Class Notes
Class: XI Topic: The Address (Snapshots)
By Marga Minco
Subject: ENGLISH
MARGA MINCO
Marga Minco is a Dutch journalist and author. She was born on March 31,
1920 in the village of Ginneken, in the southwest of the Netherlands.
CENTRAL IDEA OF THE STORY
“The Address” by Marga Minco is indeed an inspiring story which sheds
an adequate amount of light on the importance of letting things go. It
further reiterates that both past and future are illusions, and all we have
with us is the present.
The story clearly brings to light the fact that holding onto the past can be
an extremely painful exercise. It goes without saying that forgetting the
moments and the experiences that torment you can be a really daunting
task, but once you accept your past wholeheartedly, you tend to get a big
weight off your back. The author, despite being attached to memories of
her past, had the courage to leave them behind in order to make a fresh
beginning.
PORTRAYAL OF Human Emotions:
we learn the intricate emotions of humans like trust, hope and betrayal as
well as the ill-effects of war.
‘The Address’ by Marga Minco throws light on a multitude of human
emotions. On her first visit to 46, Marconi Street (Mrs Dorling’s house),
the author was given a cold shoulder by Mrs Dorling. This act of Mrs
Dorling is enough to tell us that the author’s mother was betrayed by Mrs
, Dorling.
The author, on the other hand, was being overpowered by emotional
turmoil and sadness after Mrs Dorling hadn’t recognized her. After being
treated unpleasantly by Mrs Dorling on her very first visit to the house,
the author developed an awful impression of Mrs Dorling. To her, she was
a thief who had refused to recognize her as she didn’t want to return the
possessions that the author’s mother had left behind.
On her second visit, the author was welcomed by Mrs Dorling’s daughter,
who, unlike her mother, asked the author to come in and even offered
her a cup of tea. The author, while running her eyes around the house,
saw a few things her mother had left with Mrs Dorling. She also observed
that Mrs Dorling’s daughter loves those possessions quite dearly and is
proud of possessing them. In the end, the author decided against taking
her possessions along as she felt that all these possessions would remind
her of her family members who had died during the course of the war.
INTRODUCTION TO THE STORY
The story is about the human predicament that follows the pre-War and
Post-War period. Mrs. S who was a Jews was a rich lady. Whereas, Mrs.
Dorling was a non-Jews. The girl, daughter of Mrs. S, had lost her house
and her mother during the war and now she had decided to come back to
take her possessions from Mrs. Dorling, an acquaintance whose address
was given by her mother years ago. When she reached the house, the
woman treated her with a cold reception and didn’t let her into the
house. She decided to go back anyway and then she met her daughter
who let her in and told her to wait inside. When she saw all the
possessions in front of her, she couldn’t connect with them and decided
to leave the house.
THE ADDRESS : SUMMARY
After ringing the doorbell of Mrs. Dorling who lived at Number 46,
Marconi Street, the protagonist was given a cold reception and Mrs
Class: XI Topic: The Address (Snapshots)
By Marga Minco
Subject: ENGLISH
MARGA MINCO
Marga Minco is a Dutch journalist and author. She was born on March 31,
1920 in the village of Ginneken, in the southwest of the Netherlands.
CENTRAL IDEA OF THE STORY
“The Address” by Marga Minco is indeed an inspiring story which sheds
an adequate amount of light on the importance of letting things go. It
further reiterates that both past and future are illusions, and all we have
with us is the present.
The story clearly brings to light the fact that holding onto the past can be
an extremely painful exercise. It goes without saying that forgetting the
moments and the experiences that torment you can be a really daunting
task, but once you accept your past wholeheartedly, you tend to get a big
weight off your back. The author, despite being attached to memories of
her past, had the courage to leave them behind in order to make a fresh
beginning.
PORTRAYAL OF Human Emotions:
we learn the intricate emotions of humans like trust, hope and betrayal as
well as the ill-effects of war.
‘The Address’ by Marga Minco throws light on a multitude of human
emotions. On her first visit to 46, Marconi Street (Mrs Dorling’s house),
the author was given a cold shoulder by Mrs Dorling. This act of Mrs
Dorling is enough to tell us that the author’s mother was betrayed by Mrs
, Dorling.
The author, on the other hand, was being overpowered by emotional
turmoil and sadness after Mrs Dorling hadn’t recognized her. After being
treated unpleasantly by Mrs Dorling on her very first visit to the house,
the author developed an awful impression of Mrs Dorling. To her, she was
a thief who had refused to recognize her as she didn’t want to return the
possessions that the author’s mother had left behind.
On her second visit, the author was welcomed by Mrs Dorling’s daughter,
who, unlike her mother, asked the author to come in and even offered
her a cup of tea. The author, while running her eyes around the house,
saw a few things her mother had left with Mrs Dorling. She also observed
that Mrs Dorling’s daughter loves those possessions quite dearly and is
proud of possessing them. In the end, the author decided against taking
her possessions along as she felt that all these possessions would remind
her of her family members who had died during the course of the war.
INTRODUCTION TO THE STORY
The story is about the human predicament that follows the pre-War and
Post-War period. Mrs. S who was a Jews was a rich lady. Whereas, Mrs.
Dorling was a non-Jews. The girl, daughter of Mrs. S, had lost her house
and her mother during the war and now she had decided to come back to
take her possessions from Mrs. Dorling, an acquaintance whose address
was given by her mother years ago. When she reached the house, the
woman treated her with a cold reception and didn’t let her into the
house. She decided to go back anyway and then she met her daughter
who let her in and told her to wait inside. When she saw all the
possessions in front of her, she couldn’t connect with them and decided
to leave the house.
THE ADDRESS : SUMMARY
After ringing the doorbell of Mrs. Dorling who lived at Number 46,
Marconi Street, the protagonist was given a cold reception and Mrs
