Ls.5 The Open Window -Saki – summary

Ls.5 The Open Window    -Saki

INTRODUCTION:

 The open window is written by Saki(1870-1916). Saki is the pen-name of Hector Hugh Munro, a famous short stories and novels writer born in Scotland. ‘The Open Window’ is a short story that makes intensely interesting reading. It presents to us a very self possessed young lady of fifteen whose speciality is ‘mischief and framing tale at short notice’. Mr Nuttel who was supposed to be undergoing nerve-cure was terribly frightened by her story. The element of horror fades away, leading to a pleasant surprise at the end.

CONTENT:

Framton Nuttel, an eccentric (strange) hypochondriac (a person who is always worried about his health and belives he is ill even though he is alright), has moved to the country on his doctor’s advice to effect a cure for a nervous condition from which he was suffering. His sister has lived in the area he visits and has given him letters of introduction to his new neighbors. The story concerns his visit to the home of one of these neighbors, Mrs. Sappleton.

Mr. Nuttel first meets Mrs. Sappleton’s niece Vera, who entertains him until her aunt is available. She deceived him by telling false story about her aunt. She told him that her aunt’s husband and her two brothers had gone out with their dog for hunting three years ago and never came back and they are dead .  The aunt was driven to distraction by her grief and loss, left the window open thereafter, anticipating that “they will come back some day” with “the little brown spaniel that was lost with them, and walk in that window just as they used to do.” She told the story in such a way that Framton believed it.

When Mrs. Sappleton comes to Mr. Nuttel she explains why she kept the window open, apparently confirming Vera’s story. He gives  horrible expression when Mrs. Sappleton said that her husband and brothers would be home soon from the shooting. To avoid that horrifying discussion  Mr. Nuttel then tells Mrs. Sappleton about his nervous disorder and his need to avoid any “mental excitement.” At that very moment Mrs. Sappleton sees her husband and brothers returning from their hunt. Veera was a good actor, she appears to be horrified by the sight of them. The nervous Mr. Nuttel is therefore terrified and believed them to be ghost and without waiting even a second he dashed outside the house.

Spinning another tale, Vera explains to the newly arrived hunting party and her aunt that Mr. Framton fled when he saw the brown spaniel because of his severe fear of dogs.

CONCLUSION:

This story shows Veera’s remarkable ability to create convincing fiction, instantly and crack practical jokes. She was very clever, resourceful and naughty. She was very good fabricator.