandmother. The Grandmother dies happily knowing she will be returning to her creator. O’Connor mentions the clear sky, without a cloud in sight. The lack of clouds and precipitation is important because had there been rain maybe the Mischief would have been able to be saved and turned to religion and …show more content…

The anti-hero in this tale goes without a close relationship with Religion and God, without religious faith the Mischief struggles with sin and continues on the worldly path without faith to guide him. The Mischief did not go without an opportunity to connect with God. Towards the end of the story the grandmother, who was a lukewarm Christian had an epiphany and attempted to reach out to the Mischief as one of God’s children. The grandmother saw him as he was, a child of God. In attempts to connect with the Mischief, the grandmother ends up being shot and killed by the Mischief. The lack of religious beliefs in the Mischief’s life leads him to a life without path and true

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