Waiting for the telegram
Waiting for the telegram
What will we reminisce and regret when we age and become an elder? Will we be lonely and ill? Or will we be happy and appreciate the small things in life? The Short Story ”Waiting for the Telegram” by Alan Bennett is about Violet, an elderly resident in a nursing home, who due to a stroke has trouble remembering names and words. Throughout the story Violet talks about the present and reminisces about the past, and the short story is therefore elucidating how it is to age and the feelings that follow ageing.
Violet does not recognize her son nor does she remember having a husband. Violet does not even remember her own birthday as she is surprised when everyone waltzes in and congratulates her and she pretends to be pleased, but she is not as another year in her life means that she will soon be receiving a telegram from the Queen congratulating her with her centennial.
Francis, a nurse, is Violet’s favourite. He calls her his girlfriend, and is taking very good care of her. But Francis comes down with pneumonia and dies which Devon, another nurse, thinks is due to his sexual orientation. Violet not knowing Francis was homosexual pretends that she knew all along when Devon tells that it was not lasses but lads Francis was into. Francis’ sexual orientation does not seem to bother Violet, as she thinks he was a love anyway.
Despite Violet having problems remembering words and memories she can still remember the last time she saw her beloved, which she tells Francis about before he dies. She tells about a disastrous evening prior to her beloved’s departure to France. Her sense of propriety overrode her own deep desires and inhibited her from letting her beloved seduce her, which she has never forgiven herself for especially because she later heard that he was killed in the war. Francis observed that throughout the conversation Violet had been completely clear and never once stumbled over the words.
In the end of the short story Violet
What will we reminisce and regret when we age and become an elder? Will we be lonely and ill? Or will we be happy and appreciate the small things in life? The Short Story ”Waiting for the Telegram” by Alan Bennett is about Violet, an elderly resident in a nursing home, who due to a stroke has trouble remembering names and words. Throughout the story Violet talks about the present and reminisces about the past, and the short story is therefore elucidating how it is to age and the feelings that follow ageing.
Violet does not recognize her son nor does she remember having a husband. Violet does not even remember her own birthday as she is surprised when everyone waltzes in and congratulates her and she pretends to be pleased, but she is not as another year in her life means that she will soon be receiving a telegram from the Queen congratulating her with her centennial.
Francis, a nurse, is Violet’s favourite. He calls her his girlfriend, and is taking very good care of her. But Francis comes down with pneumonia and dies which Devon, another nurse, thinks is due to his sexual orientation. Violet not knowing Francis was homosexual pretends that she knew all along when Devon tells that it was not lasses but lads Francis was into. Francis’ sexual orientation does not seem to bother Violet, as she thinks he was a love anyway.
Despite Violet having problems remembering words and memories she can still remember the last time she saw her beloved, which she tells Francis about before he dies. She tells about a disastrous evening prior to her beloved’s departure to France. Her sense of propriety overrode her own deep desires and inhibited her from letting her beloved seduce her, which she has never forgiven herself for especially because she later heard that he was killed in the war. Francis observed that throughout the conversation Violet had been completely clear and never once stumbled over the words.
In the end of the short story Violet