Analysis of the American Short Story
An Incessant Detachment from Love in the American Short Story
The American short story has increasingly changed over time due to prominent historical occurrences. Literature is highly influenced by the environment and current events that dictate the ways in which citizens view society as a whole. Four stories that particularly show a change over time containing similarities in theme are “The School” by Donald Bartheme, “Shiloh” by Bobby Ann Mason, “Janus” by Ann Beattie, and “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien, which all were written in the later twentieth century. These stories reveal a sense of longing for love and to be loved during times when society seems to be influencing hate.
“The School” which was written in 1974, contains several issues regarding the fact that children are so far distanced from love itself, that the characters in this story actually request the teacher to make love to his significant other for them to see. This shocking ending initially comes off disturbing to the reader, but through a closer analytical lens, it is truly heartbreaking. The children’s longing to see love, as if it is a foreign concept in which they have never heard of, heavily reveals the lack of peace and emotional fulfillment within their surroundings. Bartheme does an excellent job at taking the reader by full surprise in order to communicate a larger issue that something needs to be done.
Similarly to “The School,” Mason’s “Shiloh,” published in 1980, exerts an immense level of longing to be loved. Two people that were once lovers have experienced role changes and dwindled affection as the husband so desperately wants to make things work. The wife, however, no longer wants to be with him. Although it is left ambiguous at the end as to whether she decides to leave him, it is implied that she does. Though the concept of love seems to play a prominent role in “Shiloh,” the male character in this story is further distanced away from it than the children were in “The School.” The male role is completely shot down by his wife as she does not even attempt to work things out, but would rather leave him completely. As a result, he has not a chance to even possibly get back together, so his desperation for love is left without the least bit of satisfaction. His lack of power and say in this situation confines his ability to even try to make love work with someone who will not give an inch.
“Janus,” by Ann Beattie, which was published in 1985, is another story that contains the theme of love, but is completely detached from the legitimacy of love itself. Even more so than the previous two stories, the main character in this story develops love towards an inanimate object. This bowl that she forms a bond with had ties to a previous lover which is ultimately what led to her obsession. In this story, the reader is not informed that the bowl contains prior relationship baggage until the end, which creates a larger impact once we find out. The protagonist in this story is even further set apart from love than the other characters were in “The School” and “Shiloh,” that she actually falls deeply for something that is not even living. The theme of love remains, though the fulfillment of actually achieving it is increasingly failed.
Aside from these three stories and the continual detachment from attaining love, O’Brien’s 1986 “The Things They Carried,” is the furthest away from love it gets. The ways in which these soldiers strive each day just to stay alive is devastating and emotionally evoking. When one of the soldiers carries a pebble which signifies “love,” the reader is definitely able to see the extent to which these men have no love or affection anywhere in site. The fact that a pebble that really means nothing at all is what is keeping him going may seem unfathomable to the common person in today’s modern society. Aside from relying on a pebble for “love,” the environment in which these men constantly struggle to keep moving forward contains absolutely no opportunity for a legitimate love interest. The combination of being so desperate as to love a pebble, and being surrounded with nothing but weapons, dead bodies, and soldiers, gives absolutely no hope of reaching the most sublime emotion there is—love.
These four stories reveal a lot about how heavily influenced the American short story is by our surroundings and social norms. Whether it is in a classroom setting or on a battlefield, the concept of love remains a prominent theme throughout these stories during the late 20th century. The reader is able to see a change through the ways in which people strive to achieve love, but only become further and further away from fulfilling their desires.