Literary As the plot unfolds, the female moves

Literary As the plot unfolds, the female moves

Literary AnalysisEssay I Used to Live Here Once’ by Jean Rhys At some point in our lives we all ask the quintessential questions: what happens when we die? Do we move on to another place, or do we remain as spiritual beings among the living? In the short story “I Used to Live Here Once” by Jean Rhys, readers join an un-named female protagonist as she journeys to a place she used to live, where her encounters ultimately make her aware of her spiritual existence.

The theme journey in the after-life is made evident through the story’s plot and the author’s artful use of imagery and symbolism The story’s plot is reflective of thetheme journey in the after-life becausetheprotagonist is presented in constant movement.The story begins with the female ata river.Thedetailed description of each stone lets the reader know that she is somehow connected to this place and also hints to her crossing over to the “other side”(par.1). As the plot unfolds, the female moves on to a road where she continues to relay a sense of nostalgia through her observations of the changes made to the place.This feeling as well as her observations continue as “she comes to the worn steps that leadupto the house and her heart beginsto beat” (par.4).

The use of the words “the steps” and “the house”suggestthat this was her destination and her feelings intensified as she got there “her heart began to beat”.Shethen sees two children under a tree and eagerly approaches them trying to make communication, “and she wavesto them and called Hello’, but they didn’t answer her or turn their heads” (par.5).The protagonist’sfailure to communicate with the children and her overall encounter brings the story to its climax as she realizes that her journey is being made in the after-life; “That was the first time she knew”(par.6).

Her constant movement throughout the story that leadherto ultimately realize that she is no longer alivesuccessfully reveal the theme of a journey being made in the after-life. Jean Rhys’ use of kinaesthetic, organic and more so visual imagery creates a vivid experience for the reader as they paint a picture of the protagonists’ journey.Throughout the story, the reader is made to see the protagonist in movement.

The story begins with her standing at a river,then walking alonga road “she walked along feeling extraordinarily happy” (par.2). As one reads on phrases like “turned the corner” (par.3) and “walked towards” (par.

6) indicate that the female is in movement, therefore relating to her journey. Organic imagery is used to create feelings of nostalgiaand elationas the protagonists’ observations of the changesmade to the place are expressed as her journey progresses. “The road was much wider than it used to be but the work had been done carelessly…

Yet it was the same road and she walked along feeling extraordinarily happy” (par.2), these sentences makes the reader connect to the protagonist as many can relate to feeling nostalgic about places that bring back memories. Additionally, Rhys appeals to the reader’s sense of sight by describing what each scene looks like. This is seen in thedescription of the stepping stones “the round unsteady one, the pointed one, the flat one in the middle”(par.1), the vivid and detailed description of the road and the day “a blue day”(par.

3),”the worn stone steps” (par.4)and “grass was yellow in the hot sunlight” (par.6).The writer’s use of imagery through these phraseshelpsthe reader tounderstand,visualizeand share in the experiences of the protagonist on her journey in the after-life. The theme journey in the after-life is also portrayed through the use of symbolism. The protagonist begins her journey at a river, where she describes the stepping stones: “the round unsteady stone, the pointed one,theflat one in the middle — the safe stone where you could stand and look around” (par. 1).

These stones are symbolic of the different steps or stages of herlife. After detailing the path across the river, the author reveals that the female was “standing on the other side” (par. 1).

The words “other side” are usually used to indicate that someone has passed on or died. Also, in paragraph three her description of the sky as “glassy” implies that something is unreal or supernatural. As the protagonist continues her journey from the river, onto a road and then to a house, her thoughts and feelings are expressed. This is symbolic of the amount of time that has passed since her death and possibly her loneliness and separation from the world. As she approaches a house, which seems to be her destination, she sees two children under a big mango tree. She eagerly tries to communicate with the children, calling out to them and trying to touch them, “her hands went out instinctively with the longing to touch them” (par. 6).

This shows how desperate she is to connect to the world and curb her loneliness.Through the use of symbolism, readers are presented with a deeper view of the protagonist’s journey as she crosses over into her after-life. Symbolismrevealsher loneliness as she desperately tries to communicate with the children and as the story develops, ithints the reader to a reality that is unknown to her until her realization at the end of the story. The idea of life after death is highly debated and no one person can speak of it withclear understanding, we are left to speculate.

Although the story leaves readers with many unanswered questions, they are given a firsthand view of the protagonist’s journey through the author’s plot and use of imagery and symbolism.These elementsarecrucialtotheunderstandingofthe protagonist’s journeyin the after-life. Works Cited Rhys, Jean. “I Used to Live Here Once”, 1976.