Shiloh Themes
Gender Roles
Bobbie Ann Mason plays the good old gender role switcheroo with Leroy and Norma Jean, which adds an element of conflict to their relationship. Norma Jean tells Leroy that his "name means the king"...
Drugs and Alcohol
It's clear that for Leroy, smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol are daily habits that contribute to his inability to face reality and cope with it in constructive ways. For Leroy, substance abuse...
Dissatisfaction
The three main characters in "Shiloh" have one thing in common: They can't get no satisfaction. Although on the surface Leroy and Norma Jean go through the motions of life as a married couple and d...
Transformation
Norma Jean is the only character in "Shiloh" who transforms throughout the story. Her transformation begins with her body. She became interested in bodybuilding when she saw Leroy using weights for...