In this story by Bharati Mukherjee, a young Indian-American college professor struggles to make a new life after a series of “indiscretions”. She has sullied her reputation among her Brahman caste by marrying and later being left by an American graduate student, and compensated for the loss and shame through promiscuity. She finds solace as the lover of her armless landlord but, in the hope of reconnecting with her culture, abruptly leaves him when re-contacted by a “god-like” Indian man she had met through a matrimonial advertisement. Themes include identity, cultural confusion, social class, nonconformity, rejection, shame, alienation, loneliness, connection. More…
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The Empty House
Algernon Blackwood’s most famous ghost story, The Empty House could best be described as a horror story without the horror (no blood, gore, demonic possession, attacks by spectral beings, etc.). The story’s power lies in Blackwood’s ability to inspire terror through atmosphere alone. Its major themes are fear and the interdependence of the two psychic sleuths in confronting their fears. Initially, the ghosts go about their nightly business seemingly indifferent to the visitors. The perceived threat from “IT” only emerges when one of them gives way to fear and they begin to flee. Other themes: curiosity, courage, the supernatural. More…
The Stone
This story from Lloyd Alexander is about Maibon, a poor farmer who is worried about growing old. His troubles begin when he rescues one of the “fair-folk” from under a log and demands one of their famous “un-aging stones” as a reward. As often happens to those who try magic to defy nature, things start to go wrong. Maibon tries several times to throw the stone away. When it keeps reappearing, he has no choice but to return it. Maibon’s life goes back to normal and he learns that aging gracefully with one’s family can be a good thing.
The Snow Child
The main theme of Angela Carter’s Snow Child is feminist gender stereotyping. There are no heroes here. A powerful, dominating and lustful Count humiliates his wife by wishing for a young girl and clothing her in the vain Countess’s furs. His masculinity and dignity are then stripped away as he weeps while defiling the child’s dead body. The usually submissive Countess experiences a moment of power as the Count guiltily hands her the rose that killed the child. This passes when a thorn prick fails to kill her, proving that she lacks the sweet innocence of the snow child. More…
Wolf
In this confronting modern take on the Red Riding Hood fairy tale by Francesca Lia Block, the girl has already fallen prey to the wolf (her stepfather) in the form of repeated rapes over several years. The experience has badly affected her self-esteem, and given her a bitter, distrustful outlook on the world. As in the fairy tale, when the girl flees to her grandmother’s house for protection, the wolf is waiting for her. Unlike the fairy tale, they don’t need a woodcutter to save themselves. Themes include sexual assault, betrayal of trust, guilt, shame, mother-daughter relationships, self-empowerment, anger, revenge More…