"The Address" by Marga Minco:

- The narrator, a young Jewish girl, visits her former landlady, Mrs. Dorling, after World War II.
- Mrs. Dorling had hidden the narrator's family's furniture and belongings during the war, but now seems reluctant to
return them.
- The narrator is met with hostility and silence by Mrs. Dorling, who has grown wealthy from renting out the narrator's
family home.
- The narrator realizes that Mrs. Dorling has been profiting from the war and the displacement of Jewish people.
- The chapter explores themes of trauma, loss, and the complexities of human relationships during wartime.
- The narrator's visit to Mrs. Dorling's address serves as a symbol of her attempt to reclaim her past and her family's
belongings.
- The chapter raises questions about guilt, responsibility, and the moral implications of profiting from others' suffering.
- The narrator's experiences serve as a powerful reminder of the human cost of war and the importance of
acknowledging the past.
Critical Analysis
Themes:
1. Trauma and Memory: The chapter explores the long-lasting impact of war on individuals and communities,
highlighting the narrator's emotional struggle to confront her past.
2. Guilt and Responsibility: Mrs. Dorling's reluctance to return the narrator's family belongings raises questions about
guilt, responsibility, and the moral implications of profiting from others' suffering.
3. Identity and Belonging: The narrator's visit to her former home serves as a quest to reclaim her past and sense of
identity, highlighting the complexities of belonging and displacement.
Symbolism:
1. The Address: The address serves as a symbol of the narrator's past, her family's history, and her sense of identity.
2. The Furniture: The furniture represents the narrator's family's belongings, their memories, and their sense of home.
Character Analysis:
1. The Narrator: The narrator's character represents the voice of the oppressed, highlighting the emotional toll of war
and displacement.
2. Mrs. Dorling: Mrs. Dorling's character serves as a symbol of the complexities of human relationships during wartime,
raising questions about guilt, responsibility, and morality.
Literary Devices:
1. Imagery: Minco's use of vivid imagery creates a powerful and emotional atmosphere, drawing the reader into the
narrator's world.
2. Silence: The silence between the narrator and Mrs. Dorling serves as a powerful tool, highlighting the complexities of
their relationship and the emotional toll of the war.
Critical Perspectives:
1. Psychoanalytic Perspective: The chapter can be seen as an exploration of the narrator's psyche, highlighting the long-
lasting impact of trauma and the struggle to confront the past.
2. Historical Perspective: The chapter serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of war, highlighting the
experiences of Jewish people during World War II.
Character analysis
The Narrator:
- Age: Young adult, likely in her early twenties
- Background: Jewish, survived World War II, likely experienced trauma and displacement
- Personality: Determined, courageous, emotional, and vulnerable
- Motivations: Seeks to reclaim her past, family belongings, and sense of identity
- Conflict: Internal (emotional struggle to confront the past) and external (confronting Mrs. Dorling)
- Symbolism: Represents the voice of the oppressed, the impact of war on individuals and communities
Mrs. Dorling:
- Age: Middle-aged or older
- Background: Non-Jewish, likely benefited from the war and the displacement of Jewish people
- Personality: Hostile, evasive, and greedy
- Motivations: Seeks to maintain her wealth and status, avoid guilt and responsibility
- Conflict: Internal (guilt and shame) and external (confronting the narrator)
- Symbolism: Represents the complexities of human relationships during wartime, the moral implications of profiting
from others' suffering
Relationship between the Narrator and Mrs. Dorling:
- Complex and tense, with a power imbalance
- Mrs. Dorling's hostility and evasion contrast with the narrator's emotional vulnerability
- The narrator's determination and courage challenge Mrs. Dorling's guilt and shame
- The relationship serves as a microcosm for the larger themes of the chapter, including trauma, identity, and morality.
SAQs
1. What is Mrs. Dorling's role in the narrator's life?
2. What is the significance of the furniture in the chapter?
3. What is the narrator's motivation for confronting Mrs. Dorling?
4. What is the theme of the chapter?
5. How does Mrs. Dorling profit from the war?
6. What is the narrator's relationship with her family's past?
7. How does the chapter portray the impact of war?
8. What is the symbolism of the address?
9. How does the narrator's visit affect Mrs. Dorling?
10. What is the author's message in the chapter?
Answers
Here are the answers to the questions:
1. Mrs. Dorling's role in the narrator's life is that of a former benefactor who provided shelter and stored the narrator's
family belongings during the war. However, she now withholds these belongings, causing tension in their relationship.
