discuss the theme of the story The Umbrella?
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Answer:
In The Umbrella by Guy de Maupassant we have the theme of fear, loss, independence, control, appearance and satisfaction. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that de Maupassant may be exploring the theme of fear. Mme Oreille is afraid to go to the Insurance Office. She fears what may happen and it is as though her mind begins to race as she paces up and down outside the office. This may be significant as de Maupassant may be suggesting that Oreille is in charge when it comes to matters outside the family home. It is left to men to challenge others and pursue a grievance. If this is the case then de Maupassant is highlighting the role of the female in society and how they may be confined to the family home. Mme Oreille does after all spend the majority of the story confined to the home which in many ways suggests a gender paralysis. Mme Oreille may be in control of Oreille when he is at home but once he is outside the confines of the family home he is the master of his own destiny. Unlike Mme Oreille who is reliant on money from her husband’s job to provide her with the little bit of independence she has.
The theme of loss is also self-evident in the story. Mme Oreille has suffered the loss of twenty six francs for the two umbrellas and the reader is only too well aware of how important money is to Mme Oreille. There is nothing more important to her than money. She has no children to place a focus on nor does she necessarily have a good marriage she can rely on. She finds it difficult to control Oreille who refuses to go to the Insurance office. In many ways Mme Oreille is alone and lacks the support of those around her. Though some critics might suggest that Mme Oreille places too much of a focus on money. It might be important to remember that this is all she has. At no stage in the story is there any sense of calmness in the Oreille’s relationship. They argue over the umbrellas throughout the entirety of the story. If anything there is a sense that something is missing in the Oreille marriage. There is no sense of closeness between either character.