In Jacksons works, how do some protagonists perceive the differences between country life and city life?
Many of Jackson’s protagonists either move from small towns to large cities or vice versa. Those who move from small towns (such as the protagonists of “Elizabeth” and “The Villager”) find that their dreams are not attained and settle for less than satisfying lives and careers. Though they are unhappy in New York, they insist upon maintaining the image, at least to their friends and families at home, that their lives are much more glamorous than in reality. Similarly, Margaret, in “Pillar of Salt,” is wholly overwhelmed by her vacation to New York and becomes paralyzed by feelings of claustrophobia and paranoia. On the other hand, Mrs. Walpole misses city life and feels suffocated by the small-town gossip that pervades her community. • Explain why familial relationships are significant to protagonists in Jackson’s fiction. Those of Jackson’s protagonists who maintain strong relationships with their family, whether with parents or spouses, are less susceptible to experiencing feelings o
