Distractions in "Shiloh"

Distractions in “Shiloh”

Norma Jean’s constant working out and night-school classes are her ways of distracting herself from the sudden changes in her life that cause her to dislike the life she has. Leroy Moffitt’s truck accident, resulting in a leg injury, leads to his perpetual presence in his house with his wife. This is a major shift in their marriage because in years past Leroy was hardly ever home because of his job, and Norma Jean had enjoyed her independence and solitude while he was gone. While Leroy was optimistic about strengthening his relationship with his wife through spending more time with her when she was at home, Norma Jean only grew more annoyed with his constant presence and realized that she wanted to leave him. As a result of her annoyance with Leroy, Norma Jean uses exercise and other activities as a means of distraction to the growing distance between her and her husband.

The very first fact that we learn about Norma Jean is that she “is working on her pectorals” (1). While Leroy claims that his physical therapy inspired his wife to start working out, I believe that instead, his physical therapy was the start of his being at home all the time and this, in turn, prompted Norma Jean to divert her attention to working out and becoming a new woman. In a way to get out of the house and a break from her husband, Norman Jean begins to attend a body-building class. Throughout the entire short story she is working out, consistently lifting her dumbbells or swinging her barbell a few times. This theme continues throughout, all the way up until the very last scene. Even after Norma Jean says she wants to leave Leroy and she walks away, Leroy sees her waving her arms; “she seems to be doing an exercise for her chest muscles” (156).

In addition to exercising, Norma Jean starts taking a class at Paducah Community College as another diversion and reason to get out of the house and away from her husband. When her husband asks why she was taking night school, her response was, “It’s something to do” (91). It is obvious that Norma Jean is just desperate to find something to do to distract herself from the annoyances her husband brings. Norma Jean does not even want to talk to him because she always responds with short, abrupt answers, such as the example above. When Leroy brings up the suggestion of building a log cabin for her, Norma Jean quickly rejects him and tells him that it is a stupid idea.

It is apparent that Norma Jean is not happy with her husband staying at the house. Even Leroy notices it; he perplexedly observes, “Norma Jean is often startled to find Leroy at home, and he thinks she seems a little disappointed about it” (9). In the end, Leroy’s staying at home, although initially with the intention of improving their relationship, only pushes Norma Jean further away from her husband and leads to the end of their marriage. (512 words)