Analysis of the Short Story 'Pilgrim'

Ella's Struggles with Loneliness and Anxiety

Task:

A short story "Pilgrim" is about average family of four going to Thanksgiving dinner party at a seemingly unknown family house. The story is told from the perspective of the eldest son, girl named Ella. Ella feels lonely and disappointed in her life. In story, there have some contrasts: adults and children, limited and sufficient time, illness and health, daily life and holidays. In fact, Ella's daily darkness is mitigated to adapt to strange environments due to unusual holiday events. Ella's daily stress is reflected in different ways by visiting Strange Place. And finally, an unexpected event happens as a result which Ella's most afraid of, beyond her loneliness and anxiety.

First of all, Ella's life, situation, connection with position, or attitudes and behaviors of the surrounding adults detract from Ella's worries, anxiety and loneliness, which forms her personality in her growing process. Also, when she and her family go to bed at home, the secret code which for her younger brother Benjamin who sleeps in the parents' room; "one knock, I'm afraid; two knocks, don't worry; three knocks, are you still awake?; four come quick. ” (133) From this point, Benjamin sleeps with parents, so he is probably a child about 3 or 4 years old because he understands the secret rules between Ella. I also had to think about excuses when their mother came to see when her brother evacuated to Ella's room. Benjamin cries in his parents' bedroom because there is something that makes him uneasy in that room. Benjamin is an important family for her who relies on himself and encourages and motivates him. When her brother is crying, he eventually goes to Ella's room without relying on his parents. And he won't return to their parents. This is because Ella protects her brother and takes care of him as an older sister or a parent substitute. But she doesn't feel this pained. Her brother is able to share loneliness, anxiety, and a secret sign with Ella, and these saved her from those negatives. Because of this family environment, Ella is hard to say a happy as an ordinary girl around 10 years old, and she has no choice. This is a situation where she has to be an independent adult. From her side, it can be said that children and adults are in totally separated different worlds.

Next, the passage to emphasize the relationship between Ella and parents. However, Ella gains access to an unfamiliar environment and meet with unknown people outside the home. But parent attitude is still the same to Ella. Here Ella can interpret what she feels when her tooth gone and run to her parent. Ella's mother says "Come here, you. Smile again"(141) This is the word that parents generally talk to their children. They seem to be interested and care with children like any other parent. After that, how they respond to their children is important.

What should children do and how should they behave in a society where strangers gather? She's confused and needs some help and answer from her parents, but the adults don't say anything to Ella or other children. They just want to conveniently manage and handle their children at a safe distance to withdraw into the world of separated adults. Ella can't have a good time with unfamiliar children in such a situation. The same is true for other children. They are also in a difficult family environment and are unfamiliar to interact with other people. However, they also have to respect the adult time and lifestyle like Ella. Their frustration is accumulating.

In addition, the reaction of parent Ella can tell what adults think of Ella all the time.

Parents worry about their children, but they are not enough. More than that, they will return to their world. This is a common scene for parents and children. Adults are busy with their errands. But in this case, Bella and the children are missing growth. Adults will not have much time, and they will prioritize themselves.
Ella and children are a contrast for adults which is seemed a symbol of adults' former childhood and the current time. Adult conversations and behaviors speak of their illness treatment experiences and suffering. They are also striving to regain their healthy spirit and body. This looks like a desire to return to a young age as when they were children. It expresses that there are limits to the time and possibilities of adults appearing in this story. Adults take care of their children, but sometimes the attention and interest in children are not enough due to the situation that adults care about themselves more than caring for their kids. Ella's point of view can also be understood as appealing to readers' adults over and over to prepare for the future crisis.