Introduction

Bernard Malamud's "The Prison," published in 1950, is a short story that explores themes of regret, missed opportunities, and the feeling of being trapped in an unfulfilling life. Set in New York City, the story occurs during a period of significant social and economic change in the post-war United States. 

The struggles of working-class individuals like the protagonist, Tommy Castelli, mirror the anxieties and uncertainties many Americans face trying to navigate their post-war reality. Through Tommy's internal conflict and the cyclical nature of events, Malamud explores the human tendency to repeat past mistakes and the difficulty of escaping the limitations imposed by both personal choices and societal circumstances.

Plot Summary

The story begins by providing background on how Tommy ended up in prison. He is trapped not in a prison of metal bars and guard towers but rather in a life he never wanted. When he was younger, Tommy, known as Tony, dreams of escaping his poverty-stricken neighborhood. He drops out of school and runs with a group of delinquents and petty criminals. He flees the state to avoid a dull life and marriage that his family tries to arrange. After a few months, feeling powerless and resigned, Tommy returns and passively accepts this new life path as a husband and candy store proprietor.

From time to time, Tommy tries to add excitement to his dull life. He does small side jobs for a crime syndicate and puts an illegal slot machine in his store. These never last long and usually cause conflicts with his wife, Rosa. Mostly, Tommy spends his time stewing in resentment.

Time moldered in his heart and all he could think of the whole morning was going to sleep in the afternoon, and he would wake up with the sour remembrance of the long night in the store ahead of him while everybody else was doing as he damn pleased.

A ten-year-old girl comes to the store regularly to buy colored tissue paper. Tommy observes her and feels a flicker of sympathy as he recognizes the limitations she faces living with her harsh mother. One day, he notices her stealing candy and wrestles with the urge to intervene. The girl's attempt at theft reminds Tommy of his uncle Dom, who spent time in jail after a life as a scofflaw. He feels a deep desire to help this girl avoid a similar fate.

He felt he should do something for her, warn her to cut it out before she got into a jam and fouled up her whole life.

Tommy is torn between his helplessness and a desire to help the girl. He is afraid that he will get too emotional in front of the child or scare her if he calls out her thievery. Tommy attempts various methods to stop her from stealing without directly confronting her. He clears the candy she usually takes, hoping she will understand the message. However, she continues, seemingly oblivious to his actions.

As Tommy's attempts fail, his frustration mounts. He feels powerless to change his life and cannot influence the girl's path. His internal battle culminates in a decision to leave a note under a candy bar, urging her to stop stealing or face lifelong suffering.

Tommy feels deeply disappointed and lost when the girl fails to appear at her regular time the following week. Fueled by a sense of hopelessness, he considers leaving his life behind. Tommy goes upstairs for his usual early afternoon nap. Meanwhile, Rosa discovers the girl stealing and violently confronts her.

Tommy returns to the shop and tries to protect the girl, even hitting Rosa in the process. The situation escalates further when the girl's mother arrives and smacks her daughter. The girl futilely tries to pacify her mother by telling her she took a candy bar for her, too. The mother calls the girl a thief and threatens to punish her when they get home. As the girl is dragged out of the store, she turns around to stick her tongue out at Tommy.