Written in 1904, the major theme of this story by O. Henry (the plight of the homeless) is perhaps even more relevant today. A homeless man who lives on the streets in the warmer months tries in vain to commit a petty crime so he can spend the winter in prison. After trying every trick he knows to get arrested, he stops outside a church. The ambience and stirring music being played bring about an epiphany, thoughts of reform … and jail. Other themes include social class, crime and punishment, resilience, poverty mindset vs. ambition and hope. More…
Long Walk to Forever
Kurt Vonnegut described this semi-autobiographical tale, written in honor of his wife, as a sickeningly slick love story. A satire of the “love at first sight” romance cliché, it describes how, after a platonic friendship of almost twenty years, a single expression of love and two kisses is all it takes for Catharine to question her plans to marry another man and fall into Newt’s arms. Themes include communication (failure to express/discuss their feelings sooner), taking people for granted (Newt didn’t appreciate how much Catharine meant to him until almost losing her!), and fighting for what is important in life. More…
The Stout Gentleman
The major theme of this humorous story by Washington Irving is the extent to which we rely on appearance to judge others. A traveller staying at an inn is forced to remain indoors on a miserable, rainy Sunday. With nothing to do and no one to talk to, he passes the time by speculating as to the profession and social status of the only other guest, a demanding, seemingly sophisticated man who remains in his room all day. We learn little more about the other man, who the staff refer to only as the stout gentleman. Other themes: curiosity, obsession, identity. More…
Life
Bessie 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. More…
Home
This story by Anton Chekhov explores the topic of parent-child communication. A court prosecutor learns that on two occasions his seven-year-old son stole some of his tobacco and was caught smoking. In true prosecutorial style, he does his best to point out the dangers of smoking. However, each time he raises an argument, the boy drifts off on a tangent and changes the subject. Recognizing he isn’t getting through to his son, he abandons logic and successfully communicates the message through a bedtime story. Themes include father-son relationships, punishment vs. discipline, logic vs. imagination, the power of storytelling. More…