An unusual aspect of this Anne Tyler story about an eighty-two-year-old man going into an “old folks’ home” is that he is doing it out of choice and on his own terms. The old man has renounced the material world. For him, the most important possessions in life are his independence and dignity. Although he has a loving family who would gladly house and care for him, he is ashamed of his growing weakness and steadfastly (and somewhat selfishly) refuses to be loved at any cost. Themes: aging, independence, frugality/minimalism, family, pride, stubbornness.
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Dominoes
Jack Agüeros cleverly uses a game of dominoes to illustrate two common themes affecting Puerto Rican immigrants living in the United States: fate vs. free will, and the Latin American concept of machismo. Fate is mirrored by the game and its outcome. Is it over as soon as you get your hand, as Tito says, or a game of skill where you can influence the result? Machismo (being seen as a man among men) introduces several sub-themes: pride, patronization of women, competitiveness, protection of honor, success with women, insecurity, and the ever-present prospect of violence. More…
The Railroad and the Churchyard
In this story by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson two friends fall out over a proposal to sell the public grain magazine and establish a community savings bank. The decision (to sell the magazine) brings prosperity to all. Years later, as many in the parish face financial ruin due to speculation, the two clash again over a proposal to allow a new railway to pass through the town. Although the railway will increase land values, the only route possible includes part of an old, disused cemetery. This leads to a fiery ending. Themes include friendship, tradition vs. progress, conflicts of interest, desperation, community. More…
A Municipal Report
O. Henry wrote over 600 short stories, of which some critics consider this to be one of the best. The plot involves what happens between the unnamed narrator, three main characters, and a torn dollar bill that keeps coming back to its original owner. The characters: Azalea Adair, a self-educated, gentle lady of the old South; Major Caswell, a cruel husband who treats her badly; and Uncle Caesar, a kind African-American man with a royal bearing who tries to help Azalea. Themes include: pretense, pride, change, domestic violence, loyalty, self-learning and the power of imagination. More…
The Snake and the Mirror
On the surface, this story by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer is a humorous tale about a tense encounter between a young doctor and a cobra that becomes taken with its own beauty. Looking more deeply, it is unclear which “snake” the title refers to. The doctor is a vain, devious man who fusses over his appearance and plans to marry a wealthy, fat woman doctor who won’t cause problems if he makes some silly mistake (i.e. cheats on her). He turns to God when in trouble, but quickly forgets Him when it passes. Themes include vanity, fear, the transience of life. More…