Posted by Amanda Le on June 03, 1999 at 23:45:19:
Writing prompt#19
Handling Charges
The significance of Tova's bearing Jeff toward the black horse is that is symbolizing the coming death of Jeff or it can also means that it's the end of Jeff's disease or suffer. In many countries, the color black symbolizes death, evil, darkness, unknown and so on. In this story, I think it means the darkness going to come and death will take over Jeff. This is good for Jeff and maybe for Tova too. If death come, then Jeff and Tova will not suffer anymore. Jeff is suffering from the actual disease but Tova suffering is far worst then Jeff; her suffering is from the mind. I think it is very heart broken to watch your child suffering and dying. I think that Tova always in denial. She dress Jeff in his casual clothes like it's just any ordinary day. When the woman at the park ask about Jeff's face, she told the woman that it was a burn from boil water. She told this lie because the burn from boil water will leave the scar but at least Jeff will not die and that is her wishful thinking. In the last paragraph, "Tova got up and ran to bear, finally, her son high to the back of the black horse..." this action indicates that she snap out of her denial. It's time to face the fact that her son is dying.