”Shiloh,” from first read, it is a quaint short story written about a couple's marital struggles in the 1980’s where the ending is left for the reader to interpret as joyful or despairing. The main characters of the story are Leroy Moffitt, a truck driver who has experienced an injury that placed him out of work, and his wife Norma Jean Moffitt. Leroy and Norma Jean are both in their thirties and have been married since they were teenagers, 16 years ago. A few years after their marriage Norma Jean gave birth to Randy, their infant child who died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Consequently this caused the couple not to have children again, in fear of SIDS. Because of Leroy’s accident, he cannot and will not resume work, so he stays at home spending more time with Norma Jean. Because of his time at home, Norma Jeans attempts to control and preserve her Independence, while Leroys role as the provider for the family slips as well. Bobbie Ann Mason demonstrates the problems in a couple’s marriage due to the challenging nature of feminism towards Leroy Moffitt's situation as a wounded king. …show more content…
It is thought to be that “Shiloh” refers to Leroy and Norma Jean’s marriage as a sort of civil war: a conflict between two individuals of the same coalition. Another major piece of symbolism is the connection of Leroy to the Fisher King of arthurian legend and the Holy Grail. Several scholars like Greg Bentley, Hal Blythe, and Charlie Sweet indicate towards this notion. After all, Mason writes it herself, “‘Your name means the king,’ Norma Jean says to Leroy that evening.” Furthermore, Leroy ‘the king’ is also wounded exactly like the fisher king in legend: at the legs. Symbolism is a heavy subject within “Shiloh” and is an important part in perceiving the meanings within the story surrounding Leroy and Norma Jean’s