Examples of Deconstructionism

In the poem, “Fern Hill,” Dylan Thomas describes fire being as green as grass, flying with the ricks, and horses flashing into dark. These comparisons are forms of deconstructionism by comparing two things that are opposite of one another but can also mean something else when worded together. In the poem “Fern Hill,” by Dylan Thomas, Thomas used the form of Deconstructionism of using religious situations in his writing. On Lines 33-36, Thomas seems to be referring to a number of these references in the middle of these lines.“So it must have been after the birth of the simple light. In the first, spinning place, the spellbound horses walking warm out of the whinnying green stable on to the fields of praise,” ( 739). This is a great example of how Thomas and other authors can hide the actual meaning of language they use. With the phrase, “The birth of the simple light” it seems that Thomas is referring to the birth of Jesus, and later it seems that Thomas has replaced the camels from the stable in Jerusalem with horses, as praise can be heard all around the stables and throughout the fields because of the birth of a new-born savior.Another example found in Thomas’s “Fern Hill” is mentioned on line 40 with the passage, “I ran my heedless ways,” ( 740). This quote can be interpreted as a symbol for the “Bad”-being done without any thought just like in the Garden of Eden in the Bible with Eve’s destruction of the garden after she had been warned by God not to eat the apple. Also, on Line 46 of the poem Thomas uses the passage, “in the lamb white days, that time would take me,” ( 740). The passage here is referring to a young child’s purity during the early years of growing up, when you think everything in life is perfect.

"The Handsomest Drowned Man" can be analyzed through the deconstructionism theory because of the various interpretations that is possesses. The story makes reference to religion numerous times. The man in the story, Esteban can be seen as a Christ figure. Though Esteban is dead he still is able to come and rescue the village and make it into a magnificent place. "...look there, where the wind is so peaceful now that it's gone to sleep beneath the beds, over there, where the sun's so bright that sunflowers don't know which way to turn, yes, that's Esteban's village(476). There is also religous reference because the women in the village are the first to see and believe what had happened to Christ after the ressurrection. The women of the village make Esteban clothes and bring him to life with their love for him(473).

"Sweat" by Zora Neale Hurston can be viewed in many different ways. The dialect in the story supports deconcstructionism because it can be read so many different ways. People can see it as being creative and putting the reader into the actual setting as well as it being a negative aspect because of the stereotypes about African Americans that are presented with the dialect. The story has a theme of good and bad throughout. "Mah Gawd!" he chattered, "ef Ah could on'y strack uh light!"(405) This quote not only captures the dialect but also shows the symbolism of good and bad. The light represents Delia in that she is good and able to spiritually seperate from Sykes. Sykes is seen as bad because he is not surrounded by the light and cannot find the light.

In the play "Trifles", by Susan Glaspell many interpretations can be derived. Deconstructionism shines through in this work through its references to feminism and gender roles. The feminist aspect of this play lies within the entire work. The author, Susan Glaspell was a great advocate of the feminist movement who wrote many works that supported the movement. "Trifles" supports the fact that women can be independent and can stand up for themselves. In the play Mrs. Wright was a woman who killed her husband. At this time no one thought that a woman could be capable of a horrible act such as murder. Through the play "Trifles" this was proven wrong. Gender roles for both men and women are addressed in this work. A conversation takes place with the sheriff, county attorney, and Mrs. Hale that proves that gender roles are an important aspect of the play. The conversation is about dirty towels. The men do not see that the towels could be a key piece of evidence to convict Mrs. Wright, but Mrs. Hale sees the symbolism that the towels hold(1776). The women in the story possess the capability to convict Mrs. Wright because of their role in society and the men are left in the dark because they do not understand the roles of women in society.

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