The Broken Glass

The specific elements of fiction are important when it comes to analyzing the content and underlying meaning of this work as a whole. Through reading "The Tenth of January", by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, I came to recognize her frequent use of symbols; glass and brokenness were both used frequently, both together and separately. The symbol of glass is first used as a looking-glass. Asenath is using it look at her reflection, and because of her not typically "beautiful" appearance. Phelps describes Asenath as locking her door, putting her lamp before the looking-glass and taring off her
gray cape; she tore it off so savagely that the button snapped and rolled away,—two little crystal semicircles like tears upon the floor. I thought the buttons on the coat could be represented in two different ways, one being her anger and frustration towards her appearance, by tearing of her coat, and having the buttons represent tears, highlighting her vulnerability. From this example, we can already tell that glass is being symbolized in a negative light. The next time the symbol of glass is used, it is paired with the other symbol of brokenness, it seems to be used in a slightly more positive light, but it really is not. Phelps writes "The broken panes of glass about the place were well mended, and a clever little gate, extemporized from a wild grape-vine, swung at the entrance". The fact that the glass panes have been mended gives us some hope, but there is still the fact that they were once broken. Once glass is broken, it can never be fully mended. This symbolism could be used to represent Asenath's love for Dick, but there is still cracks in her love and life.  Glass is a very important symbol in this short story. It is used to emphasize the fact the Asenath is unsure about herself and feels like broken glass due being humiliated and unsure. This all helps lead to the end of the short story, along with her eventual death.