The+Lamp+at+Noon+Response

__1. Describe the atmosphere of mood of this story using reference from the story.__

The atmosphere and the mood in this story was tense. Ellen expresses fear for what is around her, such as the baby not being given enough food, the storm breaking down their house, being isolated in her house, and having an argument with her husband, Paul. Coming from the story, the personification "Demented wind fled keening past the house; a wail through the eaves that died every minute or two” is solid, and confidential proof that the atmosphere, and mood in "The Lamp at Noon" was tense. Just from this example in the story, it gives Ellen a feeling of being unsafe, causing her to argue with Paul, and trying to leave her home to try to start a new life.

__2. Is the ending optimistic or pessimistic? Explain your answer.__

I strongly believe that the end of this marvelous story by Sinclair Ross had a pessimistic ending. The readers would have expected Paul, and Ellen to solve their problem together because Paul ended up changing his point of view of the situation but before he could tell Ellen, she left, and the baby died from inhaling too much dust from the dust storm.

__3. Why does Ellen run away? In your opinion, could the tragedy have been avoided? Why or why not?__

Ellen runs away from her beloved home with her baby because she was living in fear, and was isolated. Ellen loves pretty things, and could not stand the poverty situation she was in with her husband, Paul. Ellen was deeply worried that Paul could not produce enough food for the baby, which will have caused the baby to starve to death. In my opinion, this tragedy could have been avoided if Paul changed his point of view. I believe that if Paul agrees with Ellen when Ellen wanted to leave, he could have told Ellen that they would leave when the storm dies down a bit.

__4. Which of the two characters do you feel more sympathy for? Defend your choice.__

I feel more sympathy for Ellen because she was always left alone dieing of boredom in her house. She was socially, and mentally isolated since she always had nothing to do but tend for the baby. When Paul disagreed with her, I believe that she lost her trust in her husband because of the poor decision making Ellen thinks Paul is making. Although Paul has a tough farming life, working under a dust storm, with unsuitable soil, Ellen would have rather token Paul's job instead of being trapped inside a "prison".

__5. What is the author saying about the effect the Depression had on human relationships?__

The author, Sinclair Ross says that the depression had great effect on human relationships. In the story, Ellen and Paul had a very important argument with two different points of views. Both these protagonist thinks that their opinion is the right choice. This proves that because of this depression, many people will start fighting with each other of what is the right choice to life past this depression. Although the depression causes people to live in poverty, they still have each other, and should not darken the relationships with them.