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…
The Balek Scales
This story from Heinrich Böll is a social commentary about a rich family’s exploitation of farm workers. This occurs on three levels, characterized by different forms of “scales”: 1) systematic cheating, involving an incorrectly balanced set of weighing scales; 2) legal injustice, where the scales of justice are weighted firmly in favor of the landowners; and 3) social injustice, where the imbalance of power results in poor pay, long hours, and dangerous working conditions. The workers are incensed by the cheating, but accept the other injustices. Other themes: the whistle-blowing family’s courage and pride, church and wider community apathy. More…
Native Land / Lupang Tinubuan
Although this Narciso G. Reyes story was directed towards a Filipino audience, its major theme (connection to and love for one’s traditional lands) applies equally to many other cultures. A young boy accompanies an uncle and aunt to a funeral in his father’s home village. He bonds with extended family he has never met, connects with his father’s childhood, and comes to love and find peace in the land a carriage driver had described as having nothing beautiful except the sky. Other themes include identity, nostalgia, death and grief, colonialism and the need to fight for freedom. More…
The Hell Screen
In Ryūnosuke Akutagawa‘s re-working of this 13th century Japanese tale, a cold-hearted, conceited artist considered to be “the greatest in the land” insists upon personally experiencing the scenes he creates. When commissioned to paint a folding screen with a scene from Hell, he is able to complete all but the central image of a beautiful woman burning alive in a nobleman’s carriage. He asks for help from his Feudal Lord, who agrees to stage the event for him. As the artist watches, his emotions range from horror to ecstasy. Themes: hubris, inhumanity, obsession, inspiration in art, innocence, perception of truth. More…
The Looking-Glass
In this story by Anton Chekhov, a young woman dreams 24/7 about getting married and settling down with the perfect man. One night, while sitting in front of her looking-glass, she has a vision of what the future may hold. She sees the reality of living and raising a family in rural Russia in the late 1800s. The vision encompasses many of Chekhov’s common themes: love, hope, disease, fear, financial struggle, the challenges of parenthood, death and despair. The woman’s cry of Why is it, what is it for? introduces a final theme: disillusionment. Her dream has become a nightmare. More…