Most readers see Laurie, the subject of this Shirley Jackson story, as a naughty boy who tries to gain attention in kindergarten by misbehaving. He creates an alter ego named Charles to tell his parents what happens at school and later, to explain getting home late. However, there is an equally possible alternative interpretation. Laurie may have behaved quite normally at school and created an imaginary naughty classmate to gain attention at the dinner table. Both are consistent with the teacher’s vague assessment of Laurie. Either way, themes include behavior, identity, the desire for attention, deception, ambiguity. More…
Only Goodness
In this Jhumpa Lahiri story a Bengali-American woman successfully navigates growing up in a strict environment where her parents compensate for their lack of love for one another by high expectations of their children. This is not true of her more academically gifted younger brother, whose alcohol abuse shames her parents in the eyes of the local Bengali diaspora. She feels partly responsible for his drinking and subsequent fall, and makes a foolish decision that destroys her husband’s trust and almost costs the life of their child. Themes include cultural identity, sibling relationships, parental expectations, alcoholism, rebellion, alienation, guilt, trust. More…
And of Clay Are We Created
This confronting story from Isabel Allende is based on the real life plight of Omayra Sánchez, killed in a volcanic eruption in 1985. It highlights the confusion and suffering that often accompanies natural disasters, and the human and psychological tolls on both victims and responders. The irony of the story is that despite the massive resources employed by news agencies to cover the incident, they were unable to locate and bring in a pump to save the girl. Themes include man against nature, compassion, courage, faith/acceptance of fate, the healing effect of facing and sharing past tragedies. More…
The Garden Party
Because of the complex issues raised, this is one of Katherine Mansfield’s most highly acclaimed stories. A wealthy family enjoy an ostentatious garden party in the spacious grounds of their mansion, fully aware that the father of a poverty-stricken family living within hearing distance died in an accident earlier the same day. Only one family member (a teen-aged girl) is sensitive to the poor family’s plight. She visits the house to offer condolences, and experiences an epiphany when unexpectedly ushered in to view the body. Themes include social class (class-consciousness, pretention, insensitivity towards others), poverty, innocence, humanity, coming of age. More…
A Day Goes By
First time readers of this narrative from Luigi Pirandello may find it confusing until the last few paragraphs. The story is an allegory of life, contracted into a single day. The day begins as the disoriented protagonist is unceremoniously cast out of a train carriage into the dawn, and ends with him lying on his deathbed surrounded by his children and grandchildren. Themes include alienation (not knowing oneself, lack of self-confidence, exclusion); identity (what makes us who we are – clothes, occupation, recognition, money, possessions, family); and time (the speed at which life appears to have passed as we age). More…