The
Address
By
Marga Minco
Q: “Have you come
back?” said the woman. “I thought that no one had come back”. Does this
statement give some clue about the story? If yes, what is it?
Yes, this
statement gives a significant clue about the story. It indicates that the
woman, Mrs. Dorling, did not expect anyone from the narrator’s family to
survive the war. This suggests that the narrator’s family, like Jewish, were victims
of the Nazi persecution during World War II. Mrs. Dorling’s surprise at seeing
the narrator implies that she had assumed the family had perished, leaving her
free to keep their belongings without any consequences. The statement reflects
the underlying theme of loss, survival, and the harsh reality of life after the
war.
Q. The story is
divided into pre-War and post-War times. What hardships do you think the girl
underwent during these times?
The girl, the
narrator, faced profound hardships during both pre-War and post-War times.
During the pre-War period, her family was likely subjected to increasing
persecution, fear, and anxiety as the Nazis gained power. This period would
have been marked by the loss of security, freedom, and eventually, the forced
separation from their home and belongings as they were taken away or went into
hiding.
In the post-War
period, the narrator faces the emotional and psychological challenges of
returning to a world that has been irreversibly changed. She finds herself in a
situation where she must confront the remnants of her past, symbolized by the
visit to Mrs. Dorling’s house. The physical return to the address and the sight
of her family’s possessions being used by someone else only intensifies her
sense of loss and dislocation. The war has stripped her not only of her family
and home but also of her identity and sense of belonging.
Q: Why did the
narrator of the story want to forget the address?
The narrator
wanted to forget the address because it symbolized the painful memories of her
lost past, the trauma of the war, and the betrayal by Mrs. Dorling. Visiting
the address and seeing her family’s belongings in a different, unfamiliar
setting was distressing experience. The objects that once held emotional significance
were now mere remnants of life that no longer existed. By trying to forget the
address, the narrator was attempting to let go of the past and move on from the
sorrow, loss, and disillusionment that the war had inflicted upon her.
Q: “The Address”
is a story of human predicament that follows war. Comment.
“The address” is indeed a poignant reflection on the
human predicament that follows war. The story delves into the theme of loss, displacement,
and the struggle to reclaim one’s identity after the devastation of war. The narrator’s
visit to Mrs. Dorling’s house highlights the emotional and psychological toll
of war, not just on those who directly experience it but also on those who
survive it.
The war has left the narrator in state of limbo,
where the familiar world of her past is gone, and the remnants of that world no
longer hold the same meaning. The possessions that once brought comfort and a
sense of belonging now serve as painful reminders of everything she has lost. The
story underscores the difficulty of moving forward when the past is filled with
trauma and betrayal, and how the memories of what was once familiar can become
burdensome.
Through the narrator’s experience, Marga Minco
illustrates the broader human condition after a war-how people are forced to
navigate a world that has been fundamentally altered, where the ties to the
past are frayed, and the future is uncertain. The story is a testament to the
resilience required to rebuild one’s life and identity after such profound
upheaval.
Comments
Post a Comment