In William Trevor’s Folie à Deux (foolishness shared by two), the protagonist’s chance meeting with a childhood friend brings back memories of a joint act of animal cruelty on an Irish beach. The protagonist has moved on; his friend Anthony has not. Anthony’s way of dealing with his guilt was to withdraw into himself. Over thirty years later, having “disappeared” and been presumed dead, he lives a solitary, reclusive life in Paris, still unable to shake off self-reproach for his part in their actions. Themes: friendship, shared secrets, childhood cruelty, guilt, alienation, rumination (obsessive reliving of traumatic events). More…
Heart of Darkness
This story by Joseph Conrad is told through the eyes of a riverboat captain sent into the heart of Africa to contact an enigmatic trading post manager employing questionable methods. It explores the concept of Darkness on several levels. At the highest, we have the ‘darkness’ of unexplored Africa, and the ‘darkness’ of European imperialism in seeking to subjugate its peoples and exploit its resources. On a more fundamental level, we have the potential ‘darkness’ (capacity for cruelty/evil) in the heart of every man. Themes include alienation and loneliness, power, moral and mental degeneration under colonialism, racism, cruelty, greed, exploitation. More…
Mother and Daughter
In this story from Gary Soto, the close relationship between a struggling single mother and her eighth-grade daughter is tested by a wardrobe malfunction at a school dance. Mrs. Moreno is a flamboyant, hard-working, devoted mother. Her daughter Yollie appears genuinely appreciative of her mother’s efforts and understanding of their financial position. After fleeing the fall dance to avoid embarrassment, Yollie directs her frustration and anger toward her mother. It is Mrs Moreno, not Yollie, who cries herself to sleep that night. The themes: motherly love and the hurt that can be caused by a single thoughtless action. More…
Testimony of Pilot
This powerful story by Barry Hannah follows the journey of a boy and several companions from youthful pranks to high school band competitions, musical success, fulfilling careers and, in two cases, premature death. Set between the mid-1950s and the late-1960s, the story highlights several aspects of the American South’s small-town culture of the day: family wholesomeness, racial segregation, the sexual revolution, the rise of rock and roll, and the Vietnam War. Themes include the transformative power of music, friendship and rivalry, sexuality, gender roles, misogyny, racism, isolation, patriotism, and social change. More…
Things
This story by Sinclair Lewis is a biting satire highlighting one of his most prominent themes… the negative effects of capitalism and materialism in the United States. A young woman’s life is turned upside down when her father becomes instantly rich, buys a mansion, and fills it with expensive “things”. The family enters a new social circle, and she finds herself increasingly alienated from the working-class man who was her constant childhood companion. Over time, their mansion and possessions become a metaphorical prison. Themes include materialism and the pursuit of wealth, ostentation, social status, class consciousness. More…