Skip to main content

What is an example of symbolism in Chapter 12 of Gary D. Schmidt's novel Trouble?

Darkness is a recurring motif as well as a symbol found in Chapter 12 of Gary D. Schmidt's novel Trouble. Darkness fills the chapter from the start, as hitchhikers Henry, Sanborn, and Black Dog are finally picked up in the deepening twilight by a truck driven by Chay. As Chay drives on, the narrator notes that there are "[n]o stars in the sky yet. No moon" (p. 156). When they reach Portland, Maine, the...

Darkness is a recurring motif as well as a symbol found in Chapter 12 of Gary D. Schmidt's novel Trouble.

Darkness fills the chapter from the start, as hitchhikers Henry, Sanborn, and Black Dog are finally picked up in the deepening twilight by a truck driven by Chay. As Chay drives on, the narrator notes that there are "[n]o stars in the sky yet. No moon" (p. 156). When they reach Portland, Maine, the narrator also notes that the water of Casco Bay "shone black obsidian" (p. 159). All of this darkness serves to symbolize trouble and grief both Henry and Chay are suffering from.

The meaning of the symbol becomes clear as Henry and Chay enter into a heated conversation in the truck. At one point Henry tells Chay he "can't imagine" what Henry's mother sounds like as she grieves over Franklin's loss each night since his death (p. 156). However, Chay surprises Henry by giving the following response:



She sounds like all she wants is to die before anything else happens, because already she can't bear to keep on living. (p. 156)



After Henry replies, "Because of you," they both fall into a heavy silence that the narrator calls "dark"; the silence fills the inside of the truck, just as darkness surrounds the outside of the truck:



Outside there was this growing darkness. Inside there was only this silence, just as dark. (p. 156)



Since this silence is caused by their mutual grief, we see that the narrator's figurative language, likening silence to darkness, shows that the motif of darkness symbolizes their grief and trouble, grief and trouble that are as black as the night.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why did Tybalt attack and kill Mercutio instead of Romeo, who he had originally been targeting?

Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio... Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio and Benvolio, Mercutio responds "And but one word with one of us?/ Couple it w...
Post a Comment
Read more