UG: Short Stories

Hello Readers, In This Blog I’ve tried to analyze few short stories which were in my UG syllabus like, "The Marriage Proposal", "A True Story", "Blow Up With the Ship", "A Cup of Tea", "The Boy Comes Home", "The Monkey's Paw".

"The Marriage Proposal"

Anton Chekhov's "The Marriage Proposal" is a hilarious one-act farce that exposes the absurdity of human behavior. The story follows Ivan Lomov, a nervous landowner, who visits his neighbor, Stepan Chubukov, with the sole purpose of proposing to Chubukov's daughter, Natalya.

What should be a simple proposal quickly dissolves into chaos. Lomov's nervousness and a misunderstanding over a small piece of land bordering their estates ignite a firestorm of arguments and misinterpretations. As tempers flare, Lomov and Chubukov contradict each other, take offense at imagined slights, and generally act outlandishly. Natalya's arrival only adds to the confusion.

The play cleverly uses the land dispute to tangle with the marriage proposal. Despite the constant bickering and misunderstandings, a "yes" eventually emerges, but the play ends with the characters still squabbling, leaving the future of the engagement uncertain.

Chekhov uses humor and exaggeration to expose the superficiality of social interactions and the absurdity of human behavior, particularly when fueled by pride and stubbornness. The play highlights the gap between what people truly desire and how they act. While Lomov wants to marry Natalya, his anxieties and the land feud take center stage. "The Marriage Proposal" remains a comedic gem, entertaining audiences with its fast pace, witty dialogue, and relatable portrayal of human awkwardness, especially when it comes to matters of the heart.

 "A True Story"

Mark Twain's "A True Story" uses a simple frame narrative to deliver a powerful indictment of slavery. The story opens with Misto C—, a white man, introducing Aunt Rachel, a formerly enslaved woman. Aunt Rachel then takes center stage, recounting the harrowing experience of being separated from her husband and children at a slave auction in Richmond.

Despite its unassuming title, the story is far from a straightforward account. Through Aunt Rachel's emotional narration, we witness the devastating impact of slavery on families. The image of a loving family torn apart highlights the system's cruelty. However, Aunt Rachel emerges as a strong and resilient figure. Her ability to find joy despite her past and recount her story with such clarity speaks to her enduring spirit.

The story also explores the power dynamics between races. Misto C— listens respectfully, but his presence as the frame narrator underscores the limitations placed on Aunt Rachel's agency. However, Aunt Rachel reclaims her narrative through storytelling. By sharing her experience, she ensures it's not forgotten. Twain's use of realistic African American dialect adds authenticity to her voice and the story itself serves as a testament to the enduring strength of those who survived the horrors of slavery.

"Blow Up With the Ship" 

Wilkie Collins' "Blow Up With the Ship" is a suspenseful tale set on a mysterious voyage in 1818. The story unfolds through the eyes of a seasoned sailor who finds himself on the peculiar ship, the "Crichton," owned by a captain consumed by secrecy. The crew itself is a motley bunch, adding to the unsettling atmosphere.

Strange occurrences plague the journey, from ghostly sightings to the captain's increasingly erratic behavior. The suspense builds as the narrator discovers the captain's horrifying plan: to self-destruct by blowing up the ship with everyone on board, rather than let its secret cargo (possibly military supplies) fall into enemy hands.

The story explores the destructive nature of obsession and secrecy. The captain's singular focus on protecting the cargo blinds him to the human cost. The narrator grapples with a moral dilemma - follow orders or defy the captain's madness. With an ambiguous ending hinting at a possible struggle to prevent the explosion, the story leaves a lasting impression.

"Blow Up With the Ship" exemplifies Collins' mastery of suspense. The eerie atmosphere, the strange events, and the looming threat of a catastrophic event keep the reader on edge. Ultimately, it serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of blind obedience and the devastating consequences of secrets kept at all costs.

"A Cup of Tea"

Katherine Mansfield's "A Cup of Tea" explores themes of social class, charity, and the complexities of human connection through a seemingly simple act of kindness.

The story centers on Rosemary Fell, a wealthy woman, who encounters a poorly dressed young girl while walking home. Rosemary feels a pang of sympathy and invites the girl in for a cup of tea. However, the act of charity quickly becomes strained.

