Skip to main content

How does Mangan's sister represent the country of Ireland?

It's a pretty dark and bleak world in which the narrator lives. His street is "blind" and "quiet" with a "brown imperturbable [face]." The home's former tenant, a priest, had died inside, and the garden behind the house had grown "wild." The story is set during winter, when "dusk fell before" dinnertime, and the narrator and his friends would play outside in the "dark muddy lanes" and "dark dripping gardens," near the "dark odorous stables."...

It's a pretty dark and bleak world in which the narrator lives. His street is "blind" and "quiet" with a "brown imperturbable [face]." The home's former tenant, a priest, had died inside, and the garden behind the house had grown "wild." The story is set during winter, when "dusk fell before" dinnertime, and the narrator and his friends would play outside in the "dark muddy lanes" and "dark dripping gardens," near the "dark odorous stables." The repetition of the word "dark" is symbolic; this is a dark time for Ireland: its slums are some of the worst in Europe, political tensions are high, and Nationalists see the advent of WWI as an opportunity to rebel against England while she is otherwise engaged.


However, Mangan's sister is always characterized by light, in comparison to the darkness everywhere else. As she stands in the doorway, looking for her brother, the narrator sees her "figure defined by the light from the half-opened door." Later, when he speaks to her, "The light from the lamp opposite [his] door caught the white curve of her neck, lit up her hair that rested there, and, falling, lit up the hand upon the railing." Now, the repetition of light is symbolic, and she seems to represent something hopeful. Perhaps she is meant to represent the writer's hope that, someday, Ireland will not be the bleak and sad place of the narrator's youth.  Therefore, Mangan's sister is Ireland's brighter future.

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