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Analysis Of The Painted Door

Decent Essays

In the short story by Sinclair Ross “The Painted Door” which was publicized in 1939. A restless farmer’s wife, Ann struggles with the lack of true contact and excitement in her life. While her significant other, John is conflicted with the fact that he is just not “good” enough for Ann and wrestles with it throughout his development as a character. Ross demonstrates how a lack of communication in a union can prompt strain and isolation, even in the ones that were solidified and built on loyalty and sacrifice. Ross uses an insignificant object, the painted door, to re-define and symbolize the true archetype, as being infidelity “Questioning Devotion turned Betrayal”. The painted door is used as a tragic irony towards the conclusion of the …show more content…

When Steven had arrived and helped Ann with her labor, the storm settles. That was a representation of Ann’s mind finally making a decision. The weather (Ann) was in complete control of the story, if circumstances had been different, we would have experienced different outcomes. In retrospect, the storm had turned from a symbol of the loveless passion towards Steven to a shameful and utter repentance for the betrayal of John who she realizes is the man for her.
The painted door is a clear identification of symbolism used. The white paint on John represents the waning love that has been tainted and established by the yearning act effectuated by Ann. Progressing into the novel, the paint had represented loneliness, isolation, and an internal struggle between Ann and her conflicting emotions. Ann had used the paint originally to brighten up what she considered to be a dull, repetitive life. She at the time wanted to modify her surroundings to give a logical reason as to why she was feeling the way she was. As a reader we must recognize the irrefutable fact that winter was and is not the right time to be painting a door, “Yet Ann is desperate to fill a void in her life so she busies herself painting around the house. “(Ferbey’s Notes) Ann realizes that the weather is too cold and the paint wouldn’t dry properly. Cleverly the bedroom door(painted door) was also a symbolization of John and Ann's marriage and the failed

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