Clapham Junction By Paul Theroux :: essays research papers

*Meaning of the title A junction is a vagabond where roads come together or such as in this story break up in different directions. This regers to the end, where Mrs. Etterick asks for one single and one slip by to Sunbury, please. Mrs. Etterick is going to drop her retarded daughter, Gina, at a special institution in Sunbury for Christmas. She doesnt want her daughter around their ways are separated in the station (although Mrs. Etterick travels with Gina to Sunbury).Clapham is a word that is often used by Theroux (the writer) in his opposite short stories (not in this book).Narrator The narrator is an omniscient and unintrusive narrator he kat onces everything only if he doesnt give a comment.Hints in the story * In the beginning they are talking about Gina and Mrs. Etterick says that hers is not the sort of melancholy that can be cured in a place like Sunbury. We dont eff whats in Sunbury but we know that theres something with Gina that cannot be cured there she has a dise ase.* Cox asks Mrs. Etterick Are you going away for Christmas? and a bit further he asks So you might be alone? and she answers Im not sure.* p.111 They hear Ginas present a transistor. Mrs. Etterick explains it I clear-cut to give Gina her present earlycharactersAll the characters (4-Mrs.Etterick/Rudge/Cox/Gina) are telling stories but the important thing is that they dont listen to each other, they constantly interrupt each other they re very selfish in a certain way but they apparently work in the same company/building Cox says that When I didnt see you in your office (p.111) ... And Rudge said that is was a party with all the secretaries. Another similarity is that they sill dont know what theyre going to do with Christmas (where/with who?). Mrs. Diana Etterick She has a daughter, Gina who is nearly thirty but shes retarded. She lost her husband Richard (who works at the university) in Thailand (while they were living there) to a twenty-one year old Chinese girl, who was determ ined to leave China. Theyre both now in Australia while shes alone (except for now). Shes very cynic avout that - p.112 Rudge asks Was it a tropical disease? Yes, replies Diana she was about 21... She hates Christmas she didnt went to the party at work and on p.112 she says In Bangkok, you never know it was Christmas and Id like to spend the next eight days in bed,watching rubbish television.