Symbolism of Sea and Fog in the Story "Miss Mary Pask"

Student Name Professor Name Course Name Date
Miss Mary Pask
In the story Miss Mary Pask, the setting has majorly affected how different themes are portrayed in the story. When the narrator feels obligated to visit Mrs Bridgeworth's sister, Miss Mary, the events that occur can primarily be predicted due to the story's setting. Wharton uses various settings symbolically to help the reader understand that the story is about a ghost and a scary ordeal. Symbolically, it is easy for the reader to associate fog with a lack of clarity and the sea with a place where ghosts and various spirits reside. Fog and sea are symbolically used in "Miss Mary Pask" to depict the lack of clarity, uncertainty, and loneliness felt by the characters in the story.
Firstly, fog is symbolically used to express the theme of lack of clarity and uncertainty. When the narrator prepares to go to see Miss Mary, the day is described as an uncertain autumn day. The weather is labeled as uncertain because one day, it is blue and silver, and within no time, it becomes a driving fog. The use of fog in this story implies a lack of clarity on what to do. On most occasions, the narrator is in a position of uncertainty about what action to take. Normally, where there is fog, it is almost impossible to see what is ahead clearly. As a result, individuals may be left stranded because they cannot see what is ahead of them. Thus, the theme of uncertainty is well expressed because, just like fog makes it hard for individuals to see ahead, the narrator is uncertain about what to do after meeting Miss Mary. The narrator is afraid of sharing what has happened since the encounter with Miss Mary, but the narrator is also aware that the only way to get answers is through talking with Mrs Bridgeworth. Thus, just like the fog is associated with a lack of clear sight, the story's theme of uncertainty was well expressed.
The sea is symbolically used to portray a place where spirits dwell. The place where Miss Mary resided was labeled "Bay of the Dead," near the ocean. The story is primarily based on a female ghost, an...