Shiloh
by Bobby Ann Mason (1982)
A detailed exploration and analysis of the short story “Shiloh” by Bobbie Ann Mason, published in 1982. The summary covers key elements of the story including characters, plot, setting, themes, conflicts, and notable quotes.
Overview
Setting
The story is set in a small town in western Kentucky that is growing with subdivisions, and occurs mostly inside Norma and Jean’s house. The ending is at the Shiloh battlefield site in Tennessee. The story is set in in the late 70’s with reference to Mabel joining the “Daughters of the Confederacy in 1975.
Character
The characters are Norma Jean who is married to Leroy Moffitt. They are frequently visited by Mabel Beasley, Norma’s mother. Leroy also has a friend in town named Stevie Hamilton, a local doctor’s son who is almost young enough to be their son. Norma and Leroy are in their 30’s. Norma, who works at a cosmetics counter, is going back to school at night, while Leroy is disabled at home because of an accident he had as a truck driver.
Plot
After Leroy’s accident, Norma is getting restless and is trying out body-building and thinking of going back to school. Leroy is staying home and working on crafts. He dreams of building Norma a log cabin, but she wants him to get some regular work. They plan a trip to Shiloh at Mabel’s(his mother-in-law’s) insistence to rekindle their relationship. Norma says she wants to leave Leroy, and walks away from him. They don’t have children, but the reader can infer lost a baby they had when they eloped after high school
Analysis
Echoes of Loss: The Multilayered Grief in “Shiloh”
There is a theme of compounded loss because Norma and Leroy lost their baby in the same way Mabel and her husband had. Leroy also loses Norma in the end after losing his livelihood as a trucker due to his accident. The old town, with its farmers playing checkers around the courthouse, is being lost to subdivisions. The Battle of Shiloh was also a significant Confederate loss. This is ironic given Mabel’s connection to the Confederacy and Norma/Leroy purchasing a souvenir Confederate flag here for Mabel. You could write about this theme of loss and how the story illustrates it.
Misunderstandings and Rifts: Interpersonal Conflicts in “Shiloh”
Two ongoing conflicts here are Norma vs. Leroy and Norma vs. Mabel. It could be said that both are caused by a misunderstanding of each other’s intentions. You could also write about the trajectory of the relationship between Norma and Leroy over what seems to be a few months in the story frame. Another idea is to write about how the conflict between Norman and Leroy is different from that which simmers between her and her mother.
Shiloh’s Shadows: History, Identity, and Place in Mason’s Story
Another great idea to talk about is the significance of “Shiloh” to this piece. Is it about white southerners in the 70’s and their relationship with the old confederacy change? Clearly, the battle is of great significance to Mabel – it’s always been her dream to got there. Remember, none of these characters are well-traveled except for Leroy who went places in the US as a trucker. What kind of life must he have had? You could write an essay re-constructing the environment of the small Kentucky town portrayed in the book and how it impacted the characters’ actions.