The major messages of this story by Isaac Bashevis Singer are that there is a lot of kindness in the world for those who open their hearts to it, and to live life to the fullest. An elderly widow who has lived alone for almost twenty years has become a recluse. With no family or friends, she distrusts everyone and lives in poverty despite having a fortune hidden in her house. A broken key that causes her to spend a night on the streets is her “key” to understanding and redemption. Themes include ageing, isolation and loneliness, paranoia, redemption. More…
The Golden Kite, the Silver Wind
This Ray Bradbury story is thought to be an allegory of the nuclear arms race that took place during the “Cold War” between the United States and Russia. The “Mandarins” who began the Cold War were Harry S. Truman and Joseph Stalin. One wonders if the first Mandarin’s daughter alludes to Truman’s wife Bess, who he claims to have consulted before every important decision. Moreover, Bess is known to have made changes to his famous speech outlining the Truman Doctrine, which started it all. Themes include rivalry, paranoia, wisdom, the futility of confrontation and escalation vs. the benefits of cooperation. More…
Think of England
In this coming of age story by Peter Ho Davies, a sixteen-year-old Welsh barmaid will always remember D-day. Her section of the pub is full of English soldiers and BBC radio workers who are celebrating and drinking heavily. First, she has to put up with offensive jokes from a BBC comedian about the Welsh, and in particular Welsh women. Later, her secret “sweetheart” (an English soldier she has known for a only week, and with whom she has exchanged her first ‘real’ kisses), tries to rape her. Themes include national pride and identity, xenophobia, sexual assault, redemption. More…
A Mild Attack of Locusts
Doris Lessing’s story about a British farming family in post-World War 2 Africa contrasts the richness and beauty of the land with the destructive power of nature. The major theme is survival: for the locust swarm, through instinct and sheer weight of numbers; for the farmers, through planning, preparation, manpower and, when these fail, being prepared to start over. Other themes: helplessness, devastation, the ongoing cycles of struggle against nature, perseverance. The message of the story lies in the many references to being finished/ruined. This is never certain unless one gives up hope and stops fighting to survive. More…
A Problem
In this Anton Chekhov story, wealthy family members consider what to do about a nephew who has issued a false promissory note (IOU) in one of their names. Do they repay the debt to preserve family honor and avoid a scandal, or let justice take its course? On learning of the decision, the unscrupulous young man uses it to extort further money from an uncle trying to help him and, in the process, grudgingly admits an unfortunate aspect of his character. Themes: crime and consequences; justice/civic duty vs. family honor; nature vs. nurture, hedonism of the young upper-class, pride, despair. More…