Topics for Further Study
Last Updated on July 29, 2019, by eNotes Editorial. Word Count: 194
Jim, who is a sailor on a passenger ship, is well dressed and carries a large amount of cash. Do some research to find out what passenger ships were like in the days before air travel. Is Jim’s affluence realistic? What might have been his job on the ship?
Jim’s final words at the end of the story— ‘‘Daddy-O, drop dead’’—are ambiguous, especially since he ‘‘flashed a grin’’ as he said them. What do you think Jim was thinking and feeling at that moment?
Discuss the three women who appear or are mentioned in the story. What character types do they represent? What do they have in common with one another, and how are they different?
What possible reasons might Wright have had for setting the story in Copenhagen? What role does the setting play in the story’s mood and effectiveness? Do you think another location would have been more effective?
Wright implies more about Jim and Lena’s relationship than he explains. What can you infer about their relationship, and what clues allow you to make these inferences? What do you think will happen between them in the future?
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