Kimia's "Love" Essay

Fluffy Flower

            In William Maxwell’s short story “Love,” the author uses foreshadowing to warn the reader about the teacher’s upcoming death. First of all, William Maxwell gives a suggestion that Miss Vera Brown is going to die when she cannot open the gift from her student. “Her [Miss Brown’s] delicate fingers seemed to take forever to remove the ribbon” (Maxwell 8). At this point writer, which “delicate finger” means Miss Vera Brown is sick and poor and she will soon be in a tomb. Also, the young woman like 21 years old does not have enough power to open a simple ribbon because the other girls like her can open the ribbon easily. She turns sick and this is not a normal action for girl same age as her. Secondly, Maxwell warns of Miss Vera Brown’s death when the students go visit her. “At the place where the road turns off to go to the cemetery there was a red barn” (Maxwell 9). The writer uses the word of “cemetery” to point to the dying of the teacher because a cemetery is a place for dead people. Also, William Maxwell uses the “road turn off” to show she was healthy then but now she is weak. Her life begins to change. Lastly, the writer foretells that Miss Vera Brown soon will go to heaven when the students see her sleep on a bed in her house. “Propped up on pillows on a big double bed was our teacher, but so changed. Her arms were like sticks, and all the life in her seemed concentrated in her eyes, which had dark circle around them” (Maxwell 10). Here the author demonstrates Miss Vera Brown is sick and maybe she cannot eat anything; that is why her arms turns thin, and she cannot move. Also under her eyes is dark and that does not have good meaning for young women. She is in her illness and she looks like she will rest in peace. Mr. William Maxwell uses hints in short story “Love” to make the reader think Miss Vera Brown will pass away.