Symbolism In The Lamp At Noon

In Sinclair Ross’ “The Lamp at Noon”, Paul and Ellen’s baby is used as a tangible symbol that both represents and enhances the tragedy of the story. He symbolizes the relationship between Ellen and Paul and the changes that occur to it. More specifically, the baby represents how the dust storm takes a toll on their relationship in addition to symbolizing the consequences that follow the storm. At the beginning of the story, the baby is crying because of the dust. This detail tells the reader Paul and Ellen are already fighting and their relationship is in a state of unease. The “tent of muslin” (141) that Ellen has arranged over the baby’s crib represents her attempts to protect and fix her relationship with Paul. She doesn’t want the dust
Both of these wishes reflect her feelings of confinement because she would do anything to have another person near her due to the lack of company. Babies are typically associated with innocence and fragility, which serves to accentuate the state of affairs in the household. Paul and Ellen’s marriage is in a fragile situation at the time of the story, given the tension in the house. That situation is made more obvious with the presence of a delicate baby. After the dust storm is over, the effects on the marriage are reflected in the fate of the baby. When Ellen runs away with the baby, it illustrates how she has grown so desperate to save her marriage, that she is willing to do anything. Eventually, she hides behind a sand drift where Paul finds her and their son. Before Paul finds Ellen and their son, the baby dies. Either the dust suffocates the innocent baby, or Ellen’s arms, “too frantic to protect him” (150), kill their son, which is the more likely scenario. Ellen’s assistance in the death of the baby does two things. First, it symbolizes the extinguishing of the hope that Paul has prior to finding to his