In ‘The Golden Age’, the author Joan London explores the concept of ‘home’ in the novel. In the text, London expands the meaning of home to be a place that offers a sense of shelter and belonging and permeates love and warmth. Through various characters, London posits the idea that while it is difficult to replace people’s physical home, yet what constitutes a ‘home’ or the definition of home is different to each character.
London demonstrates the difficulties in replacing one’s physical ‘home’. For instance, the scene of Albert struggles to cope in the hospice, Albert decides one day that “(he’s) takin' (himself) off home” as he seeks to wheel himself down the corridor. Exerting himself to the limit, he pushes himself on the top of the hill, “pulling and pulling on the wheels, he managed to tack up the hill from one side to another”. However, Albert's inability to climb the mountain is symbolized by his fall just as he reaches the top and the “chair (falls) on the top of him”. Not only does Albert Sutton shows his determination to go ‘home’, Ann Lee also exemplifies her strong sense of desire to be with her family. Her strong sense of determination of going home with her family is not hold back by the fact that “she would be known as a cripple. Crippled Annie. Annie the gimp”. Anne seems to be happy to return to her family because when her father picks her up, “she (i)sn't smiling but a light had come on”. Following both character’s departure, the Golden Age experiences “a general sense of loosening, of being left to one’s own devices”, furthering London’s idea that even the Golden Age cannot possibly restore the love only a family can provide. These characters are portrayed as examples to show the loss of home can be rarely replaced.
However, while it is evident that it is difficult to replace one’s physical ‘home’, the author suggests that characters are capable of emotionally re-establishing their sense of home. Frank Gold is the protagonist who losses his home due to polio, but he discovers a new home on the path of recovery. Frank is imposed by contracting with polio. Having contracted with polio, Frank’s home and family relationship is disrupted and becomes fragile. He learns that polio cause them ‘alone’ and separated from his family and the outside world. However, Frank is able to reconnect to the world by establishing a bond with his ‘light’ – Elsa. Frank finds a sense of meaning through poetry. Moreover, he fortunately builds a new home with his ‘angle’- Elsa at the Golden Age. The ‘third country’ brings Frank companionship and a sense of home at the hospice. The ‘third country’ becomes a euphoric kingdom and Frank is a poet, eager to catch the sense of belonging there. They know that “being close make them stronger” on the feeling of home. Frank becomes cheerful since he meets Elsa, his ‘angel’. This is because he does not feel lonely and cold in this “spacious, cool” room anymore. His life becomes brightening due to Elsa is “the light swirling around (him)”. Frank considers Elsa as the ‘light’ directs him the way to find his home. London depicts Frank can find a substitute home with Elsa after he loses his real home.
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London explores not only people can bring a sense of home, nature can also bring Elsa a home on a different way. Elsa reckons the sky and ocean set up another home for her — a spiritual home. The ocean has a unique and symbolic meaning to Elsa, she dreams about it and has a special feeling to it. The sea is “immense shining horizon” to her, which she dreams of often, and the sea wind has a magic to her when the swept her face, her brain becomes “dry and clear”, Elsa’s obsession does not stop from catching polio. Her house “is one street back from the beach” and she swims every day of the year when she grows up. For Elsa Briggs, the sky reminds her loneliness and “the sky also (tells) her that each person was alone and the world (goes) on, no matter what (is) happening to (her)”. Elsa the sky and the sea become twin parental figures that provide solace. Elsa has two mother figures: her real mother and another one she often thinks about when looking at the sky and later contemplating the sea. “There was another mother waiting for her, blurred, gentle, beautiful as an angel, with an angel’s perfect understanding”. The sky and the sea bring Elsa a sense of belonging as the imagination of two parental figures in her spiritual world.
Sister Penny also finds the way to find her new home, through her career. As a war window, Sister Penny is disinherited by her mother-in-law when she needs the most support. Enid leaves her house to her brother and does not care about the fact that sister Penny and Elizabeth don’t even “have a roof over (them)”. She finds that she has no protection and is “left in the world with a child and ha(s) no husband”. Living under extrema social and psychological pressure, Olive Penny finds her new home – the Golden Age, where she works for. “The new dimension to her work has become the true source of wonder satisfaction in her life”. Penny discovers that there are many children who are dependent on her professionalism for survival. The Golden Age is a place where she can find a sense of purpose because she can utilize her skill to nurture and care for these “little maimed animals”. London demonstrates that the Golden Age is not only a place for recovery, but find their values and vocations in lives. Therefore, the convalescence home becomes a substitute home for Sister Penny as she gains a sense of belonging through her ability to deliver warmth and love to polio patients
Even though Joan London in ‘The Golden Age’ depicts there is nothing can take over the loss of real home through characters such as Albert and Ann Lee. Ultimately, she suggests that there is a way that everyone needs to find how to cope with the difficulties in their lives.
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