Spoon River Anthology Summary

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(A discussion on the theme, Life Is Not Always Easy, in Spoon River Anthology)

Do you believe in Heaven and Hell? Do you think that your actions in this life affect what happens to you in the next? In Spoon River Anthology, the section from Fiddler Jones to Mrs. Reece, it deals mainly with those who believed they only had one life. With some people, believing in one-life enhanced them while it hindered others. Now, do you believe that God will deliver you from your afflictions? All of the people from this section experienced hardships in their lives, sometimes from no fault of their own. In Spoon River Anthology, by Edgar Lee Masters, he also develops the theme ‘Life is not Always Easy.
Nellie Clark tells of her experiences …show more content…
Williams also tells of some of her hardships. She had a daughter, Dora, who ran away from Spoon River to Springfield with a man, giving both herself and her mother bad reputations. She talks about herself as a person, the townspeople, the community, divorce, and everything inbetween. Towards the end however, she asks, directing her question towards the other mothers and fathers in Spoon River, if they had been given the choice to run away with another man or woman, would they be any different? She says, “I was the milliner talked about, lied about, mother of Dora, whose strange disappearance was charged to her rearing.” Much like Nellie Clark, Mrs. Williams life was filled with some hardships at no fault of her own. Doras disappearance gave her a bad reputation as a mother and there was nothing she could do about it. However unlike Nellie Clark, she challenged this label put on her by the community. She also says, “If all the children, born here in Spoon River had been reared by the county, somewhere on a farm; and the fathers and mothers had been given their freedom to live and enjoy, change mates if they wished, do you think that Spoon River had been any the worse?” Mrs. Williams didn’t let the rumors and lies told hinder her in her one life. She still believed that she, and her daughter, were good people, and that if any others were given the chance they’d do the same thing. Maybe her life didn't end on a positive note through society's eyes, but she was at peace …show more content…
George Reece also displays the theme life is not always easy. She was one of the few that had extreme trials in their lives and was able to power through and leave her life behind on a positive note. In her poem she describes her life. Her husband lost his job and later went to jail while she was left all alone to raise the children. However, she is quite extraordinary and doesn't let the tough situation she’s in affect how she raised her children. She writes, “Yet my husband was sent to prison, and I was left with the children, to feed and clothe and school them. And I did it, and sent them forth into the world all clean and strong and all through the wisdom of Pope, the poet: “Act well your part, there all the honor lies.”” Mrs. Reece didn’t let her hardships define her life. She acted her part well as a mother and found honor in doing it. Even though life was hard, she wanted to make the best of the one life she had. Therefore she didn’t let it hinder her, but rather enhanced her to become stronger for her
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