close
test_template

Forgiveness and Friendship in The Interlopers by Saki

Human-Written
download print

About this sample

About this sample

close
Human-Written

Words: 518 |

Page: 1|

3 min read

Published: Aug 6, 2021

Words: 518|Page: 1|3 min read

Published: Aug 6, 2021

Table of contents

  1. Introduction to The Interlopers by Saki
  2. Exploring Themes of Forgiveness and Friendship
  3. Character Analysis: Ulrich and Georg
  4. The Impact of the Ending on Themes of Forgiveness and Friendship
  5. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Introduction to The Interlopers by Saki

The short story, The Interlopers, has two enemies become friends after a life-threatening event wakes them up. The story takes place in a forest near the Carpathians in Eastern Europe. The author develops the characters and the plot with all of the action taking place in a forest with a storm as the only help for a tangled situation. The dialogue that is used in the story is sarcastic, and the characters keep each other at a respectful distance. The lesson learned from the story is that we cannot live in hatred for one another but must get along and have compassion for each other. This story is about the themes of forgiveness and friendship and how the two men journeyed to find the storm and discover a changed world. Before their fight, Georg and Ulrich had been enemies for generations. They had fought because their families had been enemies over a land dispute, so this hatred had been ongoing for three generations. They both had secretly vowed they would not die later on, and on this threat of violence, Ulrich had reason to directly tell him that they could not. Familial blood had been shed, and thanks had been brought by Georg's family. Blood wouldn't wash out; a preceding generation's blood called for blood. Blood connection for blood. Blood forgives blood, and with Georg and Ulrich, this knowledge called for delivering the world from unnecessary trouble, no violence, and all resources offered to give each family a better name.

Exploring Themes of Forgiveness and Friendship

Saki believed that individuals who are wronged must choose between forgiveness or revenge, and choosing forgiveness facilitates encounters with the experiences of hardship and anger. Saki described the damage of anger and how individuals can learn to distinguish between their ideas and feelings. The participants in "The Interlopers" are Ulrich von Gradwitz and Georg Znaeym, who have a long-standing conflict. While plotting acts of violence against each other, they are confronted with the power of the world. Saki initially developed friendship themes in the story, but his aunt transformed it into a story of men confronting the cruelty of nature. In the earlier version, Saki explored the re-evaluation of perceptions, judgment, and morality. Saki restored the story to its earlier form, suggesting that Georg and Ulrich have learned love and trust. Rehabilitation had begun, and kinship of the heart and mind was an achievable goal. Saki reinstated characters involved in crime to action.

Character Analysis: Ulrich and Georg

Ulrich von Gradwitz is an aristocrat, "as landless as myself," as Georg Znaeym states later in the story. Ulrich is a man who spends his nights patrolling his land for poachers and others who would seek to destroy the forest he owns. "The forest cannot keep you out... I have no land, I must scratch. The whole wood has been turned into a labyrinth of snares and pitfalls." The two characters are more similar and familiar to each other than to their peers by their common choice of how they spend their nights. What serves as a cause of friendship in these two characters is one night many minutes and hours later, after discovering that the two of them had lost part of their men while trying to find Ulrich, the discovery of Ulrich about Georg in the accident, the response of the two when they are not alone, the details of the dialogue, and the final act of what they shared. When Ulrich is almost physically covered by the branches and crossbeams from which he cannot escape, Georg arrives instead of killing him. Ulrich is not aware that his possible death due to the presence of the wolves is the survival of his enemy, so Georg will survive.

The Impact of the Ending on Themes of Forgiveness and Friendship

The Interlopers is a short story in which two men who have been feuding with each other for years end up becoming entwined together after being trapped under a tree. In the end, both men die after seeing that a pack of wolves is coming. The impact that the ending has on the story is significant as it is the first time that the two men are seen as equals. By presenting readers with a surprising ending in which both men's lives are lost, the story succeeds in showing the impact of nature as well as the themes of forgiveness and friendship, which are prominent throughout.

While warning both men that the other's followers are near, the men continue to argue and express only contempt for each other. Nature eventually unites the men after they are trapped under a tree, but the situation is complicated by concluding the story with a plot twist that results in the deaths of both Ulrich and George. The ending contributes to a stronger emotional connection between the reader and the characters by emphasizing the ill-fated true connection that appears in the story.

Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The role that forgiveness and friendship play in The Interlopers is indisputable and creates in their inclusion stories that intertwine the social and economic conditions of the time they were written. This can be seen through the World Wars, the Russian revolutions, and many more that had a great effect on the style of stories being written. We are also aware of connections with other stories of the time which include a few characters of the same name, and about their same aged relationship. Whether it was with knowledge or not it is clear the surroundings had a great impact upon the environment that The Interlopers were set. Overall, the story has a very clear moral that grudges are not worth holding on to because they always hurt someone no matter what. Through this story we see both what happens to them and also what can happen to us in similar situations, such as a fight with a friend.

Image of Dr. Charlotte Jacobson
This essay was reviewed by
Dr. Charlotte Jacobson

Cite this Essay

Forgiveness And Friendship In The Interlopers By Saki. (2021, August 06). GradesFixer. Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/forgiveness-and-friendship-in-the-interlopers-by-saki/
“Forgiveness And Friendship In The Interlopers By Saki.” GradesFixer, 06 Aug. 2021, gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/forgiveness-and-friendship-in-the-interlopers-by-saki/
Forgiveness And Friendship In The Interlopers By Saki. [online]. Available at: <https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/forgiveness-and-friendship-in-the-interlopers-by-saki/> [Accessed 21 Dec. 2024].
Forgiveness And Friendship In The Interlopers By Saki [Internet]. GradesFixer. 2021 Aug 06 [cited 2024 Dec 21]. Available from: https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/forgiveness-and-friendship-in-the-interlopers-by-saki/
copy
Keep in mind: This sample was shared by another student.
  • 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
  • Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours
Write my essay

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

close

Where do you want us to send this sample?

    By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

    close

    Be careful. This essay is not unique

    This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

    Download this Sample

    Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

    close

    Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

    close

    Thanks!

    Please check your inbox.

    We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

    clock-banner-side

    Get Your
    Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

    exit-popup-close
    We can help you get a better grade and deliver your task on time!
    • Instructions Followed To The Letter
    • Deadlines Met At Every Stage
    • Unique And Plagiarism Free
    Order your paper now