In the Penal Colony

In the Penal Colony: Novelette by Franz KafkaThis Franz Kafka story is a study on what can happen when you put a psychopath in charge of a process (or country) in which they have unfettered power and can make decisions over life and death with impunity. The story deals with some heavy themes: justice, due process, capital punishment, torture, sadistic voyeurism, and the difficulty of institutional change (even if for the good!). Central to all this is the “machine”, which seems to know that its time has come and chooses to self-destruct along with the only person left who cares about it.

Continue ReadingIn the Penal Colony

The Enemy

The Enemy: Short story by Pearl S. BuckIn this story by Pearl S. Buck, a Japanese surgeon finds a badly wounded man washed up on the beach in front of his house. Set during World War 2, the man is an escaped American prisoner of war and sworn enemy of his people. The doctor faces a dilemma. Does he hand the man in, in which case he will certainly die, or treat him first and risk execution for treason? The forgetfulness of a well-connected existing patient saves both the doctor and the American. Themes include choices and consequences (medical ethics vs. patriotic duty), indoctrination, racism, humanity.

Continue ReadingThe Enemy

The Adventure of the Dancing Men

The Adventure of the Dancing Men: Short story by Arthur Conan DoyleIn this mystery by Arthur Conan Doyle, an English squire from a highly respected family asks Sherlock Holmes for help. His new bride has been receiving messages written in a strange code that appear to terrify her. The woman, an American, refuses to discuss her past, and a condition of her marrying him was that he must promise never to ask about it. Holmes takes on the case and easily cracks the code, but doesn’t move quickly enough to prevent a murder. Themes include honor, shame, secretiveness, fear, unrequited love, obsession, crime and justice.

Continue ReadingThe Adventure of the Dancing Men

The Glamour of the Snow

The Glamour of the Snow: Short story by Algernon BlackwoodIn this story by Algernon Blackwood, a writer for whom the spell of Nature was greater than all other spells in the world combined takes an extended working holiday at a Swiss alpine resort. A spur of the moment decision to go ice-skating alone after midnight results in an encounter with a spectral woman who suddenly disappears and dominates his thoughts for days. At their next meeting, at her “home” high on a snow-covered mountain, she triess to make him hers. Themes include the beauty and menace of nature, religion vs. paganism, isolation, demonic seduction, the supernatural.

Continue ReadingThe Glamour of the Snow

Bang-bang You’re Dead

Bang-bang You're Dead: Short story by Muriel SparkIn this story from Muriel Spark, a group of friends watch home movie footage of protagonist Sybil’s life in Africa as she recalls memories of the time. Her observations highlight the difference between the vain way the characters in the films see themselves (or want to be seen) and their true personalities. Sybil was an intellectual but weak-willed girl/young woman who allowed herself to be dominated by others. In a favorite childhood game, the words “bang-bang you’re dead” always led to submission. Later in life, gunshots became “freeing” events. Themes: class, isolation, dominance and submission, false opinions vs. unpleasant truths.

Continue ReadingBang-bang You’re Dead

La Grande Bretèche

La Grande Bretèche: Short story by Honoré de BalzacIn this story by Honoré de Balzac, an elderly French doctor entertains guests at a dinner party by relating how he was able to solve the mystery of a dilapidated, abandoned mansion by seducing a hotel maid. Upon completion of his narration the story continues: all the ladies rose from table … But there were some among them who had almost shivered at the last words. Themes include social class, marriage, betrayal, vengeance, and gallantry (on the part of the Spanish noble for the way he faced death without giving his lover away).

Continue ReadingLa Grande Bretèche

The Shawl / Rosa

The Shawl / Rosa: Short stories by Cynthia OzickToday we are featuring two award-winning stories from Cynthia Ozick. The first, The Shawl, is set in Second World War Poland and deals with the horrors of the holocaust as experienced a young mother (Rosa), her infant child (Magda), and fourteen-year-old-niece (Stella). The second story, Rosa, is a sequel to the first. Set in the USA over thirty years later, it demonstrates the devastating long-term effects of the women’s war-time experiences.

Continue ReadingThe Shawl / Rosa

Flight

Flight: Short story by John SteinbeckThe major theme of this story by John Steinbeck is a young man’s quest for manhood. An unsophisticated nineteen-year-old from an isolated farm is given his first task as a “man” when his widowed mother sends him to town alone to buy medicine and other supplies. While staying overnight at the home of a family friend, he gets drunk and stabs a man in an argument. The inexperienced youth flees into the mountains where, in addition to his pursuers, he must face the perils of nature. Other themes: isolation, innocence, lack of composure/self-control, frontier justice, struggle, death.

Continue ReadingFlight