DUSK - H.H MUNRO
DUSK
- H.H MUNRO
Hector Hugh Munro, better known by the pen name Saki and also frequently as H. H. Munro, was a British writer whose witty, mischievous and sometimes macabre stories satirize Edwardian society and culture. He was born in Akyab, Burma, Munro lived with his parents until his mother died. Munro’s father, an officer in Burma's colonial police force, sent Saki and his siblings to live with their grandmother and aunts in England. Munro did not enjoy his stay with his extended family, who were strict and overbearing, and his works contain frequent references to aunt characters often cast as antagonists.
Scholars have
complained about the dearth of biographical information about Munro. Many
attribute this lack to the fact that Munro’s sister, Ethel, destroyed all of
his papers in 1955 so that nobody else could add to the biography she was
already writing about her brother. Some speculate that Ethel also wanted to keep
hidden facts that would support rumours that her brother was gay.
Under the pen
name Saki, Munro published over one hundred short stories, five plays, two
novels, and dozens of sketches, political satires, and essays.
THEME:
The main theme of the
short story "Dusk" is the inscrutability of human nature. In this
story by Saki, we have the theme of appearance, perception, guilt, deception
and self-importance. Sitting at the park Gatsby appears to be an individual
who judges others.
TITLE
JUSTIFY :
The title of
"Dusk" for Saki's story is indeed appropriate on both the literal and
the figurative levels. For, it defines
the setting which is at twilight, the time when the defeated come to the park:
The scene pleased
Gatsby and harmonised with his present mood.
Dusk,...
The
Story Analysis of Dusk
Dusk
by Saki is an interesting short story which revolves around a deftly crafted
plot. The story starts on a sceptical note with the musings of a man with an
exceptionally critical attitude by the name of Norman Gatsby who is seated on
a seat just as dusk had set. The reason behind Gortsby’s present outlook is
perhaps the fact that he is a man who has been unsuccessful in life. It is with
this thought process that he turned out just in the dusk, the time which he
viewed as the time of defeatists and unsettled men. This is the reason he liked
to be among the vanquished, impecunious and sorrowful rather than with the
effective society which clarifies why he keeps away from the light and Hyde
Park corner, which is the place where the successful abode.
Adjacent to Gatsby
sat an impoverished elderly nobleman who looked dejected and sorrowful. As the
nobleman rose to go, the seat was instantly imparted by a decently fashionable
youth. He appeared to be displeased and did not bother to shroud his discontent
as he heaved himself into the seat with a loud invective. Gatsby, realizing
that he was relied upon to recognize the young’s discontent, asked about his awful
temper. The engaging obtuseness of the young as he turned stimulated Gortsby’s brain, the doubt that the man was a trickster.
Accordingly, the
young disclosed to him the purpose behind his frustration. Being that he was a
pariah, coming to remain in a hotel in Berkshire Square till he got the
terrible shock that the hotel had been pulled down as of late and was
supplanted by a theatre. On being prescribed to another lodging, he went there
and sent a letter which encased he deliver to his people. On understanding that
he had forgotten to pack any soap, saying that he loathed hotel soap, he had
gone to get some soap. He at that point had some drink and walked around a bit
when he realised that he had totally forgotten the location of his hotel. He
continued by saying that he would be compelled to put in the night in the city
except if a supportive person would lend him some cash.
Gortsby reacts
that he had once done likewise, just in an outside nation, to which the man
rejoins that in a remote land, one could go to the Consul for help, yet here at
home, there is no assistance to be had, except if ” some decent chap” would
trust his story and loan him some cash.
Gortsby says he
will loan the man some cash on the off chance that he can deliver the soap as
evidence that his story is valid, however, the man can’t, and leaves.
The young man
detected thrashing and energetically walked away. No sooner did the young leave
than Gortsby saw a cake of soap under the seat. Seeing reality, he runs after
the young man and returned the soap as well as loans him some money for the
night. After some time, Gortsby saw an old man of his word searching for
something under the seat. On asking him what he had lost, he answered that he
had lost a cake of soap.
CONCLUSION
:
This experience on
the already heartbroken Gortsby would have debilitated his ability to confide
in anybody. It would have moulded him into a sceptical and suspicious
individual for whatever is left of his life.
Comments