In this coming of age story by Isak Dinesen (aka Karen Blixen), a recently married nineteen-year-old woman from a wealthy family is confronted by violence for the first time. Having led a sheltered life, the woman has an innocent, child-like view of the world, and in particular her husband’s commitment to improving their farm. Her married bliss is shattered by a chance encounter with a man covered in blood who is on the run for theft and murder. The triggers a re-evaluation of her naïve views on life and marriage. Themes: loss of innocence, responsibility, sexuality, violence, identity/self-awareness, consciousness. More…
Rules of the Game
The title of this story by Amy Tan refers to both the game of chess and the game of life. A Chinese-American mother’s term for one important rule is the art of invisible strength (self-control). The story deals with a number of themes: poverty, respect (for parents, others and one’s cultural heritage), pride vs. humility, passion and dedication, and mother/daughter relationships. At the end of the story, both fail in exercising the art of invisible strength. The mother’s understandable pride leads to bragging; the daughter’s response is rudeness and running away. Whose wind (willpower) will blow the strongest? More…
The Garden of Forking Paths
The themes of this story from Jorge Borges are order vs. disorder, time, and sacrifice. An ancient Chinese scholar gave up everything to write a book and create a labyrinth. No one could understand the book or find the labyrinth until a modern day sinologist solved the mystery. The book is the labyrinth; it argues that time is not linear, but a starting point for an infinite number of paths. A descendant of the scholar murders the sinologist. This has nothing to do with the book, but rather a cause he doesn’t believe in. More…
The Japanese Quince
The message of this story by John Galsworthy can be summarized in the English idiom “stop and smell the roses”. The protagonist and his doppelganger neighbor are so caught up in their daily routines that they not only fail to notice the beauty around them, but also lead solitary, unfulfilled lives alienated from those outside their immediate circle. The titular quince, with its refreshing fragrance and colorful blossoms, symbolizes rebirth. The blackbird’s song represents the potential joy of life that eludes them. Themes: the beauty of nature, work/life balance, alienation, lack of fulfillment/inner emptiness, appearance, social anxiety. More…
All at One Point
Some time ago we featured Distance of the Moon, the first story in Italo Calvino’s Cosmicomics collection. In this, the fourth story, we travel back to before the beginning of time. Everything (and everyone) in the universe existed in a single point in space. Things were rather crowded and people had no chance to move about and meet others. However, everyone knew and loved Mrs. Ph(i)Nk_0, whose wish for enough room to make noodles caused a burst of positive energy that resulted in the “big bang” and universe as we know it today. Theme: the power of selflessness and love. More…