2. The furniture signifies the narrator's family heritage, memories, and connection to their past. Its return represents a
reconnection to their history and identity.
3. The narrator's motivation for confronting Mrs. Dorling is to reclaim her family's belongings and confront the past,
seeking closure and acknowledgment of their experiences.
4. The theme of the chapter is the impact of war on individuals and communities, particularly in terms of identity,
memory, and morality.
5. Mrs. Dorling profits from the war by exploiting the narrator's family and others, taking advantage of their vulnerability
and storing their valuables for personal gain.
6. The narrator has a complex relationship with her family's past, marked by a desire to reconnect and preserve
memories, while also confronting the trauma and loss they experienced.
7. The chapter portrays the impact of war as devastating and long-lasting, causing displacement, trauma, and moral
compromise.
8. The address symbolizes the narrator's connection to her past, family, and identity, representing a sense of belonging
and heritage.
9. The narrator's visit affects Mrs. Dorling by forcing her to confront her own guilt and responsibility, leading to a
moment of reckoning and potential redemption.
10. The author's message in the chapter is that confronting the past, acknowledging guilt, and taking responsibility are
essential for personal and collective healing, and that memory and remembrance are crucial for preserving identity and
humanity.
ANSWER ALL THESE QUESTIONS -
1. How does the chapter portray the importance of confronting the past? What values does this convey?
2. What does the narrator's determination to reclaim her family's belongings reveal about her values and priorities?
3. How does Mrs. Dorling's behavior reflect her values and character? What message does this convey about morality
and responsibility?
4. What values are compromised when individuals prioritize personal gain over others' well-being, as seen in Mrs.
Dorling's actions?
5. How does the chapter highlight the impact of war on individuals and communities? What values are essential for
rebuilding and healing?
6. What values does the narrator demonstrate through her emotional vulnerability and courage in confronting Mrs.
Dorling?
7. How does the chapter portray the significance of memory and remembrance in preserving identity and culture? What
values does this convey?
8. What message does the chapter convey about guilt, responsibility, and redemption? How do these relate to personal
values?
9. How does the narrator's experience reflect the importance of empathy and understanding in human relationships?
What values does this promote?
10. What values are essential for creating a just and equitable society, as reflected in the chapter's themes and
characters?
Here are the answers to the value-based questions:
1. The chapter portrays the importance of confronting the past as a means of acknowledging and learning from history,
promoting accountability, and facilitating personal healing. This conveys values of honesty, courage, and self-awareness.
2. The narrator's determination reveals her values of family, heritage, identity, and resilience. She prioritizes
reconnecting with her past and preserving her family's memory.
3. Mrs. Dorling's behavior reflects her values of self-interest, greed, and disregard for others' well-being. This conveys a
message about the importance of morality and responsibility, highlighting the consequences of prioritizing personal gain
over others' suffering.
4. When individuals prioritize personal gain over others' well-being, values like empathy, compassion, and fairness are
compromised. This can lead to exploitation, harm, and injustice.
5. The chapter highlights the impact of war on individuals and communities through themes of loss, displacement, and
trauma. Values essential for rebuilding and healing include empathy, understanding, compassion, and resilience.
6. The narrator demonstrates values of courage, emotional vulnerability, and determination through her confrontation
with Mrs. Dorling. These values promote personal growth, accountability, and healing.
7. The chapter portrays memory and remembrance as essential for preserving identity, culture, and history. This conveys
values of heritage, tradition, and respect for the past.
8. The chapter conveys a message about the importance of acknowledging guilt, taking responsibility, and seeking
redemption. These values relate to personal accountability, empathy, and self-awareness.
9. The narrator's experience reflects the importance of empathy and understanding in human relationships, promoting
values like compassion, kindness, and respect.
10. Values essential for creating a just and equitable society include fairness, empathy, compassion, accountability, and
respect for human rights and dignity. These values are reflected in the chapter's themes and characters, highlighting
their significance in promoting social justice and harmony.