Paper balls...pills?

I find it funny that whenever I reread a story of Winesburg, Ohio, I have this fluttering in my heart as I discover a deeper meaning. Another layer. As I reread "Paper Pills" today, in the midst of a bustling urgent care hospital, with babies crying, parents shouting, and Madagascarplaying on the TV in the background, I strangely felt a certain peace. I know, it's weird.

I still can't exactly decide what Sherwood Anderson means by "paper pills." I find it interesting that Anderson never once used the phrase in the story; rather, he constantly referred to the "paper balls" that Dr. Reefy crumpled up and placed in his pockets. I have so many questions. Why his pockets? Why did they become such a great storing place for these pills? What do these pills represent? A faction of the truth? What truth? Is Dr. Reefy a grotesque? Mr. Anderson, I demand an explanation.

But since he is not here to interpret these questions I have, I must attempt to do so myself. Albeit hesitantly.

Seasons. This story seems to be driven by the four seasons of the year; a complex story driven by a seemingly simple thing as the weather. Dr. Reefy and the tall, dark girl begin their relationship in summer, when passion is rampant and she comes to him because of some mysterious illness. Their relationship grows in the fall, and winter represents the height of their relationship. She dies in the spring. I found her spring death ironic. Spring, a time when flowers bloom and the dead return to life, became the time of death for the doctor's wife.

Apples. They are everywhere in this story, from being specifically referenced to being alluded to. Apples always remind me of Snow White. Naive and delicious on the outside but containing some toxic poison on the inside, unbeknownst to the taster. However, Dr. Reefy's apples are the exact opposite. Although they are "twisted" and "gnarled," shunned by the apple pickers and exuding evil qualities, they are actually sweet on the inside. A complete oxymoron.

I wonder why the tall, dark girl remains unnamed. And why she is linked so much to blood. She dreams of blood. Or, rather, a vampire-like figure sucking her blood. And when Dr. Reefy pulls the teeth of the woman (who, interestingly, also remains unnamed) the blood "[runs] down on the woman's white dress." I find it important that the dress is white (like Dr. Reefy's beard), and the blood runs down the dress, as if it is dripping down the mouth of someone who has just sucked blood. I wonder if the blood imagery has something to do with her illness and premature death.

After re-reading this story, I found so much more depth. The nuances Anderson includes that allude to apples. "seeds of something very fine" "tree nursery" The hypocrisy of the vampire-like man, who talks of virginity (vampires were once thought to feed on virgins) constantly. And yet, I need more. I still don't understand everything. Maybe I should follow what Dr. Reefy does. Write down my ideas and make them into paper balls. Or pills, if you will.