The Lamp at Noon

"He was not coming yet."

Ellen anticipates Paul’s arrival hoping for both a resolution to their ongoing conflict and a chance to experience physical touch and emotional connection. However, their inability to see each other’s point of view thwarts both these desires. The sense of anticipation and missed connection is a theme that is present throughout the short story.

"He seemed a long time."

Here Ross conveys the sense of monotony and impatience that is incumbent with the dangerous situation the Ellen inhabits. She is impotent and anxious and feels like she should have achieved some resolution by this time.

"This is the third day."

Paul’s observation serves two purposes. It is indicative of both exasperation—due to the discomfort caused by the storm—and hope that the storm will be spent soon. Paul’s statement also establishes a specific timeframe within the story. It indicates that both the storm and the conflict between Paul and Ellen have been ongoing for three days.

"The land will come back. It's worth waiting for."

With these words Paul expresses the very nature of his being. All of his hope and tenacity are exposed as he chides Ellen for her loss of faith. His words encapsulate his values of patience and perseverance at all costs—against all odds and against all reason.

"The little sob in her voice gave way suddenly to a ring of exasperation."

Here Ross depicts a shift in Ellen’s emotional timbre. Her character starts to transition from being sad and vulnerable to being increasingly frustrated and willing to go to extreme lengths to achieve her goal of freedom and safety.

"You think that in town you'd have a better time - not so much work - more clothes -"

This quote highlights the different values that motivate Paul and Ellen. Paul mocks Ellen because of his perception that she wants to leave the farm and enjoy a softer lifestyle. Paul disdains life in the city in the same way that Ellen has become increasingly contemptuous of life on a farm and farmers in general.

“I'm young still. I like pretty things.”

Ellen’s words reveal a young and vulnerable side to her character. As a woman who is possibly only in her mid-twenties, she reminds Paul that she does have a desire for beauty and pleasure. She also reminds him that they have come from different backgrounds and the absence of all beauty has taken a toll on her emotional state of well-being.

“The dry years won't last forever.”

This quote highlights Paul’s ignorant belief that—against all evidence to the contrary the farm will untimely recover and become productive once again. His naïve belief that their situation will improve highlights the idea that misplaced hope can be deadly.

“But it's not just dry years, Paul! […] If in the first place you farmers had taken care of your land.”

This quote brings attention to the fact that Ellen has a superior level of education and fully understands the cause of—and potential solutions to the problems that have been created by over farming, lack of crop rotation, and poor soil conservation. However, she is unable to make Paul see her point of view and as a result she becomes increasingly agitated and desperate.

“Don’t go yet. I brood and worry when I'm left alone. Please, Paul - you can't work on the land anyway.”

Ellen expresses her desire for intimacy, and how their current situation has taken a toll on their once-loving relationship. It highlights the theme that external pressures can cause internal damage.

“Sometimes, Paul, I wish I was. I'm so caged - if I could only break away and run.”

This quote is important because it reveals Ellen’s central conflict. Her inner turmoil is rooted in her existential desire for a life of safety, beauty and meaning—away from the stifling confines of her unsustainable farm. Her statement also conveys her growing sense of desperation and foreshadows the possibility that she might be capable of taking irrational action in order to free herself of the pressure that she feels.

“In here safe and quiet - you don't know how well off you are.”

Paul’s response to the Ellen’s longing for escape shows his unwillingness to understand her point of view. The fact that he consistently minimizes her concerns is one of the main sources of tension in their relationship. Despite all of the evidence to the contrary, Paul still maintains his belief that life on the farm offers meaning and safety.

“I'll take him again. Such clumsy hands - you don't know how to hold a baby yet. See how his head falls forward on your arm.”

Ellen’s statement depicts her loss of sanity. She has lost touch with reality. She is unaware—or is unwilling to acknowledge that her child has died. Her unwillingness to admit this fundamental defeat is similar to Paul’s inability to admit that his dream of a happy and independent life on the farm has also died.