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Metaphors
Definition of Mood
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition
Mood
Explanation and Analysis:
As the title of the story suggests, the mood of “The Enemy” is a tense one. The story opens with the narrator declaring that he always considered his mother “the enemy” and, from there, goes on to look at the dysfunctional nature of both the narrator’s family and colonial society as a whole. The narrator’s mother leaves his violent father and the narrator chooses to stay with him, bearing witness to his father’s mental deterioration (and ultimate death from fright) as the plantation laborers he oversees started to threaten and stalk him. The narrator then moves to a new city with his mother but repeatedly rebels against her and receives beatings for doing so.
While much of the story is rife with tension and conflict, there are some notable lighthearted moments as well. These include the scene in which the narrator’s father teaches him about gravity and secondary colors, as well the scene in which the narrator receives a good grade on a personal essay he wrote about his experience almost drowning. The mood of the final scene even enters a touching and heartwarming register, as the narrator’s mother surprised him by showing him affection when he gets injured. Ultimately, Naipaul paints a complex portrait of the ways that families love each other even in the midst of conflict, shame, and fear.
Related Themes:
