Wednesday, 15 January 2014

'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant



The Necklace is a short story that gives an important moral to us. It's a story about Matilda Loisel and her husband. They come from average middle class couple. Matilda always dreams of the luxury life. One day, her husband get an invitation to a social party of important stature. His wife is upset because she has nothing to wear. In an attempt to make his wife happy, he gives her the money he was saving to buy himself a gun, so she can buy herself a dress. She then become upset because she has no jewelry to wear. She borrows a beautiful diamond necklace from a friend. She loses the necklace at the party. After searching for a week, they realize they must replace the neclace. 
They use their entire savings, and even take out loans to pay for the replacement diamond neclace. Now they have no money and must work tirelessly to pay their debts. Years later, Matilda runs into her friend on the street one day and confesses to her that they replaced the necklace and the means by which they did it. In return her friend explained that the necklace was not a real diamonds and was only worth 500 francs and not the 36,000 fransc they had paid to repalce.


Theme of the story :
Pursuit of happiness

Values of the story :
-Thankful for what we have
-Strive to change our lives

'My Friend Luke' by Fernando Sorrentino

After I read this story, I found it's very interesting story to share it with everyone.
This story may have something in common with the people around us.
This story started with someone named Luke. He have a very interesting character.
In order not to inconvenience anyone, he always walks sideways instead of saying
 ' Excuse me', he prefers to glide by one side. He speaks with a very thin, 
subtle voice, so inaudible that it is hard to tell if he is speaking at all and he has never interrupted anybody. Sometimes I felt really pity with Luke, his family life is falling apart, his wife and his son doesn't respect him. He works late to stay away from home. He doesn't have enough clothes and doesn't know any other life. I can imagine he didn't always act like that on the bus, yet he must have discovered that he could, and it became his release. This guy may seem horrible at first glance, a perfectly disgusting man, who enjoys being a tormentor where he can do it anonymously, yet he is really pitiable.


Theme of the story : 
The whole story is about a friend's life

Values of the story :
-We must respect each other 
-Never bullied someone who are weaker than us




Tuesday, 14 January 2014

'The Open Window' by H. H. Munro (Saki)

My first impression, I can't wait to finish reading this story since i found out it's really mysterious.
It's started with a nervous young man, Framton Nuttle has come to stay in the country for his health. 
His sister, who thinks he should socialise while he is there.  
Framton goes to visit a Mrs Sappleton, and while he is waiting for her to come down, 
he is entertained by her niece.
The girl tells him that the window is kept open, because her aunt's believes that her husband and her brothers were killed in shooting accident three years ago will come back. 
When Mrs Sappleton comes down, she talks about her husband and brothers, and how they're going to come back from the shooting soon. 
Frampton found this very scary and tried to change the topic of discussion by talking about his health until he is horrified by seeing three figures and a dog coming towards the house.
His looked at the niece who had a look of horror in her eyes.
He thinks he is seeing a ghosts and runs away but Mrs Sappleton can't understand why 
he has run away.
When her husband and brothers come in, she tells them about Frampton who has just left 
without saying goodbye.
The niece explains that his ran away because of the spaniel.
After finish reading this story, I found out that I almost fooled by the girl story and suddenly I felt something was watching me through the window. huuuuuu........

Theme of the story :
Mystery is the main theme.

Values of the story :
-Don't play with people feelings
-Don't ever try to fool people

'Mango Moods' by Reeta Mani



I love to read this story because it is very touching and interesting story. 
In this story, it show how strong and patient Chitra can be to continued her life. 
After she get married, she cannot get a baby and have to face a cruel mother-in-law. 
Since childhood, mangoes were a way of life for Chitra. 
The mango trees in the open courtyard it's the only reason she felt at home here. 
After eight years of marriage, Chitra found out that she pregnant and wish 
her parents had been alive to share her joy. 
She still remembered how her parent had only seen her sufferings and 
felt her pain as long as they were alive. 
When her mother had made a suggestion to her husband (Prasad) about adopting a child, her mother-in-law (Narayani Amma) had exploded because she can't 
accept any other child as her grandson. 
She felt really sad because Prasad had chosen to keep his mum side.
Her beautiful baby was born on a bright morning in May. 
All the family member felt really happy because the heir of their family had arrived.
She choose to forget everything in her past and start a new live with her family.

Theme of the story : 
The traditional lifestyle in India shown by the main character

Values of the story :
-We should have our own thoughts and opinions
-Be loyal to our lifepartner and ready to face everything together
-Treat our in-law family as our own family