Janet Frame’s short story The Bath sheds light on the experiences of many elderly people who can be overwhelmed by the feelings of loneliness and helplessness. The passage, which is going to be analyzed, is preceded by the description of a widow’s daily life. The readers learn that she visits the grave of her husband. Moreover, the author suggests that the main character lives alone. Apart from that, the writer shows how this woman prepares for a bath.
This passage plays a critical role in the short story because it symbolizes the major difficulties encountered by many elderly people. In particular, one should speak about their need for assistance. This passage shows that this character is afraid of taking a bath because she is afraid of falling and injuring herself.
Moreover, she cannot easily get out of the bath. She begins to call for help, even though she understands that there is no one around her. At the ends of this passage, Janet Frame shows how her fear and panic turns into frustration and despair. If this part of the narrative is removed, the readers may not get in-depth insights into the inner world of this old lady. This paper will show how the author explores the life of this person and her struggles.
This passage demonstrates that the protagonist feels extremely vulnerable. For instance, she believes that different kinds of misfortune can strike her. Moreover, she does not want to reveal this vulnerability. As it has been said before, she is afraid of falling. In particular, she believes that the surface of the bath has become extremely “slippery” (Frame 70). This is one of the reasons why she does not take a bath very often.
To some degree, she understands that her misgivings are slightly irrational. Nevertheless, it is extremely difficult for her to overcome this fear. This part of the short story is related to several important themes explored by the author. At first, much attention should be paid to loneliness which can be familiar to many people.
Janet Frame enables the readers to take a glimpse of the main character’s thoughts. In particular, one can look at the following quote, “If John were here, she thought, if we were sharing our old age, helping each other, this would never have happened” (Frame 71). This quote is important because it prompts the readers to think of old people and their needs.
Many of the actions that people can take for granted may create significant challenges for the protagonist. Additionally, people like this woman often feel marginalized. To a great extent, this short story prompts the readers to change their attitudes towards elderly people and the difficulties that they face. This is one of the messages that Janet Frame tries to convey.
The writer employs various stylistic devices in order to illustrate the feelings of this character. At first, one can speak about the use of onomatopoeia or sound imitation. For instance, the main character can hear “only the drip-drop of the cold water tap of the wash-basin, and a corresponding whisper and gurgle of her heart” (Frame 71). This stylistic device helps the writer highlight the silence of her house.
This sensation can be depressing for an elderly person; yet, young people may not fully understand this experience. Additionally, much attention should be paid to the use of metaphors. For instance, the author says that “loneliness welled” in the main character (Frame 71). It is possible to say that the writer tries to evoke empathy for the protagonist.
The tone of this story is very intimate, and one can assume that the writer is able to place herself in the position of the main character. One can also argue that the mood of this short story is rather melancholy because this woman understands that no one can offer her a helping hand. This is one of the aspects that can be distinguished.
One should also focus on the structure of this passage. Janet Frame does not provide only a mere description of the characters actions. Instead, the author also focuses on the way in which the protagonist perceives her life. This approach helps the writer make this passage more vivid because readers can understand how this woman struggles through her daily life. More importantly, they can see that this struggle can prove extremely arborous in many cases. This is one of the points that can be made.
On the whole, this passage plays a central role in Janet Frame’s short story because it enables the writer to throw light on the challenges encountered by a lonely woman. The author explores an action that is a part of the daily routine. However, it creates enormous difficulties for the protagonist. By using various stylistic devices, Janet Frame is able to evoke the readers’ compassion for the lonely widow. Moreover, they are encouraged to place themselves in the position of this character. These are the main details that can be singled out.
Works Cited
Frame, Jannet. “The Bath.” Stories of Ourselves: The University of Cambridge International Examinations Anthology of Stories in English. Ed. Julia Burchell. Delhi: Cambridge University Press India, 2008. 67-76. Print.