set up this background so that readers can realize the hatred that lies between these two men, a hatred that goes far beyond reason or circumstances. Inevitably the two men meet face-to-face.

The two enemies stood glaring at one another for a long silent moment. Each had a rifle in his hand, each had hate in his heart and murder uppermost in his mind.

If this was a simple story of vengeance, one would kill the other, and that would be the end. However, Saki's intention is to point out the insanity of their long-standing feud, so he causes a tree branch to fall upon them, pinning them down and forcing them to communicate with each other. At first they wish "death and damnation" upon one another, but as no one comes to rescue them, they begin to reflect upon their differences. "The old fierce hatred" dissipates, and in its place comes respect and even affection. We see that the lesson of Saki's story is that differences can be resolved and that people who have been traditionally enemies can become friends.

However, as the wolves appear, there is a final lesson. If grudges are held too long, the opposing parties may not have time to work them out before they die. In other words, it is not only important to reconcile with your enemies but also to do so as soon as possible.

One lesson that the narrative of "The Interlopers" presents is that people should not become mired in issues that are not essential to the quality of their lives.

The plot of Saki's story revolves around an ancient grudge that two young men have allowed to become foremost in their lives as they have inflamed the hatred between their two families, who once disputed a small tract of land:

The feud might, perhaps, have died down or been compromised if the personal ill-will of the two men had not stood in the way; as boys they had thirsted for one another's blood, as men each prayed that misfortune might fall on the other.

Of course, the old maxim "Be careful what you wish for" is also applicable to the narrative of "The Interlopers," as well as the senselessness of their feud, since misfortune does, indeed, befall the two enemies. Unfortunately, it has taken a disaster to effect a change of heart in the two men, and as fate would have it, this realization comes all too late. For it is only after the two men are pinioned under the fallen branches of a huge beech tree, lying hurt and helpless, that Ulrich von Gradwitz arrives at the understanding of the real insignificance of his feud with Georg Znaeym in light of their life and death situation. Unfortunately, when the two old enemies finally put away their feud, it is too late because they are confronted with death in the shape of fierce wolves who hear their cries for help.

There are at least two main messages being delivered to readers in “The Interlopers.”  First, the author is trying to tell us that it is important to let go of our grievances before it is too late.  Second, the author is trying to show us that the plans that human beings make can easily be upended and destroyed by nature or, perhaps, by fate.

In this story, von Gradwitz and Znaeym hate each other for no good reason. Their hatred has come about because of a lawsuit between their grandfathers.  Because of this event that really had nothing to do with them, they hate each other enough to go out on this stormy night, hoping for the chance to kill one another.  Once the tree falls on them, they come to realize that they actually have things in common and that there is no reason for them to hate one another. Sadly for them, they are not able (we assume) to make good on this reconciliation because they are going to be killed by the wolves.  This is meant to show us that we need to let go of our private little hatreds before they end up destroying us.  We need to give them up while we are still able to do so.

Secondly, this story is meant to show us how futile it is, in a way, for humans to make plans.  The two men in this story are thwarted by nature not once, but twice.  First, the tree falls on them, preventing them from trying to kill one another.  Then, the wolves come, presumably preventing them from helping one another and becoming friends as they plan to do.  This imparts to us the idea that our human hopes, dreams, and plans can be blown apart by forces larger than ourselves.

Since Ulrich von Gradwitz has been a boy, he has had an antipathy for Georg Znaeym. In the exposition of "The Interlopers," despite the bad weather, Ulrich ventures out in the hope of meeting his mortal enemy. The wind is blowing and animals are running around and not sleeping as they normally would.  He ignores the signs of bad weather in anticipation of meeting his enemy "with hate in his heart and murder uppermost in his mind."

But, it is this consuming hatred that causes Ulrich von Gradwitz and George Znaeym to find themselves face to face on this turbulent night. If there were no feud, they would have been in the comfort of their homes.  Thus, they are indirectly the cause of their becoming pinned under the branches of the falling beech tree struck by lightning.  And, while this situation does bring about Ulrich's change of heart and the eventual amelioration between the two men, it comes too late.

And, one moral lesson of Saki's ironic story may well be a caution that people should weigh the importance of their enmity toward others.  For, it is certainly not worth the sacrifice of life. In the end, von Gradwitz and Znaeym have resolved their differences, but as fate would have it, the resolution comes too late as many a good resolution often does.

