Analysis Essay, Research Paper

“The Sun” is a story that presents nature in both its hostile and benevolent aspects. The events of the story suggest that those who are most dependent upon the natural world and who experience its greatest deprivations may also experience its greatest joys.The opening paragraphs of the story identify the characters and the setting–a wild and rocky region in Sweden, where the women try to wrest a meager harvest out of the land. In this region, which is overshadowed by a mountain, the soil is so poor that none of the big farm owners have tried to cultivate it. The cottages are built on rocky shelves or at the edge of marshes. The land is so rocky that the inhabitants can grow only a few potatoes. They have no modern conveniences and have to carry earth in sacks and spread soil on the rocks.Besides the defficulty of maintaining a meager existence, the women are faced with the problem of isolation and loneliness. The quality of life is abstemious. Pleasures are few. To ease their loneliness, the have devised the ceremony of the coffee party, which allows them to share news, discuss problems, and enjoy one another’s companionship.Having established the background and situation to make the central action of the story intelligible, Lagerlof introduces the dilemma of the protagonist, Beda. It is her turn to give a coffee party, but she can think of no proper occasion. In looking through her almanac, she finds that there is to be a solar eclipse, and she decides to hold a party to honor the sun. Accustomed to long, dark winters, Beda considers the sun a friend, a source of renewal: “It was only when she stood in a strong, warm, down-pouring sunshine that she felt like a live human being and not a walking corpse.”

On the day of Beda’s coffee party, the women are awed by the dramatic darkening of the skies while the eclipse is in progress. When the eclipse is over and the sun appears in radiant splendor, Beda sings a hymn of thanks to God. This song is the climax of the story, Beda feels that the sun is a gift from God, renewing one’s soureces of courage, strength and joy.It is clear that Lagerlof’s sympathies lie with good, simple folk like Beda, who accept the hardships of their lives and who triumph over difficulties with unwavering and touching faith. The other women, moved by Beda’s words, share her feelings that the sun gives them “life and strenght and color.” They return to their homes feeling “richer and more secure in the thought that they had a good, faithful friend in the Sun.