Analysis
of Theme and Literary Elements
The short story “Used to Live Here Once” by Jean Rhys is
full of symbolism. So much so that nearly every reader can gain a different
perspective of the story’s theme. The
story begins with an un-named protagonist stepping over stones as she crosses a
river, then walking along a familiar road to an old house that she once resided
it. Upon finding the house she takes
notice of two children under a mango tree.
After several failed attempts to speak with them the story ends with her
coming to a realization of her spiritual existence. This short story can be considered
an allegory, as it has both literal and figurative elements that contribute to
the understanding of the theme (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2013). Though it is
not directly specified, the tone, setting and symbolism in this story infer
that the protagonist is deceased, and therefore presents the theme of the story
as the journey into spirituality and the loneliness and separation of such a
condition.
The short story is narrated in a third-person limited omniscient
perspective. According to Clugston (2010),
“It is called a
limited omniscient point of view
when the thoughts and feelings of only one of the characters are related
through the narrator” (sec. 5.2, para. 3).
The only feelings that are expressed are those of the protagonists and
are dictated from the perspective of an onlooker rather than from the character
herself. This perspective is effective in conveying a sense of the character’s
solitude and distance from the rest of the world. This perspective even gives a
sense of a slight distance that the character has from herself. This can be
deduced by the fact that it is not told from a first-person perspective, which
would provide the same effect when conveying a separation from others,
but from the third-person implying an even further separation from the
character. In this way, the point of
view supports the theme of loneliness in life after death, whereby the spirit
and physical body forever detach.
There is plenty of supporting symbolism in this story,
which begins from the very first paragraph when she crosses the stepping stones
of the river, recalling their individual differences.
“There was the round unsteady
stone, the pointed one, the flat one in the middle –– the safe stone where you
could stand and look around. The next one wasn't so safe for when the river was
full the water flowed over it and even when it showed dry it was slippery” (as
cited by Clugston, 2010, sec. 7.5, para. 1).
Not one word is wasted in expressing so much background
information to the reader, while also hinting at the theme of life after
death. The descriptions of the stones
being different, some safe and some unsteady, are symbolic of the different stages
in her life: at some points trials and tribulations make the steps more
difficult, in other times, there was rest and a relief. These points are much like the journey from
childhood through adulthood, beginning unsteadily and with uncertainty before
coming to a flat point where late adulthood and a time of ease is most commonly
assumed. Finally, the description that
is given to the treacherous rock with river water flowing over it is symbolic
of the final point in life, where by either old age or accident, the body fails
and succumbs to death. “But after that it was easy and soon she was standing on
the other side” (as cited in Clugston, 2010, sec. 7.5, para. 1). This is the
point of spiritual transition to spirituality.
The phrase “the other side” is often used figuratively for the spirit
world. This implies that she has passed on.
The stones that she has crossed serves as a symbolic reflection on her
life, but also expressed in a literal sense as stones that she recalls from a
place she once lived. This literal description
is what the reader takes notice of first as it is not until the end of the
story that the protagonist, and therefore reader, are made aware of her death.
Upon
walking further the woman takes notice of many physical changes to the
environment. The road is wider than she
recalls and is said to be uncared for, implying the change in time and an
overall feeling of being forgotten. Yet despite the condition of the road and
the vegetation, she is described as feeling happy. The sky is blue but has an unknown feeling to
it that she could not recollect, which she best describes as being “glassy”.
Glass implies fragility and reflection, which perhaps compliments the theme by
of loneliness by hinting at the idea of the bittersweet nature of memories. The
tone is both nostalgic and ironic in that the romantic sentiment that is
attached with the feeling of a familiar place is confused with an
acknowledgement of the physical characteristics having been changed. Such irony
is seen also at the end of the story.
The
constant movement the protagonist makes as she journeys over the river, down
the road, and to the house comes to a stop when she comes upon two children
under a tree. “There were two children under the big mango tree, a boy and a
little girl, and she waved to them and called "Hello" but they didn't
answer her or turn their heads” (as cited in Clugston, 2010, sec 7.5 para. 5).
In a short story, every image has an important use to the story. There is symbolic purpose behind the children
and the mention of the mango tree. Both
are a reference to youth and childhood. Fruit is typically representative of
youth, new life, or fertility. In this
case, with the presence of the children, is meant as an expression of her
childhood. She makes three failed attempts to communicate with the children,
which are wrought with symbolism. Her inability to be seen or heard finally
confirm that she is deceased and in a spiritual realm, while also remarking on
the loneliness of her condition as she tries not once, but three times to get
their attention. Additionally, her loneliness is confirmed in her approach to
the children: “her arms went out instinctively with the longing to touch them”
(as cited in Clugston, 2010, sec 7.5, para. 6). In this line, the tone seems to
shift into a burst of sentiment as we can see that she has an incredible urge
to connect with others. Being denied the
contact she seeks and the final understanding of her condition is ironic as one
would not expect such a pleasant journey through fair memories to arrive at
such a solemn awareness. There is an evident sense of pain in her separation
from life and a devastation in the awareness (and possible acceptance) of death
(Aubrey & Rollins, 2001). This
directly relates the theme of the journey into spirituality and the loneliness
that results.
The theme in any story is focuses on a broad lesson or understanding
of life based on ancient or cultural myths.
They speak of what we know, or hope to know, of our existence. In short,
the theme tells us what the story is about (Clugston, 2010). In “I Used to Live
Here”, the theme is made evident by the use of tone, symbolism, and the point
of view the story is narrated in. These
literary elements are key in understanding the value and meaning in the
character’s journey. While we all can
relate to feeling nostalgic about places we have made memories in, the elements
in this story imply a much more philosophical outlook on the journey she makes.
Since life after death is not something anyone can speak intelligently about,
literature relies on symbolism to express the feelings that can only be
speculated on, and hence, are subjective to each person’s individual
perspective. Her transition from life to death, the loneliness that derives
from such an exile, and the difficult acceptance of her spirituality are
thematic in this short story.
Reference
Aubrey,
B. & Rollins, D. (2001). Jean Rhys. Critical
Survey Of Short Fiction, Second Revised Edition, 1-4. Retrieved from: http://ehis.ebscohost.com.
Clugston,
W. R. (2010). Journey into literature. San Diego, CA:
Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/books.
Encyclopedia
Britanica. (2013). Allegory. Retrieved
from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/16078/allegory.
Alternative reading: she is NOT actually dead, but the white prejudiced children treat her as though she is. Note that the setting is the West Indies.
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