How Vainly Men Themselves Amaze
Summary
"The Force of Circumstance" is a story which tells about a man, Guy, and his wife, Doris. They live in Malaysia. Guy moved there right after his schooling and has lived there for years. He left once and he came back with his white wife, Doris. The story is not written in the first person, it is a narrator who tells you the story. The language use is normal and the tone of voice a little bit ironic.
When Guy was young he was very alone at night. Night after night it was the same. One evening his boy asked whether he'd like to have a girl to come and live with him. First he had doubts about it, but he said yes after all, and she stayed. They had three children. After several years he sent her back to the village because he was leaving. Their 'relationship' was over. Then he returned with his new white wife Doris, but after a while she leaves him and the Malay woman returns.
The story is carefully constructed like a five-act drama with tension rising to the climax of Guy’s disclosure speech.
1. exposition ---- introduction to the exotic scenery and the harmonious couple
2. rising conflict --- the confrontation of characters
3. climax ---- Guy’s monologue and Doris’s reaction
4. falling action ---- Doris’s long suffering and period of indecision
5. denouement ---- Doris’s leaving and the restoration of the former circumstances
Themes
Going Native
White men actually had a general fear of ‘going native’ which means adapting to the native way of life. So many white men in the colonies insisted on wearing European clothes or retained their typical European lifestyle. They were afraid to lose their own identity in having too much contact with the natives which would threaten their authority and power.
According to imperialist ideology they felt superior and an intermingling of the races had to be avoided. In fact it was very difficult for the white men in the
"The Force of Circumstance" is a story which tells about a man, Guy, and his wife, Doris. They live in Malaysia. Guy moved there right after his schooling and has lived there for years. He left once and he came back with his white wife, Doris. The story is not written in the first person, it is a narrator who tells you the story. The language use is normal and the tone of voice a little bit ironic.
When Guy was young he was very alone at night. Night after night it was the same. One evening his boy asked whether he'd like to have a girl to come and live with him. First he had doubts about it, but he said yes after all, and she stayed. They had three children. After several years he sent her back to the village because he was leaving. Their 'relationship' was over. Then he returned with his new white wife Doris, but after a while she leaves him and the Malay woman returns.
The story is carefully constructed like a five-act drama with tension rising to the climax of Guy’s disclosure speech.
1. exposition ---- introduction to the exotic scenery and the harmonious couple
2. rising conflict --- the confrontation of characters
3. climax ---- Guy’s monologue and Doris’s reaction
4. falling action ---- Doris’s long suffering and period of indecision
5. denouement ---- Doris’s leaving and the restoration of the former circumstances
Themes
Going Native
White men actually had a general fear of ‘going native’ which means adapting to the native way of life. So many white men in the colonies insisted on wearing European clothes or retained their typical European lifestyle. They were afraid to lose their own identity in having too much contact with the natives which would threaten their authority and power.
According to imperialist ideology they felt superior and an intermingling of the races had to be avoided. In fact it was very difficult for the white men in the