The Mahogany Table written by Sylvia Townsend Warner.

The short story that I have chosen is The Mahogany Table written by Sylvia
Townsend Warner. It tells about the life of an old woman, Letitia Foley whom had been
living alone after her sister, Cecily Foley married to a Californian man. Letitia and
Cecily inherit the only property from their parents which is mahogany table. During
their childhood times, they lived together in a small village and they used to play under
the mahogany table. However, as Cecily getting married and moved with her husband,
Letitia was the only one who kept the mahogany table. She continued her life alone and
managed to live for another years until she died (Norhidayu Rosman).
There are literary devices in Sylvias art. A literary device is the evaluation,
analysis, description, or interpretation of literary works (Eagleton, Terry,1988). The
purpose of literary devices is to make judgments on a work, to interpret the
interpretation of work and to provide the readers with the clear examples and relevant
historical or biographical information. It may help the readers to understand the story
well and engage with the story as well as making deeper understanding on what has the
writer is trying to convey. In this short story, the writer was trying to convey some of
the literary devices such as historical, cultural and gender theory. However, I have
decided to explore more on cultural devices. Cultural devices is basically tells us about
what had been practiced in a particular time in the society at that time. It reveals the
term culture which refers to popular and classic culture. It breaks down the boundary
between high culture and low culture (Johanna M.Smith, Ross C. Murfin). It is also
discovers the political reason why the cultural product is more valued than others
(Smith, 1992).
The first cultural theory that I have discovered is marriage culture. As far as we
concern, in marriage, a woman will usually follows the husband after getting married. It
is the culture in marriage itself that asks the woman to do so. After getting married,
women usually have to leave their family and moved to the husbands house or their in
laws house. Same goes to the character in the short story. It tells about Cecily Foley
who moved to California after she became Dexters wife. Dexter who was a Californian
man brings her back to his country and that makes Cecily had to leave her sister,
Letitia Foley. This cultural theory is clearly shown in the text, as though she were
speaking a part in a play she told Letitia that everything was settled, that she had
never been so happy in her life, that as soon as Dexters new leg had settle in they
would marry and leave for California (Page25, paragraph2, line6-10).
The second cultural device that I have found in the short story is inherited family
properties. As far as we concern, the short story tells about the mahogany table which
is the properties that Cecily Foley and Letitia Foley inherited from their parents. Even
though it is the only thing that they can remember and kept, they still be grateful of it
and accept it well. It is because the mahogany table is one of the most valuable and
priceless properties that they have after the parents were died. This evidence can
clearly be seen in the text, when she and Cecily setup the house together after the
parents were dead, Cecily had insisted on the mahogany table. Neither one of them
wanted the tallboys: but as belated twins at the end of a long family they had taken
what was allotted and be grateful of it (Page25, paragraph1, line 13-17).
Thirdly, Letitia and Cecily really appreciated the mahogany table and thinks that itis
the most merciful properties that they have because they used to play under the
mahogany table since they were young. That is why they were very happy to keep the
mahogany table with them. The most important thing about the mahogany table is that
it reminds them about their sweet memory in their childhood times. This evidence is
also clearly been shown in the text, none of the rich fruit-like glow of the mahogany
table under which she and Cecily used to play houses(Page25, paragraph1, line 11-13).
However, as Cecily has been married to Dexter and leave to California, she had to
leave the mahogany table with Letitia. Her husband does not really care about the
mahogany table as he had already has a lot of furniture in his house. So, he does not
care about Cecilys childhood memories as it has been showed in the text, the
invitation ripped open Leticias sense of injury. Will you be taking the mahogany table?
She asked. The words were not sooner out the mouth than she blushed for them. Cecily
appeared to consider. Dear old thingno, I dont think so. Dexter swarms with
furniture he call missionary (Page25, paragraph3, line1-2). So, at the end of the day,
Letitia was the one that inherit the mahogany table as Cecily moved with her husband.
In a conclusion, the literary device is a very important key in the short story
because it helps the reader to understand the story well. Despite that, it can improve
ones critical thinking as they tend to read and trying to interpret what was the writer
is trying to convey in a short story. The Mahogany table has given a best advice to the
reader. For example, we have to appreciate what was allotted to us and be grateful of
it. Other than that, we should continue our live even though it is very hard as it has
been shown by Leticias character. She still continue her live alone without Cecily and
managed to make herself happy as we can see in the text, By half -past eleven I have
finished the house work and have the rest of the day before to do as I please. In ever
find time heavy on my hands, there is always something to do and always something
interesting to do (Page24, paragraph line 3-7).