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Theme In Nadine Gordimer's 'Once Upon A Time'

Decent Essays

In a short story or novel, there is always a theme that the author has positioned in the story. The author may directly state what the theme may be or he may indirectly convey it through events or if not through the actions of the characters. The theme of a story usually holds the central insight making it one of the most important aspects to a story. The theme in a story usually is one that makes an observation about life which makes the reader think. A story that could be used as an example would be “Once Upon A Time” by Nadine Gordimer, one interpretation of what the theme may be for this story is that one's fears make one take extreme measures only to be hurt by their own contraption of security. “Once Upon A Time” talks about the extreme measures that people take when in fear, this interpretation of what the theme may be is supported by the story's plot and structure along with its characterization. The plot and structure of “Once Upon A Time” by Nadine Gordimer helps to support the theme of the story. The story starts off with an author who is awakened at night by a noise that sounds like footsteps, her mind immediately begins to think of the series of break-ins that have occurred lately. She begins to think of how vulnerable she is “I have no burglar bars, no gun under the pillow,..., and my windowpanes are thin as rime”(Gordimer 231). However, she comes to acknowledge that there was no person in her house but instead it was her current state of stress that had

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