The Painted Door
First English Essay on “The Painted Door”
“Big stubborn fool – he goes his own way anyway. It doesn’t matter what becomes of me. In a storm like this he’ll never get home. He won’t even try.” This passage is an excerpt taken from Sinclair Ross’ “The Painted Door.” In context, this quote exemplifies the protagonist, Ann’s, inner struggle to put proper faith in her husband, John, whose absence during a devastating storm leaves her brooding, ultimately leading her down the forsaken path of adultery. Ross’ evident theme throughout “The Painted Door,” is mainly centered on the misconduct of infidelity. Contained in the short story “The Painted Door,” Sinclair Ross proposes that Ann’s fidelity is compromised as a result of an internal display of weak character; these traits include her selfishness, her acts of vacillation, and her perfidious qualities.
Selfishness is a poor quality that all people posses. It defines someone only concerned primarily with their own interests or benefits, regardless of others. Throughout “The Painted Door,” Ann shows numerous examples of why she displays a sense of selfishness. “It isn’t right to leave me here alone. Surely I’m as important as your father” (225). This quotation portrays a suitable contrast of character between both Ann and John. John, exhibiting selfless and caring traits, wants only to help out his father, an older man incapable of fulfilling all the necessary chores to keep his stable active and his animals alive. “I just wanted to make sure he’s all right in case we do have a storm” (226). It is apparent however that Ann does not realize this, only thinking for herself, and further trying to guilt John into staying by her side so she feels more comfortable. “Pay no attention to me. Seven years a farmers wife – it’s time I was used to staying alone” (226). Here again Ann shows her disapproval with John’s decision to leave her for the afternoon and evening to tend to his father. This time though, it is evident that Ann
“Big stubborn fool – he goes his own way anyway. It doesn’t matter what becomes of me. In a storm like this he’ll never get home. He won’t even try.” This passage is an excerpt taken from Sinclair Ross’ “The Painted Door.” In context, this quote exemplifies the protagonist, Ann’s, inner struggle to put proper faith in her husband, John, whose absence during a devastating storm leaves her brooding, ultimately leading her down the forsaken path of adultery. Ross’ evident theme throughout “The Painted Door,” is mainly centered on the misconduct of infidelity. Contained in the short story “The Painted Door,” Sinclair Ross proposes that Ann’s fidelity is compromised as a result of an internal display of weak character; these traits include her selfishness, her acts of vacillation, and her perfidious qualities.
Selfishness is a poor quality that all people posses. It defines someone only concerned primarily with their own interests or benefits, regardless of others. Throughout “The Painted Door,” Ann shows numerous examples of why she displays a sense of selfishness. “It isn’t right to leave me here alone. Surely I’m as important as your father” (225). This quotation portrays a suitable contrast of character between both Ann and John. John, exhibiting selfless and caring traits, wants only to help out his father, an older man incapable of fulfilling all the necessary chores to keep his stable active and his animals alive. “I just wanted to make sure he’s all right in case we do have a storm” (226). It is apparent however that Ann does not realize this, only thinking for herself, and further trying to guilt John into staying by her side so she feels more comfortable. “Pay no attention to me. Seven years a farmers wife – it’s time I was used to staying alone” (226). Here again Ann shows her disapproval with John’s decision to leave her for the afternoon and evening to tend to his father. This time though, it is evident that Ann