ON THE QUAI AT SMYRNA
I think this story is one of
the most complicated stories in the book. Actually the plot itself is quite
clear...But on the other hand, I think every reader has such a thought in his
head, "Is there any plot?” Because as for the action, then there is no action
here. But still, one idea which is continued during the whole tale is quite
horrible, tragic and disgusting to some extent. We see only one scene
here: the Greek women who hold their dead babies and don’t want to give them to
anyone. There are many other objects and images that make us feel the dirty
atmosphere, like, for example, dead animals, shouting Greeks, dirt on the
ground. These are the symbols of such a nightmare as the war and all the
inhumanity that it usually wakes up in people. I think the theme of the war is
really interesting for the author, and this is not a surprise. In every story
he describes some events: before, during or after the war. So the story
"On the Quai at Smyrna” isn’t an exception. The war is something that
always breaks one’s hopes and dreams. This is something that makes a huge gap
in one’s life. This is something that destroys one’s life. This is something
that spoils people so much.
But I can’t understand the aim
of the story. It’s not necessary to show people that the war can spoil them
because it’s a revealed fact. To show these anguish and grief again… I think
it’s strange to concentrate your mind only on this side of life.
(by Luck)