Ladder of Years

 

“Ladder of Years”, this is my first time to read Anne Tyler’s novel, she has

awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1988. Delia Grinstead, a forty-year-old woman

leaves her marriage and family for a very different life, originally, she was the

perfect mother and wife until her kids reached young adulthood, her husband

started to seem like an old man, and she realized that she had become nearly

invisible. So she chooses to leave. She simply walks away and ends up in a

small town where she creates a quiet new life for herself and discovers just

exactly who she is.  In the Delaware community of Bay Borough, beginning,

Delia tries to keep distance from people there, she does not want to create

any closed relationship with local people due to the unknown future.  However,

she has confronts her inner self and begins to deal with the defect of personality,

gradually, she becomes part of her new community, and has the courage to

take a job caring for Noah Miller, an appealing 12-year-old whose mother

has also run away from home and family. Over one year, Delia discards her

timorous personality and obtain independence and respect unfolds which she

quests for.  

 

When reading this novel, especially for the plot regarding Delia’s children and

husband how to ignore her talk and feeling, it let me associate with Kafka’s

“Die Verwandlung”, people is always easy to ignore the family who contributes

a lot in quietness, they take his/her contribution for granted, further to not care

about his/her needs and feelings. Ironically, people will abruptly find his/her

existence until lost him/her.  In the beginning period of staying at Bay Borough,

Delia is always keep distance from people to escape too many social activities. 

Consent to her thought, too many social activities will interfere mind peaceful

and occupy the time to read books and get together with family.  I love to be

alone, maybe feel lonely but feel more free, do not need to waste the energy to

socialize with people.  The beauty of stay alone is that thought can rush as wild

horse, no limitation to play in the time and space.  Kant has said: “I am solitary,

I am free, I am the king of myself.”  Delia loves to read, so she must be like to

stay alone, this is reason why she can go to a place where is completely unfamiliar

to her and try to begin a new life there. Stay alone can help people to clarify the

question and dissolve the chaotic mind, consequently, run away from the

current circumstance temporarily that may not be a bad idea……………