Major themes of this Rabindranath Tagore story are class, identity and hubris. Despite living in poverty, the last male descendent of a once wealthy Indian noble family maintains his aristocratic bearing. Most in the community humor the old man, treating him with kindness and respect. However his neighbor, the well-educated, excessively proud son of a working class man who became rich through hard work, looks down on him. The neighbor plays a cruel trick that backfires, finding himself part of the old man’s family and greatly boosting his self-esteem. Other themes include tradition, social change, extravagance vs. frugality, dignity, respect. More…
The Old Aunt / Boodhi Kaki
In this story by Premchand a Hindu woman is overcome with pity and fear of adharma (divine punishment for selfishness and injustice) when she sees her husband’s disabled aunt foraging for food among banquet leftovers. The aunt, who has no other living relative, had previously transferred her entire property to the woman’s family in exchange for a promise of care. Rather than being cared for she has been treated inhumanely, often being left hungry and alone in her room for long periods. Themes include greed, betrayal, the plight of the infirm, responsibility, neglect, redemption, kindness. More…
Mr Know-All
This story by W. Somerset Maugham takes place at sea. A narrator we learn almost nothing about is forced to share a cabin with a man he takes an instant disliking to because of little more than his name. The other man plays an organizational role in many aspects of ship life to the point of being everywhere and always. The narrator finds him hearty, jovial, loquacious and argumentative. He calls him the best hated man in the ship. It is not until the man ‘loses’ a bet about pearls that the narrator develops a grudging respect for him. More…
A Respectable Woman
Kate Chopin’s ‘respectable woman’ is happily married and looking forward to spending quality time with her husband. She is so disappointed when he invites an old school friend to visit that she decides to be polite but not friendly towards him. At first, the two barely communicate. However, there is a growing chemistry between them. This disturbs the woman, who finds an excuse to visit an Aunt for the remainder of his stay. When the woman learns the man will visit again, she tells her husband: I have overcome everything! Overcome what? Does she plan to remain a ‘respectable woman’? More…
Children of the Sea
This story from Edwidge Danticat highlights the plight of refugees the world over who have been (and unfortunately still are) forced to flee their countries for speaking up about illegitimate and/or oppressive governments. The tragic, haunting tale comprises alternating journal entries by a student activist forced to flee Haiti by sea during the notorious Duvalier regime of the late 1950s, and the young woman he leaves behind. As his boat leaks, the girl’s family suffers and Haiti bleeds. Ironically, life on the boat proves almost as savage as on land. Themes: totalitarianism (violence, injustice, human rights abuse), love, sacrifice, death. More…