William J. Locke’s short story about two women who take in a young man who washes up on the shore hit me as profoundly dated.
The story suggests that it’s possible to be enchanted by someone who is foreign to you in almost every way — if you open your door and let the stranger in.
The women are sisters in their 40s. They live in Cornwall, England before World War I.
The young man who washes ashore is Polish. The characters are divided by language, age and culture. But the sisters discover their guest is an enchanting musician.
Locke’s story was published in 1908. I make no claims for its artistry. But it made me wonder whether anyone could write a story about opening the door to a stranger today.
Today, one’s home is still one’s castle, but it’s always under siege.
You might recognize this pattern: A stranger appears at the door. People warn against letting the stranger in. The stranger turns out to be something horrible, and a lot of the suspense in the story involves what species of horrible we’re dealing with — sexual predator, chainsaw murderer, sadistic enslaver. In some stories, we fear that the stranger will be a serial killer, but he turns out to be a zombie.
When I discovered that the stranger at the door in Locke’s story was a talented violinist, I kept reading.
The story made me see that I’m beyond weary with one of the prevailing patterns in fiction.
I doubt I’m alone.
• William J. Locke, Far-Away Stories; New York: John Lane Company, 1919. Project Gutenberg has the story here:
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/50479/50479-h/50479-h.htm#chap02
For the same premise — taking in the stranger — you might be interested in That Cold Day in the Park (dir. Robert Altman, 1969). But be forewarned: it’s really dark. It’s now streaming at the Criterion Channel.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michael. I'll try it.
ReplyDelete