Desperate Farmer Hollis and His Struggles in West Virginia - Essay Sample

Introduction

In the story, which is set in West Virginia, the misfortunes of a desperate farmer known as Hollis are narrated. Hollis, who is a bachelor and still living in the family farmhouse as he struggles to make ends meet while taking care of his old and feeble parents. His parents need close attention because of their inability to do several things; for instance, Hollis's doddering mother refuses to shower the author states "her mind half gone from the blood too thick in her veins" (Pancake 163). Similarly, the author indicates that his father, too, is old and sickly as the story narrates, "now blind and coughing, is bent with age, with crying" (168). The story focuses on the life of Hollis, who is ever struggling with the misfortunes in his life as he is not married, does not have any wealth; he is guilty of his failures and also being compared by his parents to his brother Jakes. The winter season is a representation of ever-present adversity that confronts him both externally and internally. He is desperate, and Pancake has represented his relenting spirit through Hollis feeling like he is attending his funeral.

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Firstly, Hollis feels like he is attending his funeral because he is dead to the internal environment. The internal environment is symbolically represented his family, which includes parents and his brother Jake. Despite him living with his parents and helping them with daily chores such as hunting and other duties, they do not appreciate him as much. For instance, they openly state that thanksgiving would not be complete without Jake and Milly a statement that shows Hollis is not recognized at all. His mother states, "won't be thanksgiving till Jakes and Milly get here” (164). It indicates that his presence does not mean much compared to that of his siblings in this regard; he feels he is dead and attending his funeral.

Secondly, he feels like he is attending his funeral because of the low season, which symbolically represents the external environment. Every winter period is a dark season for him because despite working hard, his life never changes but experience the same fate he faces in all the spells. Pancake indicating Hollis gasping for air as the wind blows against his face as well as seeing the sky as dark and grey symbolically represents death. People who are dying grasp for air similarly, dark and grey and dull colors are expressing sadness and death, implying that Hollis is attending his own funeral.

Additionally, as the story begins, Hollis visualizes himself in a tomb that his brother Jakes had built for him. The story states that he stares at his ghost and spirits only come when a person is dead. In this regard, he sees himself as attending his funeral because of the wild thoughts he has. When everything is done, and life comes to an end then people die it is symbolically represented the work he has completed and the author states "The work was done: silos stood full of corn, hay bales rose to the barn's roof, and the slaughter stock had gone to the market, it was done for figures in the bank, for debts…" (163). When the harvest is done, it implies that work is also complete, and this is a representation of the end of life for Hollis, and this is the reason he sees himself in his funeral. In the end, the author portrays Hollis giving in to his fate.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is essential to note that Pancake represents Hollis attending his funeral through various ways of symbolism. The author depicts it through Hollis's struggles with both the external and internal environment, the character seeing his ghost and a tomb prepared for him by Jake, the brother. Finally, he shows Hollis relenting to his unfortunate situation.