The Wedding Gift Literary Analysis Essay Example

“Married women in 1776 could not own property, sign contracts or bring legal suit, and their wages, if they earned any, legally went to their husbands.” The short story “The Wedding Gift” written by Thomas Randal, starts in Nova Scotia in the year 1794, the story follows a young lady; Kezia Barnes. She is being forced into marrying Mr. Hathaway, who is an older gentleman and is the Barclay’s family agent. Mr. Barclay wants to keep Mr. Hathaway pleased and satisfied to ensure their business relationship remains content and continues to earn profit. Mr. Hathaway wants to marry one of Mr. Barclay’s daughters, but Mr. Barclay’s rather marry off Kezia who is an orphan they brought into their family at a young age. Kezia and Mr. Hathaway's wedding is taking place in a small town, Port Marriott. The author uses Irony as they got stuck in the snowstorm and the horse escaping which delays the pair from their journey to Port Marriott. The second reason is the symbolism portrays in the story showing the importance and significance of the tinderbox on how it changes the outcome of the travel. Lastly, there is patriarchy when Mr. Barclay chooses Kezia's faith in getting married even though she is unwilling to.  When analyzed through a feminist lens, Thomas Randal, “The Wedding Gift” illustrates rebellion and manipulation from a woman who does not get the outcome they want.

To begin with, the irony is shown with the horse running away from Mr. Mears and in the cabin during the snowstorm. Mr. Mears comes up with the plan “Ride-and-tie, [he] ride[s] a mile or so, then [he will] get down and tie the horse to a tree and walk on. When [Kezia] come up to the horse, [she will] mount and ride a mile or so, passing [Mr. Mears] on the way, and [she] tie him and walk on.” (Randal 1). From unfortunate events their journey got prolonged, the horse that was supposed to get Kezia and Mr. Mears to the wedding in Port Marriott escapes from the possession of Mr. Mears, when he attempts to tie the horse to a tree, the horse gets startled from a pile of snow falling off the branch. Mr. Mears is the one that is supposed to get Kezia safely to the wedding so she does not run away but ultimately puts them more endangered by not having any transportation in the woods during a brewing blizzard. Another example of irony is when Kezia and Mr. Mears were cold in the cabin during the snowstorm. Since they did not have anything known to start a fire, Kezia implies for Mr. Mears and her wrap up together in a blanket as it is the only way “To keep each other warm.” (Randal 7). Kezia did not mention to Mr. Mears that she was given a tinderbox from Mr. Barclay which could have been used to keep both of them warm instead of the blanket. Their being physically close to each other has created a bond between them. It shows the irony as even though she does not want to get married she is choosing an affectionate path to change her faith. Therefore it is proven that Kezia has shown rebellion in society by choosing a life that was not planned for her.  

Moving forward the symbolism of the tinderbox is significant to Kezia’s life on the journey to Port Marriott for her wedding. Symbolism came from the tinderbox on two separate occasions. The first is in the cabin during the snowstorm. As they were soaking wet from the raging blizzard outside they take off any of their wet clothes and must find a way to warm up before they become hypothermic. Kezia wants to start a fire in the fireplace but needs “flint and steel” from Mr. Mears even though he has not packed one (Randal 8). Kezia knows she has a tinderbox which contains flint, steel and charcloth which are things you need to start a fire but she decides not to use it or share this information with Mr. Mears while they are freezing from the cold winter storm. While choosing not to use the tool Kezia takes charge and makes Mr. Mears and her wrap up in a thick layer of animal skin together to keep warm for the night. If she uses the tinderbox and lit the fire the two of them would have slept separately from one another and they would get their warmth from the heat of the fire instead of each other. The relationship between Kezia and Mr. Mears has grown from strangers to a close bond. The other way the tinderbox portrays as a symbolic item is towards the end of the story. Kezia confesses to Mr. Mears that she does not want to marry Mr. Hathaway and rather marry him as she does not want to be a slave wife and marry someone she does not want to marry. They set off to the New Light preacher to get married and while starting their new hike Kezia “flung it into the woods and walked on.” (Randal 13). The tinderbox is seen as a dark place in Kezia’s life as it brings her memories of oppression by her own family. The Tinderbox is also a reminder of a life that Kezia could have been stuck in if she did attend her wedding as Mr. Hathaway wants a wife not to love but to take care of him and the house. As she throws away the wedding gift given by Mr. Barclay it symbolizes that she can now create a new life for herself, Kezia is free to be who she wants with Mr. Mears. Therefore this proves that the tinderbox would have Kezia get married and have a life plan for her but instead chose to.