Marriage In Will Weaver's A Gravestone Made Of Wheat

Everybody has felt it at one time or another, whether it is for a person, everyday objects, or your pet. Love is an important symbol that has traveled through generations and still exists in today’s society. Love is a common word used to describe one’s affection towards people that we care about in our lives. In Will Weaver’s short story “A Gravestone Made of Wheat” love is found between a man and a woman who lived on a small farm in Minnesota. Olaf Torvik and Inge Altenburg fall in love with each other during their strenuous attempt to get married. Marriage is a symbol of love between two individuals. In the story, Inge and Olaf try to get married many times but the government wouldn’t give Inge citizenship in the United States prohibiting

As Inge and Olaf wait for the letters to arrive from Europe, they bond and begin to fal in love. When the letters arrived Inge was so happy and excited to get married she ran to Olaf in the fields and road bareback all the way into town to get married. “Olaf was in the field hilling up his corn plants when Inge came running, calling out to him as she came, holding up her skirts for speed, waving a package in her free hand. Olaf an Inge did not take time to hitch the wagon, but rode together bareback on the Belgian to Park Rapids. They ran laughing up the courthouse steps, Olaf catching Inge’s hand on the way” (23). They ran as fast as they could to the courthouse t because they were so excited to be married. But sadly, they were turned down by the judge. Inge finally gives up and demands to go home. “Inge rose from her chair. there was iron in her face. Come- she commanded Olaf…It is time we go to home” (24). Despite the power of the judge, Inge gives up the idea of marriage and decides that they will live their life together as a married couple. Will Weaver’s story emphasizes how Inge and Olaf come together and fall in love despite the disapproval of marriage from the United States Government. They

Even through death, love lingers on. Inge and Olaf lived a long and happy life together. “He also knew that few dreams could ever be better than this. And in his long life with Inge, none were” (25). They had two children, Harry and Einar. When Inge died, the law prohibited Olaf to bury her on the farm and had to make the hard decision to cover her grave but knew that his family would remember her and love her. “She was real, Olaf thought, only to those who knew her, who loved her. Olaf suddenly understood, was the way she should remain. As in her life, her death” (25). Even though Inge’s grave had to be secret, the people who loved her will always remember she was there strengthening the theme of love throughout the