Analysis of 'Night' by Alice Munro

The title 'Night' refers to a haunting, secretive time, aligning with gothic elements. The setting creates tension and mystery, and the narrative features a build-up of thought, common in gothic literature. Night is also a time for deep thoughts and relates to the narrator's insomnia, a major theme.

The story is written in the first person and is retrospective, based on past events. It's semi-autobiographical, reflecting Alice Munro's personal experiences. The early part establishes a setting of hardship, using pathetic fallacy with snowstorms accompanying difficult events like childbirth or a burst appendix, suggesting life during wartime with gas rationing.

The narrative quickly shifts to an upbeat tone after her hospital visit. However, a mysterious 'growth' removed during the surgery, described with non-specific nouns like 'it' and 'growth,' creates intrigue. The mother's nonchalant dismissal of a turkey's egg-sized growth, likely a tumor, highlights the different attitudes towards health at the time.

The narrator reflects on how times have changed, noting that such a revelation about a 'growth' would be met with many questions today. In contrast, in her childhood, questions were not asked. The lack of transparency around her illness leads to a lack of conclusion for her, potentially impacting her mentally. Her conversational tone about this serious matter reflects the prevailing attitudes of her time.

The narrator's insomnia begins, exacerbated by her lack of routine after leaving school. The repetition of 'wide awake' and the synthetic listing emphasize the dragging nature of the night. Her home feels alien, and she experiences a sense of loss and purposelessness, indicated by the phrase 'fell away,' leading to an existential crisis as she questions her own existence and significance.

The narrator becomes increasingly disturbed, losing control and coherence in her thoughts. Her mind recites rhymes and absurd speech, mocking her. The simple sentence 'I was not myself' emphasizes her mental instability and existential questioning. She recognizes a profound internal struggle, realizing she is not herself.

A 'horrible thought' takes hold, described with ambiguous language, building tension. This 'utterly cold' thought, which she cannot control, is the desire to strangle her sister. The juxtaposition of this violent imagery with her deep love for her sister creates confusion. She personifies this thought as 'madness' lying beside her, an inescapable internal voice tempting her to act on the 'worst'.

To combat these disturbing thoughts, the narrator adopts action as a distraction. She gets out of bed, methodically navigating the house and then going outside. The isolated, dark, and vulnerable setting amplifies her fear, causing her to retreat. During the daytime, these thoughts are easily dismissed as 'absurd,' highlighting the comfort and normalcy daylight brings.

Her thoughts, now personified as a 'demon,' become inescapable. Seeking solace, she looks towards town, a symbol of sanity and routine. One morning, she encounters her father outside. Their awkward, uncommunicative exchange highlights the lack of openness in their family. Her father's presence and calm demeanor ultimately provide comfort.

Initially, the narrator struggles to confess her thoughts, feeling instant regret. Her father's response, a simple 'Well,' is anti-climactic but releases tension. He normalizes her thoughts, attributing them to the anesthetic (ether) from her hospital visit and assuring her she wouldn't act on them. This dismissive yet calm reaction, contrasting with modern therapeutic approaches, effectively helps her.

The narrator reflects on how her father's handling of the situation was appropriate for their time and context, a world of physical hardships where emotional expression was less common. She realizes, in hindsight, that her father had his own significant financial and personal struggles, which might have informed his 'dismissive' response to her seemingly trivial (in comparison) mental struggle. His nonchalance ultimately helped her sleep again, illustrating the powerful and lasting influence of her parents' coping mechanisms on her own life.