A Journey by Colm T??ib?­n Essay Example

a contrast to her current life in which she is experiencing depressing behaviour from David and Seamus.Thereby the journey is not just physical, by driving a car, on the contrary also mentally as another journey goes on in her mind. The first and most obvious theme is the journey of self-assessment, hence the title ‘A Journey’.

Seamus and Mary had lived their life however they wanted “They were used to being free” (p. 2 l. 13), which means that they were unable to cope with the sudden change of having a son ”As David got bigger he began to spend more and more time with Mrs. Redmond”(p.2 ll. 17-18). This could suggest that she already knows that she has played a role in her son’s condition.Furthermore the atmosphere in the car is getting tense, as David seems unwilling to speak to his mother. Mary decides to speak to him anyway, but he does not answer.

Instead the following happens “As a car came towards her, she dimmed her own lights, but the oncoming beams were too strong and she had to fix her eyes on the margin to avoid them. ”(p. 3 ll.10-13) This can be interpreted as a metaphor of the current relationship between Mary and David.

Mary dims the light when passing the car, but David refuses to answer, in the same way that the car refuses to dim the lights for Mary.In other words the need for connection does not appear to be reciprocal. This suggests that she does not know her son well enough to break the ice, which emphasizes the significance of a good relationship between a parent and a child. The relationship

between Mary and Seamus is in many ways identical to her relation to her son David, in the way that he does not notice her either. This way of misinterpretation is also evident in the text ‘The Story of a Marriage’ “We have seen it all.

But have we really understood? (p. 7 ll. 4-5) Even though she has shared many experiences with both of them, it is very unlikely that she has interpreted them like Seamus and David experienced it. This means that what she thought was signs of happiness and joy, could in a worst-case scenario, be the very opposite. Even though that is only speculation, fact is that both of them ignore her “She smiled at the idea that now she would have two of them for company”(p. 4 ll.84). This point leads us back to making the right choices.Towards the end of the story Mary finally makes a decision “Do you know what I’d love? She asked familiarly. I’d love a cigarette, haven’t had one for ages…”(p. 5 ll.132-133) With this sentence she acknowledges her past mistakes, and instead of giving up and falling into melancholy, she rises and attempts to mend the connection between her and David. To an existentialist this would mean that she avoided an existential suicide by making a choice, which is what shapes the future. She realizes that being caught in the past will not make the future brighter.This point is also evident in the poem ‘Lucinda Matlock’ “Degenerate sons and daughters, Life is too strong for you – It takes life to love Life.” (p. 6 ll. 20-22) Even though the memories form a heartbreaking contrast

to her current life, she refuses to become ‘a degenerate daughter’, which means that she escapes the state of ‘Sorrow and weariness’. The interesting thing is that this contrast between happiness and despair does not break her, instead it is the epiphany that causes her to realize that she has a choice and a future despite of her past.

To emphasize the importance of this revelation, Mary is given a glimpse of the future in the end of the story ““Seamus was staring at her from the bed and when their eyes caught she was struck for a moment by a glimpse of a future in which she would need to muster every ounce of selfishness she had”. (p. 5 ll. 157-159) By giving a glimpse of the future the reader is assured that the future is open as long as you make a choice. Had we not known her past, we would not have been able to put her actions into context.This means that through flashbacks the author can lead the reader into certain directions, although the interpretation is still free due of the lack of comments.

The revelation of the fact that she knows neither her husband nor her son makes her realize that it is time to take matters into her own hands by making choices to benefit her – prior to quotations mentions earlier “… she was struck for moment by a glimpse of a future in which she would need to muster every ounce of selfishness she had. ”(p. ll. 157-159) Thereby she realizes that no matter what appalling choices and awful experiences she had in her past, her life is not

over yet.

This offers Mary a choice between two futures, the first being her making choices of egoism since David and Seamus does not seem to care about her, or a second option of staying and taking care of them. Whether she chooses one or the other is unknown. This could be a paradox though, as her interpretation of them not caring about her could very well be incorrect.What she does not seem to comprehend is that they are both in a traumatic state in which they might lack the strength to furnish her with love, even though they want to do it. Whether you make a right or a wrong choice is irrelevant in the end, since the past is irrevocable.

There is no explanation in the past, as you will never know what could have been. The only important thing is to decide where your journey should take you next. This is only possible by taking a choice.