Set shorty after Philippine liberation at the end of World War 2, this rather intense story by Nick Joaquin deals with the uneasy relationship between a Filipino family recovering from the trauma of the war and an American soldier visiting the grave of an uncle who died during the Spanish-American War. The major theme is cultural relativism: how misunderstandings can arise when people of different races and upbringings interpret events purely from their own cultural perspective or expectations. Both parties fall for this trap. Other themes include connections between past and present, colonialism, Puritanical idealism, self-reflection and awareness. More…
Fountains in the Rain
In this quirky story by Yukio Mishima, an arrogant young man courts, seduces and sleeps with a woman. He has no feelings for her, and does so purely for the “pleasure” of seeing the reaction when he says to a woman for the first time, It’s time to break it off!. Her immediate reaction is a river of tears. When he gets up to leave, she follows, still crying uncontrollably. To dump the tearbag, he decides to humiliate her in front of the royal fountains. The result is not what he expected. Themes include “manliness”, manipulation and deception, cruelty, love. More…
A Kidnapped Santa Clause
The major theme of this Christmas story by L. Frank Baum is the triumph of good over evil. Five daemons (creatures that thrive on naughtiness) are angry with Santa Clause because his gifts and messages of goodwill discourage children from visiting their caves. Upon realizing that Santa will never change, they kidnap him as he begins his Christmas deliveries. When Santa’s assistants notice this, they complete his rounds and return with an army of magical immortals to rescue him. Other themes: loyalty, duty and (as reflected in the names of the daemons) selfishness, envy, hatred, malice and redemption. More…
Love Must Not Be Forgotten
This story from Zhang Jie challenges the traditional (1970s) Chinese view that a woman’s duty is to marry and raise a family. The protagonist has concerns about her relationship with a seemingly “ideal” man, questioning both their feelings for one another and the poor guy’s intelligence. After reflecting on memories of growing up and insights gained from her deceased mother’s diary, she reaches the progressive conclusion that remaining single and waiting for the right man is better than a loveless marriage. Themes: social pressure, marriage, the nature of love, mother-daughter relationships, courage, Communist ideology. More…
The Three Questions
This parable from Leo Tolstoy is about how to succeed in life. A king believes he would never fail in a task if he always knew three things: What is the best time to begin? Who are the most important people to have around you? and What is the most important thing to spend your time doing? He offers a reward for the answers, but neither his wisest counselors nor others who come to claim it can help. An experience with a forest hermit and injured assassin teach him what he needs to know. Themes: wisdom, humility, kindness, forgiveness, morality. More…