Lamp at the Noon

The Lamp at the Noon

-        Sinclair Ross

“The Lamp at Noon" is a short story  written by Sinclair Ross which depicts the struggle of a family to survive in the Canadian landscape. Survival is the main theme in this story. Canadian writer Margaret Atwood in her work,“ Survival” describes the hostile nature of Canadian landscape. Ross in this story focuses on the issue a family has to face as they fight against their own beliefs as well as the harsh nature surrounding theme.

This story takes place during "Dust Bowl”. The winds were too severe and the farmers had to abandon their lands.   This is the setting for the story. They face a great trouble in this dust region. Ellen, wife of Paul live in a bleak and dark atmosphere with a baby. Their life is in misery as it is revolving around dust, wind and drought.

Ellen’s life is put in trouble after marriage. Her past was comfortable and happy. Her father owned a store in town. But at present she feels isolated, lonely, frustrated and hopeless. Ellen tells Paul that “they have no future in the farm. Nothing will grow; he has tried and the environment only beats him back”. She pours her inner feelings to her husband. She talks about her baby weeping and coughing for a long time. She begs her husband at several instances to move away from this depressed region. But Paul is not ready to listen the cry of his wife and baby.

Paul has worked hard in this farm for five years without profit.   He knows that his family is barely surviving.  His animals are suffering.  Tired of arguing with Ellen, he goes to the barn.  His manhood and self-respect refuse to give in to her request to try something different.  Her father offered him a job.  Blindly, Paul avoids his wife's pleas.

Ellen is tired of fighting the dust. All she can think of is getting out.  She tries to make Paul see her point of view.  She pleads with him.  In contrast, obviously, Paul does love his family; however, his pride prevents him from listening to her depression, loneliness, and misery. He thinks only of his connection to his land.  He hears his wife,  but he does not listen.  Unfortunately, his dismissal of her complaints leads to a tragic ending.

When Paul returns to the house, he finds his wife and baby gone.  Finally after searching, he finds them.  The baby is dead, and Ellen appears out of her mind.  Unable to cope with the loss of the child, Ellen tries to relate to her husband:

You're right Paul..You said tonight we'd see the storm go down. ...Tomorrow will be fine.