Just_Like_A_Tree

Just Like A Tree Stream-of-consciousness In Ernest J. Gaines' Short Story, “Just Like A Tree" “Ernest J. Gaines, in his short story, “Just Like a Tree,” does an extraordinary job at familiarizing his readers with each character. By using the literary technique known as stream-of-consciousness, readers are able to relate to the characters, and discover them in a more personal light. The narration of “Just like a Tree,” shifts from one character to another. Normally, this style is confusing to some audiences. However, Gaines’ use of this technique reveals certain insightful truths about each character; and evokes a rare and in-depth understanding about the circumstances in the story. Gaines approaches the story from many perspectives. Through monologues, he illuminates the feelings of the insiders: those family members and close friends directly effected by the conflict in the story, as well as the feelings of the outsiders: those obliquely effected by the conflict in the story. The discord in “Just Like a Tree,” is centered around the reality that Aunt Fe, a well-known and highly respected woman in the community, is moving north, away from all of the loved ones who cherish her aunt, community, fe, about, family, anne-marie, people, monologue, very, story, reveals, fe’s, emile, character, black, whole, white, social, one, house, between, tree, mule, just, gaines, displays, yet, woman, way, through, technique, struggle, son, situation