Another lesson contained in Saki's story is that a people should never underestimate the forces of nature.  The storm which comes to the forests of von Gradwitz contains more force than his hatred, and the wolves prove that they have savage domain.  Only for a time are both men silent, turning over in their minds the wonderful changes that this dramatic reconciliation would bring about:

 In the cold, gloomy forest, with the wind tearing in fitful gusts through the naked branches and whistling round the tree- trunks, they lay and waited....

As they lay and wait, the men are vulnerable to the forces of Nature and whatever comes. When they hear the cries, von Gradwitz recognizes that the wolves approach them and laughs, "unstrung with hideous fear." Truly, man cannot defeat the forces of Nature.

As with most texts, multiple themes are present. Here are a few ... 1. "Man is insignificant to nature." This is apparent when two very powerful men are trapped under a tree and then are ultimately killed by a pack of wolves. 2. "Holding a grudge benefits no one." The grudge that the two men have against each other leads to their death. If they had forgiven each other and moved on, neither would have died.

The moral of the story is to lay aside feuds or arguments because they could lead down the path of destruction. Had Georg and Ulrich not been in the woods hunting each other in order to claim ownership of a worthless piece of land that their families had been feuding over for generations, they might not have met their fates with the wolves that night. Each man allowed this feud to consume him even though neither man really used this piece of land dividing their estates anyway. By the time the men were ready to lay aside their differences while trapped beneath the tree, it was already too late for their rescuers were not people, but a pack of wolves. The moral is to learn to compromise and resolve differences before they lead to the destruction of one's life.

If you want to know more about themes instead of morals like enmity (the ill feelings that the men felt toward one another), social class (the fact that the men came from different social statuses), or even man and nature (the fact that the men are felled by a tree and a pack of wolves), then check out the link below.

In addition to "The Interlopers," there have been a number of literary works which have included feuds between families: Romeo and Juliet with the Montagues and the Capulets, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn with the Grangerfords and Shepherdsons, the Tewksburys, a family of sheepherders, and the cattle-raising Grahams, and, of course, the legendary Hatfields and the McCoys. With all of the animosity attached to such feuds, the outcomes for them have been deadly in all cases. Indeed, such hatred never leads to anything but tragic consequences.

• One of the morals of this story by Saki in which there is the feud between Ulrich von Gradwitz and Georg Znaeym is that hatred often has dire and lasting consequences.

Von Gradwitz has been so consumed with hatred that he spends countless hours and manpower patrolling his land against his mortal enemy. He has filled his heart with hatred and lost sight of what is really valuable: friendship and love. In the end, the hatred of the two men costs them their lives as Georg and his men move stealthily in the night onto Ulrich's land while Ulrich patrols.

• Another moral is, perhaps, more far-reaching; that is, it is more universally true for all men. Whenever hatred fills a man's heart, he loses sight of what is truly valuable and, in so doing, often loses opportunities to become a better and more fulfilled person. 

Once Georg and Ulrich are trapped under the branches of the tree felled by the lightning, they each have nothing but time to sit with their own thoughts. Initially, they exchange curses for each other, but after some time, their thoughts become more internal and existential.

An idea was slowly forming and growing in his brain, an idea that gained strength every time that he looked across at the man who was fighting so grimly against pain and exhaustion. In the pain and languor that Ulrich himself was feeling the old fierce hatred seemed to be dying down.

Finally, Ulrich offers his flask to his old enemy, and then he offers his friendship. "Neighbour, if you will help me to bury the old quarrel I – I will ask you to be my friend.”

• A third moral is that sometimes a man must face death before he sees lucidly. 

Faced with death, a man's thoughts focus on elemental questions and petty issues fade. Both Ulrich and Georg realize that they have more to gain in being friends than in being enemies. Georg responds to Ulrich's offer of friendship with a happy speculation:

"How the whole region would stare and gabble if we rode into the market square together. No one living can remember seeing a Znaeym and a von Gradwitz talking to one another in friendship. And what peace there would be among the forester folk if we ended our feud to-night."

• A fourth moral is that one should not postpone opportunities for self-improvement and such values as friendship.

Unfortunately, it has taken their brush with death before Ulrich and George reconcile.