The Open Window

The Open Window

                                                      By Saki (H. H. Munro)

Analysis : 

·      ‘Open Window’ is a humorous, interesting and witty story written by Saki who is regarded as one of the greatest short story writers in English language.

·      Hector Hugh Munro used the pseudonym ‘Saki’ to write several well-known short stories. He is known to write witty, thrilling and suspenseful stories.

·      The story ‘Open Window’ is a beautiful blend of wit, humour and irony and a perfect example of the best story possessing all the required elements of a story – interest, surprise, narration and plot.

     It is an interesting story about Mr. Framton Nuttel who was a patient of nervous system and how was troubled by a clever and quick witted girl, Vera who made a practical joke on him using her gift of story weaving.

Summary / Synopsis :

Mr. Framton Nuttel was a patient of nervous weakness and he was suggested by the doctors to change place and meet new people. His sister gave him letters of introduction of some people whom she knew because he would feel lonely and disturbed and his condition would become worse if he remained aloof.

Frampton moved to a less crowded and peaceful town where his sister lived four years ago. There, he visited Mrs. Sappleton, one of his sister’s acquaintances. Mrs. Sappleton took some time to come downstairs and he spent some time with her fifteen years old niece, Vera.

Vera, while talking to him, got to know that he knew least about the people here. She created a story about how her aunt’s husband and two younger brothers had been engulfed in a bog and died a tragic death when they had gone for hunting in a marsh. This tragedy happened exactly on that very day three years ago. She also told Framton that her aunt never accepted their deaths and believed that some day they would return and enter through the window that Mrs. Sappleton kept open even in October afternoon so that they may enter the house after crossing the lawn.

Mrs. Sappleton entered the room and started talking about her husband and her brothers who would be coming back after hunting. She talked about all that Vera had already told him. Framton is deeply disturbed by her continuous talks about the persons whom he believed to be dead. He tried to tell that his doctor had advised him to take complete rest and avoid mental excitement but Mrs. Sappleton didn’t pay much attention as she was more concerned about her husband and brothers who would be back any moment.

Suddenly, there was horror in his eyes when he saw three male figures dressed in hunting gear approaching the house along with a spaniel. He felt that he had seen ghosts and ran out of the house with a dash. A cyclist had to run into the hedge to avoid collision with him.

Mrs. Sappleton’s husband wanted to know about Mr. Nuttel and the reason why he fled out like a mad person. Vera explained that Framton fled as soon as he saw the spaniel because he was scared of dogs severely.  Spinning another tale, she told that once, he had been chased by the hunting dogs to a cemetery on the banks of the Ganges, where he had fallen into a newly dug grave and the dogs had frightened him with their snarling and growling throughout the night.

Examples of Irony in the Story

·      It is ironical when Mrs. Sappleton keep talking about the open window, hunting, her husband and young brothers when Framton tells her that he requires rest and no mental excitement.

·      Mr. Frampton needs peace, no excitement, no anxiety and that’s he visits Mrs. Sappleton’s place but there receives only anxiety and excitement.

·      When Mrs. Sappleton mentions that Framton fled away as if he had seen ghosts, she actually didn’t know that it was truth according to Framton.