Spoon River Anthology Sparknotes

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“The universe does not carry debts, it always returns back what you gave it.”(Drishti Bablani) Karma is a common word referring to destiny or fate being followed as a consequence of one's actions. People in the town of Spoon River face their karma and deal with the consequences of their actions in a novel called Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters. In the story, the townspeople’s lives are described in a collection of epitaphs, showing how their decisions eventually lead to death. The epitaphs of the townspeople unveil a complex web of misconduct, drama, and relationships. Ultimately, the short stories of the citizens disclose their true colors and reveal what they have done leading up to the moment they pass. Many residents of Spoon …show more content…

Butch Weldy and Dora Williams, who play dominant roles in the story, face retribution in response to the baggage they leave with others. After an unexpected explosion at work, Butch Weldy was left with severe injuries. He describes it as, “as the tank exploded, [and] I came down with both legs broken, and my eyes burned crisp like a couple of eggs.” (Line 11-13 ). This event is ironic because Minerva Jones grew numb from the feet up after her tragic relationship with Butch. Butch possibly burned his eyes and lost his vision because he used to be “blind” to the damage he was causing to other people. Unfortunately, Butch was not the only one who faced their fate; Dora Williams suffers her death after killing her former husband and inheriting their money. Dora’s tactic of marrying rich, committing murder, being left with the will, and moving on to the next husband seemed to work in her favor until it backfired and she faced death. She notes, “I wed Count Navigato, a native of Genoa. We went to Rome. He poisoned me, I think” (Lines 19-20). This circumstance leaves Dora contending with the consequences of her actions after wreaking her late husband’s

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