Short Story Analysis Essay Example

see Those Winter Sundays questions and answers.

Following the birth of Lana, her father struggled to cope with the demands of parenting and quietly left their previously contented marriage. Tragically, Lana's mother directed her anger towards the newborn and subjected her to both physical and emotional abuse while holding her accountable for the father's absence. Nevertheless, Lana persevered as she became the sole provider for her household.

As soon as the woman came into the house, she didn't notice that her mother was dead and a doctor was there with her. The woman only became aware of what had happened when the doctor approached her and said "Miss, I'm terribly sorry..."

"Pay attention," the elderly Baron wheezed, his vocal cords creaking and raspy from slumber. "I have a tale to share with you that must not be disclosed to anyone." With focused intrigue, Stu drew nearer, his objective demeanor momentarily set aside.

At the age of 20, I wed a stunning woman from a neighboring village for whom I had sincere affection. Our adoration remained steadfast throughout our marriage, and a year following our vows, we welcomed our own precious Mari into the world. Despite my beloved wife's passing during childbirth, Mari and I thrived as a duo. Nevertheless, as Mari matured, I was no longer the beloved center of her universe as she developed romantic interests and fell deeply in love with a young man who was either 17 or 18 years old at the time.

As a lawyer, I must tell you a story about an arrogant and unpleasant boy who did not care about Mari. This resulted in a fight and eventually, Mari ended up

running away with him to London and never returned. The reason for my telling you this is that I have chosen you to locate my daughter. As my time draws near, I long for happier days and want to make amends. She is listed in my will as my sole beneficiary, therefore, I implore you to find her and return her to me as soon as possible.

After enduring years of torment, she had finally passed away, granting her newfound freedom. Though a part of her may have felt elated, all that remained in her heart was an ongoing ache as she thoughtfully chewed on her long, luxurious brown hair.

As the daughter paid tribute to her mother, she had a pounding headache and shaking hands. Memories flooded her mind: the times when her happy mother played Mud Pies with her in the dirt until it was pitch black outside, and how her mother's dependence on opium and alcohol developed over time.

At times, she would spend whole nights in opium dens. She recollected the sorrow on her mother's face as she comprehended her inability to maintain her addiction and how resolutely she turned to prostitution. Without a backward glance at the yard where they had spent countless hours, she walked away from it all. In hushed tones, she said goodbye to her mother with the words, "Goodbye Mother Mari."

While bowing her head, she noticed a person across the road who briefly looked towards her with interest. She walked from beneath a street lamp into the darkness of Main Road, now empty, and the last thing she observed was an expression of complete surprise on his face as

he called after her. Exhaustion prevented her from pondering any further at the time. After a lengthy journey through many hills and valleys in Scotland, he had finally arrived in London among bustling crowds and illuminated streetlamps that seemed to lead everywhere and nowhere. After extensive research, he had discovered a potential contact, and that was his current destination.

Approaching the decaying wooden door, the protagonist detected the recognizable pleasant aroma of opium and struggled to breathe due to its potent strength. Although Scotland also had numerous dens like this one, upstanding individuals like himself avoided them to remain uninvolved. During an era of frequent violent murders, one could never be too cautious, particularly in London...

With a shudder and a deep breath, he knocked. Lana found herself back at her mother's place of death and former home after wandering aimlessly for what felt like an eternity. The darkness and biting cold had only worsened since she first arrived hours earlier.

Choosing to remain in a secure and familiar location for rest, she crawled under a fence made of splintered wood slats before settling onto the stone cobbles where she fell into an uneasy sleep. Meanwhile, amidst overwhelming aromas, an informative conversation had taken place for several hours. The speaker, who was a friendly philanthropist, eventually disclosed that the individual in question had died earlier that night and left behind a 14-year-old child. Despite having completed their task, the speaker felt obliged to fulfill their duty to the Baron by retrieving his granddaughter as the next best option. As they proceeded towards the designated address, they noticed a young girl walking in the opposite direction.

The woman had a

disheveled look, wearing torn black clothing. When passing under a flickering streetlamp, the observer noticed her dusty hair, which resembled the color of hazelnuts or chestnuts. Upon seeing the man, the woman's face showed complete despair as she quickly vanished into darkness. The observer remembered Mari's daughter's description - small with reddish-brown hair and an anxious expression. Despite calling out to her, it was too late; the woman disappeared.

Upon waking up abruptly, she found herself disoriented and unsure of her surroundings or the events that transpired during daylight hours yesterday. As the sun began to rise, the initial light wisps of grey smoke from nearby factories adorned the horizon. After standing up and donning her jacket, which had functioned as her pillow, she realized that it was Sunday, causing her to forgo work. Sundays were reserved for attending church or consuming a hot meal before dozing off to digest it. Instead, she decided to venture off to her beloved spot- the river.

Whenever she had a moment to herself, she enjoyed sitting and observing the continuous flow of the water. It was remarkable to ponder over the number of seas it had traversed and the years it had flowed. As daylight emerged and a new day began, Stu sat up while yawning.

Although his bed was uncomfortable, he rose and walked to the window to admire London's breathtaking vista that offered him an expansive view. As he gazed out on this fresh day, he spotted a lady seated by the riverbank dipping her fingers in the water; it marked his second sighting of her within forty-eight hours and he didn't want to let another opportunity pass

him by. Donning his frog coat and grabbing a piece of toast for sustenance en route, he hastily vacated his lodging.

Upon his arrival, she was certain that they had met before, but could not recollect the details of their previous encounter.

The man was greatly relieved to have found the woman and proposed that she accompany him on a trip to Scotland to meet her grandfather, noting her wealth.

With a sense of spookiness hovering in the air, Lana felt overjoyed as the girl smiled and took hold of her hand. Leading the introverted girl into the chamber with an expression of happiness on his face, he conveyed his satisfaction with the situation. Though she didn't engage much in conversation, having the Baron's granddaughter there was enough.

The couple was together, but he would soon depart to receive his payment. Despite the emotional moment, he couldn't ignore the fact that he needed the money due to tough times. As he left, he couldn't help but notice her captivating golden hair - her best feature. The old man then addressed Lana.

Initially, the girl's greeting to Lana was unfriendly, but she quickly changed her demeanor and smiled. Although Lana had suffered the loss of her mother, she persevered in her usual spot and tried to move forward while also providing for herself alone. She stretched out her arms and asked for any spare change that could help improve her current circumstances.

Although having a benevolent grandfather to rely on during tough times is only a fantasy, the protagonist happened upon an individual on the bridge mentioning a girl who resembles her but has different hair color. This person referred

to the doppelganger as wealthy, however, the protagonist questions whether this was meant humorously or not. Regardless, it appears to be a favorable outcome for her.