Narrative Reflection

Narrative Purpose → to explore the struggle to reconcile the weight of the weight of unresolved memories.

In my narrative Silo, I explore an individual’s struggle to reconcile the weight of unresolved memories with the possibility of renewal, reflecting the complex process of healing. During my study of The Craft of Writing, I found myself drawn to stories that capture the tension between past and present, which ultimately inspired my own narrative purpose and the crafting of Walsh’s journey.

Symbolic Motif – The Football (beginning)

Crafting Choice: The football serves as a symbol of Walsh’s fractured relationship with his father and his own unresolved guilt.

Example: “Goalposts, rusted into arthritic talons, clutched a deflated football—my first ball.”

Significance: The football’s transformation from deflated to repaired mirrors Walsh’s internal journey, reinforcing the idea that healing is not about erasing the past but learning to engage with it.

Flashback – The Football as a Lesson in Responsibility

• “You kicked it. You fix it.” (his father’s words as he hands him the pump)

• In this memory, the ball shifts from a forgotten object to a symbol of expectation and self-repair, mirroring his father’s belief in accountability. The moment highlights Walsh’s initial rejection of responsibility, foreshadowing his later struggle with confronting the past.

Ending – The Football as a Sign of Movement

• “I hefted the ball, its weight still familiar, and wondered if the cracks might hold this time.”

• Walsh does not explicitly fix the ball, but he chooses to take it with him, representing his willingness to engage with his past rather than avoid it. The uncertainty in “if the cracks might hold” leaves space for interpretation, reinforcing the idea that healing is an ongoing process, not a moment of closure.

Sensory Imagery – The Landscape as a Reflection of Emotion

Crafting Choice: The setting is deliberately crafted through harsh sensory imagery to mirror Walsh’s internal struggle.

Example: “The wind was a fickle brute, licking the sweat from my neck only to slap it back, saltier than before.”

Significance: The oppressive environment reflects Walsh’s reluctance to return to Tambo, reinforcing how unresolved memories manifest physically, making his emotional turmoil inescapable.

I was particularly proud of my closing image, where Walsh finally picks up the ball: “I hefted the ball, its weight still familiar, and wondered if the cracks might hold this time.” This line echoes earlier descriptions of the ball’s deflation, capturing Walsh’s reluctant yet hopeful step towards confronting his past. By paralleling this imagery across the narrative, I aimed to reinforce the central idea that healing is not about erasing the past but engaging with it—accepting its scars and choosing to move forward.