Mother

THEMES: miscommunication

IMAGERY: hands, light vs. dark, windows, streets, trees

CONNECTION TO THEME: The hands in the story “Mother” represent the communication between the characters.

TEST: Hands in the story represent the communication between Elizabeth and her family. An example of this is when the story is talking about Elizabeth Willard walking with the men on page 46, “On the side streets in the village, in the darkness under the trees, they took hold of her hand…” This quote represents the communication between Elizabeth and Tom, as well last the other men that used to understand her. Hands are also used to symbolize communication between Tom and George on page 44, “In the light that streamed out of the door he stood with the knob in his hand and talked.” This quote was the beginning to his talk to George working harder. Another time this is shown is when Elizabeth is looking out of her window at the baker and the cat on page 41, “At the back door of his shop appeared Abner Groff with a stick or an empty milk bottle in his hand.” This is the first time that anger is shown with hands.