Shadow - Formalist

     Shadow, to an extent, follows a basic short story format; clear beginning, middle, and end. There are trials, and the end has no resolution. It begins with Beth, the main female protagonist, answering the phone to her lover/boyfriend/husband (it is not stated within the piece). The trial happens in the beginning of the piece, with her and Alan, the main male character, unable to agree on a time to meet due to conflicting schedules.

     It then changes into later in the day, when Alan has finally come to visit Beth, possibly in a hospital, where they have talk and relax in each other’s presence. It ends with Beth’s death, and a passage alluding to what she sees in the afterlife.

     The piece is written in third person, not telling a biased story from either main characters. Readers don’t really come to know much about either Beth or Alan individually, but it is shown that their relationship has its issues, as well as its good moments.

     Beth and Alan are the two major characters. There are various girls referenced in the story, which are possibly their daughters, although it is unclear. The piece is set in a hospital or other care facility, which gives off the idea that Beth isn’t well. Alan says, ‘She [Beth] doesn’t know me half the time’. The setting doesn’t appear to necessarily be symbolic of anything, and there doesn’t appear to be any solid symbols or symbolic imagery.