The girl, unnamed and seemingly from a lower social class, exhibits behaviors that make Rosemary uncomfortable. She eats ravenously, refuses to remove her muddy boots, and talks incessantly about her personal problems. Rosemary's initial compassion gives way to irritation and a sense of class difference.

The story's climax arrives with the symbolic cup of tea. Rosemary expects gratitude, but the girl seems more interested in the practicalities of getting sugar and milk. The moment highlights the disconnect between their experiences and the limitations of charity.

"A Cup of Tea" is a nuanced story. It avoids easy answers. Rosemary's act of charity is genuine, but it's also laced with a sense of superiority. The girl's behavior can be seen as rude, but it might also stem from her own background and struggles.

The ending is ambiguous. Rosemary offers the girl some money, which she readily accepts. The act feels transactional, leaving the reader to ponder the true meaning of connection and the challenges of bridging social divides.

"The Boy Comes Home"

A.A. Milne's "The Boy Comes Home" is a short play that explores the difficulties of readjusting to life after a transformative experience, particularly war. The story follows Philip, a young man who returns home from service, encountering a world seemingly unchanged. The opening scene with the strict cook, Mrs. Higgins, highlights the tension between Philip and the rigid routines he left behind.

The play delves deeper through Uncle James' dream, a fantastical sequence where Philip voices his frustrations. Uncle James, a businessman representing the pre-war world, wants Philip to rejoin his old life. However, Philip feels restless and lost, a stark contrast to the dream's freedom. This juxtaposition emphasizes Philip's struggle to find his place in a life that seems to have moved on without him.

"The Boy Comes Home" explores themes of lost innocence and the generation gap. The war has undoubtedly changed Philip, making it difficult for him to fit back into his old life. Uncle James, representing the pre-war world, simply doesn't understand Philip's experiences. The play ends without a clear resolution, reflecting the uncertainties faced by many returning soldiers as they grapple with the psychological impact of war and the challenges of reintegrating into society.

"The Monkey's Paw"

W.W. Jacobs' "The Monkey's Paw" is a suspenseful tale that explores the perils of tampering with fate. Set in a modest English cottage, the story centers on the White family - Mr. and Mrs. White, along with their son Herbert. Their lives take a turn when Sergeant-Major Morris, an old friend, introduces them to a cursed monkey's paw, said to grant three wishes.

The Whites are initially hesitant, but greed and a desire for a better life overpower their reservations. Each wish they make on the paw comes true, but at a horrifying cost. Their yearning for wealth leads to Herbert's tragic demise, and their desperate attempt to undo the wish brings further misfortune.

"The Monkey's Paw" serves as a cautionary tale about the folly of wishing. It highlights the unforeseen consequences that can arise from even well-meaning desires. The story delves into themes of fate and free will, leaving the reader to ponder whether the characters were ever truly in control of their destinies. The monkey's paw itself becomes a potent symbol of the corrupting nature of wishes and the danger of disrupting the natural order.

Jacobs masterfully builds suspense throughout the story. The initial warnings about the paw and the Sergeant-Major's cryptic pronouncements create a sense of unease. Foreshadowing, like Mr. White's premonition of a "terrible mistake," adds to the growing tension. Ultimately, "The Monkey's Paw" is a chilling reminder to appreciate what we have and to be wary of the potential consequences of our deepest desires.

"The Black Cat"

Edgar Allan Poe's "The Black Cat" is a disturbing tale of psychological decline fueled by guilt and paranoia. The unnamed narrator, initially claiming sanity, confesses a history of animal cruelty, culminating in the brutal murder of his beloved black cat, Pluto.

Consumed by guilt, the narrator projects his crime onto a second black cat, eerily resembling Pluto but with a missing eye. This doppelganger intensifies his anxieties, driving him to a murderous rage against his wife.

The story explores the destructive nature of cruelty. The initial act of violence against Pluto sets off a domino effect of guilt, fear, and ultimately, murder. The black cats themselves become potent symbols of the narrator's guilt, with the missing eye on the second cat potentially representing his blindness to his own flaws.

Poe masterfully employs unreliable narration. The narrator's claim of sanity crumbles as his erratic behavior and deteriorating mental state are revealed. This ambiguity adds to the suspense and keeps the reader guessing.

"The Black Cat" is a prime example of Gothic fiction, incorporating elements like psychological horror, an unreliable narrator, and a dark atmosphere. These elements contribute to the story's lasting impact, leaving a chilling reminder of the potential for cruelty to spiral into madness.