This story from Mary Lavin highlights the isolation, vulnerability and resilience of a recently widowed farmer’s wife. Its major theme is the need to “move on” after the death of a loved one. Having decided to manage the farm herself, she hires a neighbor to “top” (trim) the long grass in her fields. The neighbor visits that night seeking to defer the work. She bests him with her knowledge of farming practices and, after rejecting an inappropriate advance, realizes that he is yet to get over a similar loss that occurred many years earlier. Other themes: passion, grief, fear, sexism. More…
Mrs. Dutta Writes a Letter
The major theme of this story by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is cultural conflict: the problems that can occur when people from countries with highly developed religious and cultural norms (in this case India) immigrate to the West. Widowed Mrs Dutti’s attempts to integrate with her son’s Americanized family cause problems on both sides. Fortunately, she finds the courage to admit she will be much happier back home. Tellingly, as the only Indian family in the neighbourhood, her son and daughter-in-law share her fear of not “fitting in”. Other themes include generational differences, gender roles, family loyalty, pride, courage and happiness. More…
Fatso
The concept of shapeshifting is not new. Examples exist in mythology, fairy-tales, and innumerable science fiction plots. The protagonist in this Etgar Keret story falls in love with a woman who is beautiful by day but, in a twist on Princess Fiona of Shrek fame, turns into a fat, hairy man by night. The man and womanly side remain lovers and even contemplate a family (ugh!), while he and the fat man become good friends. As absurd as the story might seem, it contains an important message about the role of friends in ensuring a complete and fulfilling life. More…
A Vendetta
This story by Guy de Maupassant features an old widow who lives in a small village in Southern Italy with her only son and his dog. One evening, the son is murdered. The mother is so saddened by this that she swears a vendetta against the killer. Every day, she sits by the window wondering how she, a weak old woman with no one to help her, can carry out her promise. Finally, she comes up with an idea and has her revenge. Themes include grief, vengeance, cruelty, the brutality and potential for injustice of the code of vendetta. More…
(Because) We’re Very Poor
This story by Juan Rulfo describes the devastating impact of an unexpected flood on a post-revolutionary Mexican farming family and, in doing so, highlights the limited life choices available to children of the rural poor. Told in the form of a narrative by a boy, we learn that in addition to losing their entire crop, his family lost a precious cow intended to provide “capital” to prevent his twelve-year-old sister from following their older sisters into prostitution. His mother questions God; his father accepts their fate. Themes include family, poverty/social injustice, the unpredictability and power of nature, helplessness, fatalism, prostitution.