Plow Man

The short story Plow Man (2004), written by Jessica Grant, is include in the collection devising Light of Tragedy. This collections title is significant for Grants story because the fibber gravitates to buffo unmatchablery to deal with both the misdeed and sadness he is feeling. This essay ordain take a deeper look into the situations where prank is used as a coping mechanism to deal with the storytellers unrighteousnessy sense of right and wrong including how he deals with the conflict of the wind and snow, the projection of his negative attitude onto others and his unfitness to let go of the material things still tying him to Jenny.The narrator uses comedy as a coping mechanism to help alleviate the guilt felt since losing his married woman. Throughout Plow Man the narrator is struggling to cover away guilty feelings since his wife, Jenny, has passed. His remorse is conveyed in a humoristic manner, particularly when proceeding to take on the elements. The narrator am util izely views the winter setting as a villainous system, one that he feels is overpowering and out of his dominance.To mitigate his guilt, the narrator plays a victim to the winter storm, instead of taking control and shovelling his driveway. The reader is able to view the comedic flair of the narrator, as he challenges the storm, by stating, It aims for your chest. It picks a fight. If Im inside, it unleashes its fury on the driveway bring forth out here No. Fuck you (95). The readers overview of the situation, cognize a blizzard does not consciously take out frustrations on people, creates the entertaining conflict.However, by forfeiting control of the situation, the narrator is able to reduce the guilt that he feels for not shovelling. Assisting in criminal behavior by slash tires is another representation how the narrator relieves his guilt in a comedic way. He views the plow men as outlaws that are continuously burying him in snow, inhibiting his ability to appropriate to his wife. The narrator describes the plows as yellow-jawed monsters (99), which is an absurd concept, as the lifeless plows are simply driven by men who are doing their jobs.The narrator is able to alleviate guilt associated with not being able to get to his wife by supporting the destruction of the vehicle that he unwisely believes is burying him in snow on purpose. The cell shout neb resembles the narrators final physical tie to Jenny. As one of her last requests, Jenny asked that he promised to keep her cell phone with her in case theres a chance she needed to stir him. The narrator realizes that this request is unreasonable however, he feels bligated to respect the request of his deceased person wife. In a conversation between a Sprint delegate and the narrator, he recognizes the hilarity of the situation Id like to relinquish it open indefinitely. Which started me laughing again (96). The narrator makes the decision to maintain his wifes wishes, knowing that he will constantl y be tortured by the monthly phone bill. However, he would rather sacrifice his own well-being, than face the guilt that he would experience if he was to terminate his wifes cellphone account.In conclusion, by dint ofout the Plow Man written by Jessica Grant, comedy is used to relieve the narrators guilt through the difficult conditions he is facing. The reader witnesses an attempt to alleviate guilt using humor in situations that include, the snow storm, slashing the tires of the plow men and the narrators inability to cancel Jennys cell phone in order to fulfill his promise to her. Works Cited Grant, Jessica. Plow Man. Making Light of Tragedy. Erin, ON The Porcupines Quill, 2004.