The Chest Essay

1. Discuss the chest as a story about the role of hope in human life

There are times in our lives where nothing seems to be going our way; it seems as though a whirlwind of unfortunate events continue to occur and after a while it is easy to grow accustomed to the expectation of helpless events. In times like these, there is one characteristic that humans attain that allows them to see the light at the end of the tunnel and power through such tough times; that trait is hope. In our Norwegian Literacy and Cultural History class I have been given the opportunity to read a great short story about the power and importance of hope in human life, and that story is Terje Stigen’s “The Chest”. By comparison of life before, during and after the presence of this mysterious chest, a reader can understand and interpret the significance of hope in every day life and the success that it is capable of bringing. “The Chest” begins with some background knowledge about a married couple living in Nordland. The wife, Martha, is described as “sour, stingy, dissatisfied with everything, and no joyous companion to her husband.” (Page 117) It is not evident why Martha appears to act this way or what events led her to be the way she is until a little later in the story. It is apparent that Torvald, Martha’s husband, had grown accustomed to Martha’s nagging, and no longer puts forth any of the effort that he once had. In order to have food to eat Torvald would try fishing in the sea but “if nothing nibbled at his bait quickly, he immediately took offense at circumstances, turned his boat homeward, and sat down to twiddle his thumbs in front of the fire.” (Page 117) Here we see that Torvald has lost all faith in trying to catch fish, and will give up easily if things aren’t going as planned. He is easily discouraged and no longer believes in his ability to catch fish. With this mindset, he has no motivation to do better and can only see a rough future ahead of him. Likewise, Martha has lost her hope as well; if the peat would not catch quickly, she would sit down and freeze. Martha said, “Since it is evidently ordained that people should freeze to death, one may as well get it over with.” (Page 117) Martha blatantly admits that since everybody will one day die, there is no point in dragging it out. This unhealthy outlook on life illustrates a rough past, and most likely an even rougher future to come. Martha and Torvald are both at very low points in their life and no longer see a bright future, only darkness. The couples’ hopelessness seemed almost irreparable. That is until one night when Torvald realized he forgot to moor his boat. As he was pulling the boat on shore he noticed an object floating in the water that looked like a chest. At first he was a little suspicious, questioning what business a chest has floating around his water, but then that suspicion turned to excitement; “There was something about it, something a little mysterious, something enticing; he had not experienced such a sensation since he was a boy”. (Page 118) The feeling he is referring to is almost unfamiliar to Torvald because it resembles hope and curiosity. Stigen is using the chest to symbolize that even when it seems as if everything is heading downhill, a slight sense of hope can redirect you back onto a positive, promising path. Torvald’s mind begins to run wild, “all at once it was as if a flash of lightning went through him at the very thought of what might lie within it.” (Page 119) Not only is Stigen representing Torvald’s mental improvement but a physical change as well. Stigen does this to exaggerate the impact of hope in a once-despairing soul. Torvald runs home to tell Martha about the chest. After hearing Torvald’s words, “Martha abandoned the persuasion to freeze to death, and on her own accord went right out into the shed and carried back kindling and dry peat, and presently there was a merrier fire in that stove than there had been for many

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