THE ADDRESS

(Marga Minco)
The Address is a story which underlines the human dilemma that follows war and the death of a loved one.
This is brought out through an emotional account of a daughter ho goes in search of her mother s
belongings after the War in Holland. The protagonist grew up in a Jewish family, escaped being arrested
and went into hiding during World War II. The story is a poignant reminder of loss and regret emanating
from the persecution of the Dutch Jews during the Second World War. It relates events before and after the
war as the female narrator attempts to confront her past as she visits the address here her famil s past
belongings ere stored in a non-Je ish neighbour s house. She does find them, but decides to leave
them behind because of the memories that are linked to those objects. The girl s decision to move on in life
gives the story an optimistic twist. On a deeper level, the story is a commentary on memories and nostalgia.

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

Q1. Who had given the narrator the address, when and under what circumstances?

Ans. The narrator s mother had given her the address, ears ago during the first half of the ar. The narrator
came home for a few days and missed various things in the rooms. Then her mother told her about Mrs.
Dorling and gave her the address.

Q2. What did the narrator learn about Mrs. Dorling from her mother?

Ans. Mrs. Dorling as an old acquaintance of the narrator s mother. The had not seen each other for
several years. Then she suddenly turned up and renewed their contact. Every time she left that place she
took something with her table silver, antique plates etc.

Q3. What reason did Mrs. Dorling gi e for taking a a the precious belongings of the narrator s
mother?

Ans. Mrs. Dorling suggested to the narrator s mother that she should store her belongings at a safe place.
She wanted to save all her precious antiques and she explained that they would lose everything if they had
to leave the place due to war.

Q4. Why did the narrator wait a long time before going to the address Number 46, Marconi Street?

Ans. Initiall after the ar, she as not at all interested in her mother s belongings l ing stored there. She
was also afraid of being confronted with things that had belonged to her mother, who was now no more.
Q5. I as in a room I kne and did not kno , sa s the narrator in the stor , The Address . What
prompted her to make this observation?

Ans. The narrator found herself in the midst of things she was familiar with and which she wanted to see
again. She longed to see her belongings but was disturbed to find them in a strange atmosphere where
everything was arranged in a tasteless way. The ugly furniture and the strange smell created the feeling that
she didn t kno the room.

6. Why did the narrator of the story want to forget the address?

Ans: The narrator was disappointed and disillusioned when she was allo ed to enter Mrs. Dorling s house
during her second visit. She realised the futility of feeling attached to her mother s belongings that were
kept so distastefully. She just left without taking anything back and felt like forgetting the address because
she would only remember the past. She decided to leave it all behind and resolved to move on.

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. The chapter is about an autobiographical note at one level, while at another it portrays
how futile war is. What are your views regarding war? Is it fruitful?

War brings suffering and disasters with it

Takes away many lives
Wounds given by the war are quite indelible and seldom heal
Crudeness and shrewdness of human behavior is brought out in war
War is always synonymous with destruction
We must always aim towards establishing peace.
Non-violence is the way to form stronger relationship with others.

2. How did Mrs. Dorling acquire the possessions of Mrs. S? What extraordinary
circumstances made it possible? Do ou justif Mrs. Dorling s conduct?

Mrs. S- belonged to a wealthy Jewish family and all her possessions were of great
value.
The Second World War broke out and the Jews were persecuted everywhere.
Mrs. Dorling revived her acquaintance with Mrs. S and carried away suitcases of
precious things sa ing she anted to save all the nice things, ith no intention
of returning those fine things.
Mrs. Dorling act cannot be justified, she acted out of greed and meanness.

3. The Address is the stor of human predicament that follo s ar. Comment.

War creates many difficult and traumatic situations for human beings.
 Civilian life faces tremendous upheaval due to war.
War had caused many physical difficulties as well as emotional suffering to the narrator.
Mrs Dorling as a true opportunist ho had used the narrator s mother s belongings on
the pretext of storing them for safekeeping.
Now these valuables had lost all their importance for her as they had been separated from
her mother
She wanted to leave the memories of her mother and the war behind her and decided to
move on.

4. The story is divided into pre-war and post-war times. What hardships do you think the
girl underwent during these times?

During the pre-war times, the narrator lived in some other city far away from home and she
visited her mother only for a few days.

During the first half of the ar the narrator s mother was always afraid that they might have to
leave the place and lose all valuable belongings. The narrator lived in the city in a small rented
room. Its windows were covered with blackout paper. She could not see the beauty of nature
outside her room. The threat of death loomed large.

After the liberation, everything became normal again. Bread was getting to be a lighter colour.
She could sleep in her bed without any fear of death. She could glance out of the window of her
room each day. One day, she was eager to see all the possessions of her mother, which she knew
were stored at number 46, Marconi Street. She went to that address. She felt disappointed when
Mrs Dorling neither recognised her nor let her in. She asked her to come again someday. It was
evident she anted to put her off. She as eager to see, touch and remember her mother s
possessions. So, she had to take the trouble of visiting the place again.