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All The Years Of Her Life Essay

Decent Essays

1. Write an essay in which you examine the different kinds of conflict present in any of the stories studied thus far. How does the conflict(s) affect the theme of the story? Conflict and Its’ Influence on the Themes in All the Years of her Life The idea of Conflict is an extremely complex one and is vividly evident in the short story “All the years of her life” by Morley Callaghan. It is important to define the term “Conflict”, as defined by the Oxford Dictionary “Be incompatible or at a variance; clash” ("Conflict - Definition of Conflict in English | Oxford Dictionaries"). While the story “All the years of her Life” discusses the various conflicts the protagonist faces in her life and the lives of those around her. It begins with an external …show more content…

This begins first that she assumes the role of a male figure in the absence of her husband in the life of her son “I’m going to make myself a cup of tea. Mind, now, not a word about tonight to your father.” (Callaghan 5). This conflict that was internal was due to the absence of her husband. Moreover, Mrs. Higgins was conflicted from all the decisions her children has been making from Alfred stealing to when Alfred’s “young sister had kept repeating doggedly that she was getting married” (Callaghan 6). Mrs. Higgins has a breakdown as Alfred describes her “Her face as she sat there was a frightened broken face utterly unlike the face of the woman who had been so assured a little while ago” (Callaghan 5). The realization the protagonist had was that she was conflicted with all the wrong choices she made and the people around her had made, her broken spirit symbolizes that she may have made the wrong decision earlier. The theme of realization and resolution is again developed from the conflict that the protagonist had faced in her life, the realization she has after dealing with all her conflicts as she reflects on the table. The realization Alfred has when he sees the conflict that his mother has gone through, he finally matures and understands the sacrifice of his

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