Psychological Realism in "Dimensions"

Psychological Realism in Alice Munro’s “Dimensions”

"Dimensions" - Alice Munro's short story deals with triple infanticide. Father's act of killing his offspring and the mother's sense of guilt over the act form the core of the short story. Killing and getting away with it is not uncommon but the way the father takes this act is beyond comprehension. In the garb of insanity one has put his ruthlessness on the innocent lives is unpalatable. Nonetheless there is no reason a sane person can act in such a way that too on innocent lives. The argument he puts in still baffles the readers. Rescuing his children from the grip of their mother's vicious plot of killing them is the argument put forth by the father as suggested in the story for the killing of his children.

The plot of this story is pivoted around Doree, who is at the receiving end. A woman of twenty three years old, she had undergone a traumatizing experience, however subdued by the narration. The psychological scattering of her embedded thoughts makes a sense by the way of bringing an unknown boy back to life.

Lloyd, Doree's husband has committed a criminal blunder of killing his children in the absence of Doree. It was Lloyd who had chided Doree for buying a dented tin of spaghetti. He accused Doree of poisoning his children by buying the dented spaghetti. Ironically he has killed his children without any profound reason. The act of his was categorized as, 'criminally insane' and he was confined to a rehabilitation facility. This incident got wide publicity in the print media with their family photograph. Doree got counselled by Mrs. Sands and gradually recovers from the disturbance caused by the incident.

The story begins with Doree's journey towards London to meet her husband. In between the journey, the act and its aftermath and its psychological repercussions on Doree is presented in a realistic manner by the author. 

Doree is very much drawn towards her husband. She is always under the grip of her husband. Lloyd is of a dominating personality. Lloyd acts as if he is the epitome of morality. Finding fault with others and the way world works is the top concern of Lloyd. His manner suggests so. Doree is always his victim. He blames Doree for not caring his children. He always spies her. Doree is totally under the hold of Lloyd. Despite Lloyd killing their children Doree still remains under the hold of Lloyd however traumatizing her experience is.  She goes to the facility thrice to meet him but turned down twice.

The marital life of Doree and Lloyd began normally and happily. But, Lloyd could not get in to the family as a result of his hippie outlook. Doree met Lloyd first in the hospital when her mother had been admitted there for undergoing a surgery. Lloyd was an orderly in the hospital. Later they got married and started their married life at Mildmay a country in Ontario province. Lloyd’s attitude towards life has undergone a change. He started believing in marriage, constancy and no birth control. They lived in Sechelt Peninsula for sometime before getting married.  Lloyd got employment in an ice cream factory. Later Lloyd starts suspecting every act of Doree without any valid reason. Mrs. Maggie, an acquaintance of Doree helps her taking to the home schooling in her minivan. One night she was detained in Maggie’s house and Maggie informs Lloyd that she would drop Doree the next morning. On Doree’s return the killing of her kids was discovered and Lloyd did not show any feeling. Maggie informs police. Lloyd termed insane and confined to the facility.

After Lloyd’s confinement a sense of emptiness prevailed in her mind coupled with utter sense of shock caused by the incident. Mrs. Sands helps her out of the trauma. Doree has hidden her identity by changing her name as Fleur. She gets a job of a chambermaid in a motel named Blue Spruce Inn.

On the way to London she comes across an accident in which a boy is knocked down. Her bus stops. She gets down with fellow passengers. She feels the pulse in the neck of the boy who is otherwise still. Doree gives the first aid. She tries to revive him. She attempts mouth to mouth resuscitation. The boy starts breathing. The life is saved. The bus leaves. But, Doree stays with the boy for further help as the ambulance will arrive shortly.

Finally, Doree has come out of the clutches of Lloyd totally as well as of her guilt. Doree is emancipated from all the drudgeries of the past. The story ends with the emancipation of Doree from her sense of guilt.

Thus “Dimensions” skillfully explores the mind of Doree.