We are presenting these stories from Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain) together because, although the characters appear to be opposites, they actually support the same themes: 1) all people have a bad and/or selfish side; and 2) whether good or bad, people don’t always get the reward/punishment they deserve. While the bad boy appears inherently evil, the “good” boy’s motivation is his selfish wish for eternal praise. With its over-the-top sarcasm, the story of the bad little boy has an even more depressing message… bad boys grow into bad men, and the worst of them end up becoming successful politicians! More…
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Faith, Love, Time and Dr. Lazaro
The major themes of this story by Gregorio C. Brillantes are expressed in the title. A country doctor, disillusioned by the suffering of patients and his oldest son’s suicide, has lost faith in religion and become detached from his deeply religious wife and younger son. As the son accompanies him on a late night house call to attend a dying baby, he realizes how out of touch the two have become. Upon their return, he has a momentary epiphany: for things like love, there was only so much time. Other themes include indifference, isolation, duty, father-son relationships, poverty. More…
The Diamond Mine
The Diamond Mine in this story by Willa Cather is an internationally renowned opera singer. The story highlights the emotional pressure associated with pursuing art for fame and fortune, rather than for art’s sake alone. The diva derives pleasure from “giving” to her husbands and extended family, most of whom ruthlessly exploit the poor woman. Although happy to bask in her fame, her vitality and success inspires envy and hatred among them. Their indolence and greed leaves her mined out, both financially and emotionally. Themes: the artist as a celebrity, vitality, envy, greed, exploitation, betrayal. More…
The Sea of Lost Time
The seaside town in this story by Gabriel Garcia Marquez is a smelly, unpleasant place. With every incoming tide, the ocean brings garbage and rotting fish. Many people have moved away; the town is dying. Things change when a local man, Tobias, notices something different about the sea breeze. It smells like roses. Weekend visitors begin to arrive. There is music and dancing again. One of the visitors is a strange foreigner with bags of money. He gives it away to people who ‘do things’ for him, and one day shows Tobias the secret of what lies beneath the waves. More…
Young Archimedes
This tragic story from Aldous Huxley is about an English family renting a secluded Italian villa. When their young son is befriended by Guido, the son of a farm-worker, his father notices that in addition to being musically gifted, Guido has the makings of a math prodigy. While the family are holidaying in the Swiss Alps the childless, status-seeking wife of their landlord tricks Guido’s father into letting her take the boy away for musical instruction. The selfish woman tells Guido a terrible lie, with tragic results. Themes: greed, genius, family, class, social status, manipulation, abandonment, suicide. More…