“Winter Life” by Bonnie Joe Campbell explores the
relationships of a couple of characters in a very brief amount of time,
starting with the revelation of the character Pauline’s termination of her
engagement. Initially, it is unclear how all of these characters are connected,
but by the end of the story a revelation makes it easy to see. Harold and Trisha
are married, but both desire others; Trish wants her ex-boyfriend, Stuart, who
is married to a meth-addict, while we come to discover later in the story that
Harold wants Pauline, Stuart’s sister. Harold briefly lived with Stuart’s
family when they were young. Pauline is frequently irritated with his love of
gardening and Harold suspects that his wife may be a lesbian. Mary Beth,
Stuart’s mother who views Harold as her own son discusses Pauline’s
relationship and demise of it with her fiancé Nick throughout the latter half
of the story. The story ends with Pauline and Stuart kissing at the Farm N
Garden while discussing a moment they shared in their teens. The readers
realize that this occurs before Pauline breaks off her relationship, therefore
explaining how all of these characters are connected. Stuart contemplates what
has occurred while he sits in the driveway. It is unclear in the end what will
happen to these complex characters.
1.
2. The moment when Harold examines his wife on page
86 is a key glimpse into Harold’s thoughts and their relationship. He states
that he would never divorce her for fear of causing more pain. Harold is also
reading about gardening; what he has nourished will flourish in spring.
Harold’s gardening appears to be an escape from the real world for him.
3.
When Harold asks his wife what is wrong with
Pauline early on in the story, it is foreshadowing what will be revealed by the
end of the story: his feelings for Pauline. Harold does not reveal to Trisha
that he saw Pauline at the Farm N Garden, and we come to realize that this is
because he and Pauline shared an intimate moment.
I
I I viewed the last scene where Harold is in his driveway waiting to get out of his car as extremely important. Harold’s garden is very special to him and remains throughout the winter. It still has “life.” When Trisha’s headlights illuminate the driveway and he gets out of his car, it represents a turning point in his life.
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