This story by Francisco Sionil José follows a courtship between a Filipino accountant and young Chinese woman. The relationship faces opposition from their families as inter-cultural (especially Filipino-Chinese) marriages are frowned upon by both communities. Moreover, one obstacle not easily overcome is a “tong” (debt that must be repaid). The girl is promised to a fat, bald Chinese man old enough to be her father in exchange for favors done for her family. After a passionate final night together, they are separated forever. Themes include forbidden love, cultural division and conflict, socioeconomic inequality, exploitation/human trafficking, family honor and loyalty. More…
All posts by shortsonline
The Shadow in the Rose Garden
This story by D. H. Lawrence is about a couple in a loveless marriage. Upon learning that her ex-lover had died, the woman married “below her station”. She convinces her husband to holiday in the village where she met the lover. While visiting a rose garden, she finds him still alive. However, he has suffered brain damage and doesn’t remember her. During an argument, the woman tells her husband about the relationship. His responses range from disbelief to jealousy, anger, rage and finally, grudging acceptance. The big question: What drove the ex-lover to “chuck” the woman and go away? More…
Miss Moberly’s Targets
The themes of this story by Manoj Das are the eccentricity and sometimes thoughtless honesty of the elderly, and the loneliness of those living alone with no family or loved ones. A spinster living in an Indian home for the affluent aged is proud of her accuracy in throwing morsels to stray dogs on the street below. She has named the dogs after three men she loved and lost and, when friends belittle her achievement, she steals a revolver and decides to shoot them. Fortunately for the dogs, her intentions are misinterpreted and fellow residents come to the rescue. More…
What Means Switch
In this coming of age story by Gish Jen, a thirteen-year-old Chinese-American girl is caught between a cultural chasm and her wish to reach “first base” with a new boy at school. Her friends exchange boyfriend stories, and she badly wants one to share. Unfortunately the boy, who is visiting from Japan, resists intimate contact. They ultimately develop strong feelings for one another, but things fall apart when she tries too hard for the kiss. In breaking away, he adds new meaning to the expression to “flip” someone. Themes: cultural identity, desire to “fit in”, infatuation/puppy love, self-discipline. More…
The Verb to Kill
In this story by Luisa Valenzuela, a pubescent girl in an isolated seaside community spends a lot of time fantasizing with her sister over the imaginary depraved, murderous activities of a seemingly harmless recluse living nearby. The additional conjugations of “to kill” at the end of the story suggest the girls may have taken matters into their own hands. A major theme is the danger of judging someone based on their looks or eccentric behaviour. Other themes include gender inequality and violence in society, imagination, egocentrism, paranoia, dehumanization (of both the man and their “friend” Pocha), superstition. More…