’s “The Interlopers” Vs. Callaghan’s “All The Essay, Research Paper
In the story The Interlopers, Saki writes about
two families that have been feuding for generations. He writes about how ?interlopers?
stop them from rivaling, and eventually bring the two of them to be friends
only minutes before they are eaten by wolves. He does this by using dramatic
irony. Through the character?s words he tells us what the two will do when
they get back to town now that they are friends. This leads you to believe
that the feud is over and everything is all right. The author then, however,
allows the characters to be eaten by wolves; contrary to the resolution that
could be concluded from the explanation and/or foreshadowing of the resolution.
Saki?s purpose for writing this story was probably to get across the point
that you should not hold long grudges, especially without knowing the reason,
or it might be too late to apologize. His unorthodox style of writing however
does achieve his purpose. The characters in his story finally make-up, but
then they are eaten and do not have
the chance to tell their families of
the news. If you could continue the story, you would probably be able to assume
that then the families continued to feud.
The story All the Years of
Her Life by Morley Callaghan, on the other hand, contrasts greatly with The
Interlopers in this area. In the story All the Years of Her Life, Callaghan
writes about a young boy who works at a thrift store and is caught stealing
merchandise one day. By the young boy, Alfred, getting in trouble it affects
his mother; upsets and embarrasses her, and by watching his mother cry Alfred
matures. The story contrasts to The Interlopers because the author gives you
vivid clues to what will be the resolution and there are no tricks or twists.
Alfred is confronted by Mr. Carr, the store clerk, and is caught. Mr. Carr
then calls Alfred?s mother, Mrs. Higgins, to stop by because Alfred is in trouble.
Mrs. Higgins arrives and Mr. Carr makes clear to her the situation. She asks
Alfred if it is true that he stole the items, and he confesses so she takes
him home. Alfred sees his mother?s pain, and causes him to think some and
mature. He acts more grown up afterwards, and there is no iron
y in the resolution
of this story. Callaghan achieves his purpose of showing that situations that
require acting grown-up can cause you to mature in your thinking.
In
both stories, the main characters are significantly changed due to circumstances
and situations that they face. In the story The Interlopers, the two men were
fierce enemies because of the feud that had been going on in their family.
By the end they have pity for each other, put aside their differences and
become friends. In All the Years of Her Life, Alfred is changed in the way
that he has matured. He realizes that his petty thefts and childish antics
deeply hurt his mother; embarrass her because he sees her crying on the night
that he was caught for stealing from Mr. Carr?s store. You can say that the
characters in both stories not only change but so mature enough to humble themselves
to better the problem.
I thought that the Interlopers was a well-written
story, the plot was good. The liked the purpose of the author and the way
in which he chose to achieve his purpose. The dramatic irony teaches me (the
reader) a moralistic lesson: not to hold a grudge, because you know not your
fate and might not ever get a chance to apologize. All the Years of Her Life,
on the other hand, I thought was a pretty dull story. It was well written,
but lacked originality with the plot. The author did much more than foreshadow
the ending, he pretty much just laid it out on the table for you; enough to
anticipate what would happen at the end at least. That is why it did not hold
my attention as the reader as well.