short stories English LK

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song among Civil Rights activists - MIRIAM (narrators daughter) the narrator's daughter - rather delicate little girl - has been brought up to be respectful and outspoken when she witnesses wrongdoing - tries to urge the narrator to speak up against the White women's racist behaviour -> disappointed and confused when she sees her mother's "Wrong" behaviour (not offering a seat to elderly lady, not coming to the aid of woman in trouble) - two WHITE WOMEN - narrator calls them "Cardie" and "Mac" (because one of them is wearing a cardigan, the other a colourless stained Mac) - both in their 50s - look rather poor, rough and uneducated to the narrator - prejudiced against Black people: racist remarks and comments, deliberately refuse to move seats (to teach "who is boss here") tacitly accepted by narrator narrator feels like solidarise with woman (but does nothing) LD she only acts like a reverse racist 4D has actually strong moral principles → "show the we're better!" cowardice and insecurity of narrator & bus driver Short story THE ESCAPE (2009) CONTENT 73-year-old Samir, a Pakistani immigrant, who arrived in the UK in the 1960s, visits Pakistan, his land of origin, and realises that his real home is now England - SAMIR - 73 years old - born and raised in Pakistan, immigrated to the UK in the 1960s, based in Manchester area - religious Muslim, devoted family man, loves his children and grandchildren - has made it from shy, insecure man, who moved from place to place and job to job, to successful business and house owner - feels lost since his wife's recent death - fuelled by his loneliness, he searches for his homeland (and comes to the conclusion that it is now England) Samir LD torn between two homes 4 inner ↳ Successful in England loneliness connected to homelessness TITLE Samir makes several "escapes" the last two are his trip to Pakistan and from there back again to England - SAMIR'S MANCHESTER FAMILY - Samir has four children: two sons and two daughters as well as several grandchildren - all seem financially secure and well-integrated - treat Samir with kindness and respect, want to make him feel comfortable - cherish Pakistani traditions, but feel that England is their home - cannot believe that Samir wants to go back to Pakistan SAMIR'S LAHORE FAMILY - receive Samir very hospitably still Samir feels like a burden and not really at home there - surprised when Samir calls England his home - wants to find home -D his children → second generation of immigrants (cultural ties to Pakistan BUT completely at home in England) short story THE THIRD AND FINAL CONTINENT CONTENT the narrator, an immigrant from Calcutta/India, overcomes his loneliness and alienation with the help of his 103-year- old land-lady and makes his way up in American society the NARRATOR - in his thirties in the 1960s (*~1933) - educated and ambitious - lives in modest circumstances both in London and Boston, but does not complain (e. g. about frugal meal of cornflakes and milk) - finds it hard to adapt to America at first and is quite lonely - polite and kind to Mrs. Croft, admires her for her old age and finally grows quite attached to her - dutifully complies with the traditions of his home country (arranged marriage, cremation ceremony) - at first rather disturbed by his wife's presence and his responsibilities towards her - however, treats Mala with understanding and respect and they grow very close and end up having a loving marriage -MALA - daughter of a schoolteacher, a good housekeeper and well-educated - 27 years old at time of arranged marriage, not very pretty, has been rejected by several men at first very unhappy and lonely in her marriage to a stranger and a foreign country (clings to traditional clothing, food, etc.) - narrator discovers her kind side during visit to Mrs. Croft - they grow very close and both adapt to America as their new home - misses her son when he has moved out (1999) TITLE after living in South Asia (India) and Europe (England), the narrator finally finds his place in America (USA) the third and final continent of his journey -MRS. CROFT - tiny 103-year-old widow, almost fierce-looking, speaks in a loud, commanding voice - raised her children by giving piano lessons after the death of her husband - quite fit for her age, although not fully mobile and tends to be forgetful independent-minded although she cannot really care for herself (needs to eat pre-opened soups, for example) - has her fixed routine (always wears the same dress, always sits in the same place, eats the same food) - patriotic (proud of American moon landing) - eccentrie (rents only to students from MIT or Harvard, insists on the narrator using the word "splendid") old-fashioned ideas about decency -values narrator's manners and consideration (handing her the rent money instead of simply depositing it on piano), grows attached to him and also approves of Mala narrator →→Several stages of alienation and privation loneliness (new country, marrige to a stranger) move to the USA - difficult (especially for Mala) Later - Successful integration + next generation Short story LOOSE CHANGE CONTENT The narrator is given a few coins by a young woman who turns out to be a political refugee. She feels sympathy for the girl but fails to help her. →LAYLOR - 18 year old refugee from Uzbekistan - partly unrefined manners (in the narrator's view) - disarming openness - only person to help the narrator out with coins (despite her poverty) - desperate and helpless - homeless, scruffy outer appearance, fears for her parents (2005) TITLE few coins as element which connects the two women, symbolizes the narrator's feeling of obligation, but also her final desertion of Laylor the NARRATOR - third-generation immigrant - middle class background - typical Londoner - distanced to strangers - rather out of obligation and responsibility two conflicting interests (to Laylor) - would like to help her like a stranger once helped her grandmother - does not want to be involved in Laylor's poverty - leaves Laylor in a cowardly fashion the narrator → two different sets of values →1. her grandmothers experience (being dependent on a stranger's help) → 2. her self-assessment of being a "true Londoner" (stays out of other's trouble) Lo as soon as she finds out Laylor is a poor and homeless refugee Drejection / Suspicion Laylor and her brother -D homeless (don't know where to find help) life has changed completely within a week