Biram Wood Summary

“Birnam Wood”, by T. Coraghessan Boyle, portrays the unfolding relationship between Keith and Nora, as they struggle through the times they had with each other. During a rainy day in September, Keith and Nora expresses their frustrations with their financial and current housing situations. In the middle of their misery, a friend of Keith rang them, suggesting a house sitting for an elderly couple residing at Birnam Wood. They take the offer and are awestruck by the place, savouring every moment the had with each other. Nora finally picks up a job as a hostess allowing Keith to meet Steve, an unhesitant guy who barged into their lives, going as far as to show up at Birnam Wood. When Keith saw the spark between Steve and Nora, he sauntered outside

He has the motivation to secure a comfortable and stable life with Nora. He tolerates her “bitching”, the urge to bicker, and letting go of all the rage and frustration he had with her, when they arrived at Birnam Wood (5). He is diligent, working at a “thankless job” because “[they] needed money to stay alive”(1). He is considerate; all he cared about was “Making [Nora] happy. Making [himself] happy—and everyone else” (7). Above all else, he is cautious in keeping this lifestyle, shown between the interaction of Steve over the phone and hiding Nora from him (12). However, these personality traits are also his downfall. He is diligent and considerate for the sake of keeping a relationship, foreshadowed as “a feeling that couldn’t last” (9). Keith was only cautious to stay away from his fear he was in denial of, as shown when he attempts to shield Nora from Steve, attempting to protect Nora and what she represents to him (13). The author suggests that while Keith may love Nora, he only puts in the effort because she is his ideal woman to establish a comfortable and stable life. Keith is portrayed as a static character because instead of confronting his loss and fear, he turns his back to it by leaving the house with Steve and