The Green Leaves

The Green Leaves: Short story by Grace OgotThis story from Grace Ogot reads like a folktale. With an overall theme of culture conflict between the modern world and the traditions and beliefs of a Kenyan tribe, the plot can be divided into three sections. The first (ending with Nyagar’s death) has themes of crime, tribal justice, violence, superstition and greed. The second, involving the British authorities, emphasizes colonial arrogance and cultural insensitivity. The third, in which Nyagar’s wife laments his death, introduces a feminist theme. Her chant reflects not only her own loss, but also the powerlessness and complete dependence of all village women on their husbands.

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A Worn Path

A Worn Path: Short story by Eudora WeltyIn this Eudora Welty story, an aged woman makes a long, dangerous trek through the Mississippi woods. Its power lies in the vivid descriptions of nature and the various obstacles she encounters. Once in town, she struggles to remember the purpose of the journey. Although we learn later that she has come for the regular medicine needed by her ailing grandson, many readers question if the boy still lives. Her confusion suggests that such visits may simply be a way of handling the grief (or guilt) associated with his death. Themes: nature, old age, perseverance, duty, poverty, dignity, racism, redemption.

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Han’s Crime

Han's Crime: Short story by Shiga NaoyaThe crime referred to in this fascinating psychological narrative by Shiga Naoya is either murder or manslaughter. A theatre performer (Han) kills his wife during a knife-throwing act. At the end of questioning, the judge asks: Do you not feel the slightest sorrow for your wife’s death? Han answers: None at all! …I never could have imagined I would feel such happiness in talking about her death. The judge (and readers) must decide if the death was a crime or terrible accident. Themes: illegitimacy, infanticide, toxic marriage, conscious vs unconscious actions, legal vs moral guilt, doubt vs certainty.

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Dog Star

Dog Star: Short story by Arthur C. ClarkeDog Star illustrates science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke’s sentimental side. Despite the title, the story has nothing to do with stars of the celestial kind. It does however feature a dog. An introverted astronomer finds and raises a lost puppy. On two occasions, the dog’s heightened senses save his life. The second time, the dog had been long dead. If you love animals, especially dogs, you are sure to be moved by the story. But BE WARNED… the conclusion has been known to bring tears to the eyes. Themes: kindness, human/animal bonding, career sacrifice, supernatural connections.

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Everything That Rises Must Converge

Everything That Rises Must Converge: Short story by Flannery O'ConnorFlannery O’connor is known for emphasizing her themes through flawed, often thoroughly dislikeable characters. In this story, she has paired a bigoted mother living in the past with a callous, disrespectful son. The son, a college graduate, considers himself intellectually and morally superior to his mother and delights in antagonizing the poor woman. The unfortunate climax comes at the end of a city bus trip when the mother insults her African American “doppelganger” by offering the woman’s young child a penny. Themes include (through Mrs. Chestny) sacrifice, heritage & appearance vs. character, racism; (through Julian) lack of respect, cruelty, self-deception.

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Toba Tek Singh

Toba Tek Singh: Short story by Saadat Hasan MantoThis month marks the 75th anniversary of the partition of British India into two countries: Hindustan and Pakistan. Some years ago we featured Rajinder Singh Bedi’s Lajwanti, a Partition story from an Indian viewpoint. In honor of the occasion, we are pleased to provide this story from the Pakistan side by controversial writer Saadat Hasan Manto. This is not your usual Partition story of mass displacement and violence. Instead, it is a clever satire of the governments of the two countries, as reflected in a decision several years later to exchange institutionalized lunatics. Themes: insanity, separation, religious segregation, nationality, confusion, belonging.

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Life

Life: Short story by Bessie HeadBessie Head sums up this story in a song title: “That’s What Happens When Two Worlds Collide”. Life, an attractive young prostitute, is forcibly relocated from the bright lights of Johannesburg to her home village in Botswana. Although premarital sex is an integral part of village life, payment for it is unheard of. Life shocks the villagers by taking up her old profession. They are even more shocked when she marries the village’s most eligible bachelor. Themes: village vs. city life (monotony vs. excitement, subsistence vs. easy money), cultural traditions (sexual norms, male domination, women as property), change, oppression, emancipation.

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Sweet Potato Pie

Sweet Potato Pie: Short story by Eugenia CollierLike the titular pie, life is sweet for a professor and his cab-driving older brother. The themes in this heart-warming Eugenia Collier story (poverty, family, sacrifice, education and gratitude) lie in how the two got where they are. A close-knit family works together to survive poverty, with the older children caring for the young and leaving school as soon as possible. The family can afford for only one child (the professor) to complete his education. Although his brother proudly hails him as a “somebody”, it is clear that their childhood experiences have helped both make successes of their lives.

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