Open Prompt

1986. Some works of literature use the element of time in a distinct way. The chronological sequence of events may be altered, or time may be suspended or accelerated. Choose a novel, an epic, or a play of recognized literary merit and show how the author's manipulation of time contributes to the effectiveness of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.


       In Audrey Niffenegger's book, The Time Travelers Wife, the author uses time travel to enhance her story. The way she uses time is quite interesting actually, because she creates a character who has a genetic disorder that causes him to time travel unpredictably.

       The love story between Henry, the time traveler, and his wife Clare is a sad but amazing one. Niffenegger uses the time travel to have their love grow over time because once they meet naturally; Henry then begins to time travel back to Clare's childhood. This means that Clare has known Henry her whole life and she has been falling in love with Henry since she was six years old.  This strong connection between the love Clare has for him as she grows up and he is there for her then, and how she loves him when they are older proves how important the time travel was to their relationship.

       Henry and Clare’s story complicates when they are unable to conceive children due to the genetic disorder that Henry is passing onto the child. This is obviously very sad for the both of them because they want children but Henry does not want Clare to go through that pain of having miscarriages anymore and gets a vasectomy. This would have worked if a version Henry who had not yet had a vasectomy had not traveled to visit Clare and had gotten her pregnant. Henry is upset at first, but when the child is born is ultimately happy for the occurrence.

       Henry then travels and meets his ten-year-old daughter before she is technically born; he learns from his future daughter that she is able to somewhat control where she travels in time. He also learns some sad news. His daughter, Aba, informs him that he died when she was five years old. This give Henry the knowledge of his untimely death at the age of 43 and means he only has five years left to live. The way the author uses time travel to predict Henry’s death and how he dies is very clever and allows for a lot of emotional reaction from the reader because he knows, and we know that he is going to die and that he has zero control over it.

       Niffenegger uses time effectively to show the connection and love between Henry and Clare. She also uses it to strengthen the story and the hardship of Henry’s disease, which contributes to the work as a whole.