In Bobbie Ann Mason’s short story “Shiloh”, we see a couple struggling to make sense of themselves and one another. The story tells of a marriage in serious trouble. Leroy and Norma Jean Moffitt roles within their relationship have shifted due to an unfortunate accident. Leroy, whose name means “the King” in French, was once the man in the relationship. He probably entered the relationship strong, determined, and hardworking. On the other hand, Norma Jean most likely entered the relationship as a loving wife that cared for the household and did all the duties that were expected of women. Unconsciously, Norma Jean takes over being the “man” of the house due to Leroy’s unexpected accident. The theme in “Shiloh” is how the change in social relationships between men and women and the shifting of gender roles can affect the lives of simple, hardworking people.
Former truck driver, Leroy, is a loving and caring husband who has been injured in a trucking accident and no longer assumes the role of the man in his relationship. His rig now sits in the backyard, “like a gigantic bird that has flown the roost,” while he finds himself “waking up to the cool place in bed” and the dirty dishes. He considers himself completely disable and is unable to figure out his next career move. He is slowly becoming the woman in the relationship. He finds himself taking up needlepoint, which he points out is a form of recreational activity practiced by professional football players. He probably used professional football players as an example because they are considered macho. As if needlepoint was not enough, Leroy also begun “making things from craft kits. He started by building a miniature log cabin from notched Popsicle sticks…. Then he tried string art, a macrame owl kit, a snap together B-17 Flying Fortress, and a lamp made out of a model truck, with a light fixture screwed on the top of a cab.”
The main female character of the story, Norma Jean, once a loving wife is now on the quest for independence. Because of her husband refusal to find another job, Norma has been forced to exchange roles with her husband. Her quest for independence involves defying typical feminine roles. She is no longer the typical housewife; she works at Rexall drug store and attends school. In the opening paragraph we are told: “Leroy Moffitt’s wife, Norma Jean, is working on her pectorals.” Even though women are beginning to enter the world of bodybuilding, it is still a male dominated activity. Norma Jean defies her traditional feminine roles in other ways too. She leaves her dirty cereal bowl on the table when she leaves for work, and she drives when they finally take their trip to Shiloh.
Leroy has been in a trucking accident, prompting the story to begin with Norma Jean working out. This is the first sign within the story that they are inadvertently switching roles. Leroy’s job had kept him on the road in the past and he felt guilty over his long absences. His job seems to be the only connection that him and his wife have. She works at Rexall drug store, “and she has acquired an amazing amount of information about cosmetics.” “When she explains to Leroy the three stages of complexion care, involving creams and moisturizers,” he is able to think of “other petroleum products—axle grease, diesel fuel.” This is the first sign that their relationship is not where it should be. Norma Jean never complained about Leroy being on the road. She is now often startled to find him at home. Leroy sometimes believes that his being home disappoints his wife. Leroy mentions that they are lucky to still be married because he read that losing a child could destroy a marriage. Leroy wants to build Norma Jean a “real house” because their current house does not feel like home. The author uses foreshadowing in the poem. Leroy admits that he is going to lose Norma and is just waiting for the time to pass. Leroy desperately attempts to save his marriage. He even begins to give in to Norma Jean’s assumption of new roles. In his attempt to convince her to help him build their log cabin, he tells her they can lift the logs together. “It would be just like lifting weights,” he pleaded.
Norma Jean’s mother, Mabel, is a key component in the lives of the couple. She is often involved in the lives or Norma and Leroy. Mabel was displeased when Leroy got Norma Jean pregnant and saw the death of their son as “fate mocking her.” She lets Norma Jean know that she blames her for the baby's death by telling her a story about a baby who died because of a negligent mother. She criticizes Leroy because of his extra curricular activities such as craft kits and string art. She tells Leroy those are activities a “woman would do.” Mabel is often in the picture and steady offering her advice, whether it’s wanted or not. It’s apparent that Norma Jean still values her mother opinion. Leroy catches Norma Jean crying and she claims it is because her mother caught her smoking. This seems to be the pivotal point in their relationship. At the end of the story, Norma Jean reveals that it was at that time that things went bad for her in their relationship. Mabel thinks the couple would benefit from traveling to the Confederate battleground at Shiloh, Tennessee. It’s ironic that Mabel and Leroy thought that the trip would help the relationship because in reality the trip was the end of their relationship.
While many may view “Shiloh” ' as a feminist saga of a woman flexing her muscles and taking flight, "Shiloh" is really Leroy's story. It is told from a third person, limited point of view. Leroy’s internal conflict, in the story, is either communicate with his wife or just wait on her to leave him. If Leroy would have only communicated with his wife, then their marriage might not have ended. There was several times throughout the story, Leroy wanted to talk to his wife but he decides against it. Communication was the biggest problem in the relationship. Had they communicated, then Leroy would have been aware that Mabel wanted him out of the house fulfilling his role as the “king”. Norma Jean tried to give him a hint without listing all the jobs he could do. It wasn’t until they visited Shiloh that Norma Jean enlightened Leroy that most women wanted a man that “wonders”. Leroy has an epiphany at Shiloh. He realizes that his building a house of logs is “empty—too simple.” He finally understands that a log house is not the missing link in his marriage and his wife wants more.
What is Shiloh’s significance? Shiloh was the site of a major Confederate battle. The battle relates to the problem in Norma Jean and Leroy’s marriage. Norma Jean can be described as a rebel force that is trying to assert herself when her foundation is snatched from under her. It’s is ironic that Norma Jean parents eloped in Corinth and after they visited the battleground, Mabel was born. Leroy and Norma Jean are currently at the same battleground, but their relationship ended unlike Mabel’s parents.
The story both opens and closes with an image of muscles and strength. The author seems to be putting an emphasis on strength, a kind of strength typically associated with masculinity. This emphasis allows us to see the change in gender roles. We witness Leroy transfer from “the king” of the relationship to the woman. He becomes jobless and plays with art and crafts. Norma, on the other hand, has become the man in the relationship. The story starts out with her being obsessed about making herself hard. In significant but small ways, throughout the story, Norma Jean has defied the typical feminine roles. The drive to Shiloh even shows Leroy and Norma switching roles. “Norma Jean drives, and Leroy feels like some boring hitchhiker she has picked up.” According to society, it is considered appropriate for the man to drive and be in the position of control. The author makes it clear that Norma Jean is the one who is taking control. At the closing of the story, the author mentions strength once more as Norma Jean waves her arms at Leroy. Leroy said, “She seems to be doing an exercise for her chest muscles.” The shedding of Norma Jean feminine behaviors is made even more striking by Leroy’s loss of his traditionally masculine ones.