In this haunting psychological horror story by Shirley Jackson a woman wakes on what was to be her wedding day to realize that: 1) she may have been used and duped by a dapper writer’s promise of marriage; and 2) contrary to social expectations of the day, she may find herself “left on the shelf” at age thirty-four. In her desperatione to find the man she shows signs of mental instability, questioning whether the proposal was real or imagined. Themes include isolation and loneliness, social pressure, manipulation, imagination vs. reality, denial, obsession. More…
The Final Problem / Empty House
Today we have two stories by Arthur Conan Doyle dealing with the “death” and “rebirth” of Sherlock Holmes. In The Final Problem, Holmes has his first and last encounter with master criminal and his intellectual equal, Professor James Moriarty. After a pursuit across Europe, the pair are believed to have perished when they tumbled off the Reichenbach Falls during a struggle. In the Adventure of the Empty House, Holmes miraculously returns to bring three remaining members of Moriarty’s criminal network to justice. In capturing the first, he solves an important murder investigation. Themes include justice, pursuit, deception, courage, sacrifice, death. More…
Love in the Cornhusks
On the surface, this story from Aida Rivera-Ford is about young love leading to an illegitimate child, a “disappearing” boyfriend, an unhappy marriage of convenience, affirmation of the boyfriend’s love, and taking responsibility for one’s actions. On a deeper level, questions arise as to whether the couple’s lovemaking was consensual or forced (She resisted but his arms were strong.). We also see elements of ethnic and class discrimination in the descriptions of Tinang’s Bagobo husband and her sense of superiority over the “darker-skinned” girls and other workers in the fields. Themes: prejudice, love, choices and consequences, regret, facing reality/moving on. More…
With All Flags Flying
An unusual aspect of this Anne Tyler story about an eighty-two-year-old man going into an “old folks’ home” is that he is doing it out of choice and on his own terms. The old man has renounced the material world. For him, the most important possessions in life are his independence and dignity. Although he has a loving family who would gladly house and care for him, he is ashamed of his growing weakness and steadfastly (and somewhat selfishly) refuses to be loved at any cost. Themes: aging, independence, frugality/minimalism, family, pride, stubbornness.
More…
Wunderkind
Wunderkind (wonder child) is a German expression for child prodigy. The major theme of this story from Carson McCullers is a problem encountered all over the world: the tendency to place so much pressure to succeed on the shoulders of gifted children that they become discouraged and begin to under-perform. Questions are also raised as to whether the protagonist (fifteen-year-old Frances) has the passion to become a great pianist and, if so, whether her teacher (a well-meaning family friend) is the best one to work with her. Other themes: alienation/loneliness, competitive pressure, fear of failure, sexual confusion, escape. More…