Premium Essay

The Go-Between

In:

Submitted By simondetlef
Words 367
Pages 2
The Go-Between
This short story ”The Go-Between” is written by Ali Smith in 2009. The short story was written with a bunch of other stories, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the United Nations’ adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The narrator in the short story is a 33 years old former microbiologist from Cameroun, that has ran from his own country and now works as a go-between guide for refugees, that’s seeking a normal life in Europe. He is situated in the Spanish town Ceuta in Morocco, where he is creating contact between the refugees and the international doctors, which are helping. The narrator has tried fleeing a lot of times himself, but it hasn’t worked yet. A lot of the refugees are hit by “the Spanish blindness”, that means they just focus on Spain and getting there. They have paid whatsoever for getting there. “The Network” is what the refugees are paying – paying to getting to Spain. The Network isn’t trusted though.
”All the men in this building suffer from it, Spanish Blindness. All you can see is Spain. All you can think is Spain tonight, Spain tonight. They have paid all their money to the Network, and the Network has promised a boat, maybe tonight. This boat never comes.” (p.4, l.73-75)

The way of writing in this short story plays a big deal. The author, Ali Smith, gets his message through via a very directly way, by using a first person narrator. He’s is taking use of short sentences, which is making the reader feeling more intense with the story. He makes it clear, how the people got/gets treated – and they didn’t get treated fair or good.
”They slashed the tents so they were useless when it rained. They burned the blankets. They collected up the mobiles. They took them away. They took all the food they found.” (p.3, ll.54-56)
The story is kind of personal, but the narrator isn’t mentioning any names and not even

Similar Documents

Free Essay

The Analysis of the Story: from W.S.

...The analysis of the story: From W.S. by L.P. Hartley Leslie Poles Hartley (1895—1972), the son of a solicitor, was educated at Harrow and Balliol College, Oxford and for more than twenty years from 1932 was a fiction reviewer for such periodicals as the Spectator, Sketch, Observer and Time and Tide. He published his first book, a collection of short stories entitled "Night Fears" in 1924. His novel "Eustace and Hilda" (1947) was recognized immediately as a major contribution to English fiction; "The Go-Between" (1953) and "The Hireling" (1957) were later made into internationally successful films. In 1967 he published "The Novelist's Responsibility", a collection of critical essays. L.P. Hartley was a highly skilled narrator and all his tales are admirably told. "W.S." comes from "The Complete Short Stories of L.P. Hartley" published posthumously in 1973. At the beginning of the story the author introduces the main character of it who is Walter Streeter. The first postcard he receives is from Forfar and is anonymous. Usually he answers to the letters but this one didn’t have any address so Walter was relieved that he doesn’t need to answer to it. The photograph of Forfar was uninteresting and he tore it up. About ten days later, Walter receives another postcard, but this time it was from Berwick –on –Tweed. After reading the second letter Walter began to wonder if the sender was a woman or a man. After some time he dismissed the stirrings of curiosity that...

Words: 1106 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

From W.S.

...The analysis of the story: From W.S. by L.P. Hartley Leslie Poles Hartley (1895—1972), the son of a solicitor, was educated at Harrow and Balliol College, Oxford and for more than twenty years from 1932 was a fiction reviewer for such periodicals as the Spectator, Sketch, Observer and Time and Tide. He published his first book, a collection of short stories entitled "Night Fears" in 1924. His novel "Eustace and Hilda" (1947) was recognized immediately as a major contribution to English fiction; "The Go-Between" (1953) and "The Hireling" (1957) were later made into internationally successful films. In 1967 he published "The Novelist's Responsibility", a collection of critical essays. L.P. Hartley was a highly skilled narrator and all his tales are admirably told. "W.S." comes from "The Complete Short Stories of L.P. Hartley" published posthumously in 1973. At the beginning of the story the author introduces the main character of it who is Walter Streeter. The first postcard he receives is from Forfar and is anonymous. Usually he answers to the letters but this one didn’t have any address so Walter was relieved that he doesn’t need to answer to it. The photograph of Forfar was uninteresting and he tore it up. About ten days later, Walter receives another postcard, but this time it was from Berwick –on –Tweed. After reading the second letter Walter began to wonder if the sender was a woman or a man. After some time he dismissed the stirrings of curiosity that...

Words: 343 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

The Go-Between

...”The Go-Between”-by Ali Smith The British writer, Ali Smith, has found much inspiration in Article thirteen in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which says that everybody has the right to freedom of movement within the borders of each state. Approximately seventy years ago, The United Nations took a moral stand against human rights crimes and adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a proclamation of thirty human rights that everyone should be entitled to, starting memorably with Article one: “All human beings are born free and equal.” She wrote the short story “The Go-Between” to celebrate the anniversary of the proclamation. The protagonist of the short story is a 33-year-old man. He was originally from Cameroon, but in the story he is in Ceuta in Northern Morocco, where he helps people cross the border fence to Spain. He is therefore a so-called “border crosser”, a mediator between the French doctors and the refugees, or as the title implies the “Go-Between”. The story focuses on problem that occurs when the refugees who have been forbidden to cross the border, gets help from our protagonist; this ordeal is in no way in accordance to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article fourteen of the declaration, further states that everyone has the right to seek asylum from persecution. This is not accommodated in this story where the refugees are sent back to their original countries as soon as they arrive in Europe. Because of the help that the protagonist...

Words: 922 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Essay the Go-Between

...Essay The Go-Between “So they opened the big gates and rounded us all up with dogs and threw us all out. We were in Europe. They where meant to process us, even if we didn’t have the papers.” (Page 2, line 20-21) Ali Smith is in her short story “The Go-Between” from 2009, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the United Nations (UN´s) adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to ensure human rights. Ali Smith tries throughout her short story to problematize the treatment of the refugees and tries to reference to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to make people aware of the injustice from the past and maybe present. She shows extended focus on Article 13 from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights throughout her short story, Article 13 is the right to freedom of movement. The focus is noticeable in this quote where she describes the inhumane treatment of the border-crossing people. In the short story we follow a 33-year-old man. The man originates from Cameron, but in the story he lives in Ceuta in northern Morocco from where he helps people cross the border to Spain. The man describes throughout the story some of his experiences from helping people cross the border, he describes how his ear got caught in the fence and how he lost one of his fingers in the sea. He also describes the cruelty he has experienced including seeing the police burn the peoples blankets, taking their phones and take all of their food. The protagonist has a strange relationship...

Words: 958 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

The Go-Between Analysis

...Clara Kattrup – The Go-Between “The Go-between” is a short story written by Ali Smith in 2009. It deals with many subjects like illegal refugees, human rights and confusion. The short story takes place both in Spain, and also in the northern Africa. It’s just around the Gibraltar. Few and simple places are a very common feature in short stories, and even though it takes place in even two different countries, it’s still relatively simple. In the short story we only meet one main character, which also is one of the short story features. In the beginning we’re being introduced to a 33 years old man, who lives in Ceuta, in Morocco, right beneath Spain. Once he tried to escape from Cameroun, his country at that time, to Europe but unfortunately it never succeeded, therefore he lives in Ceuta. He’s a go-between man – just like the title says. The meaning of a go-between is a man or woman who is a connection between something or a person who’s between something, like in a dilemma – in this case a connection between Africa and Europe. But I also think that the title symbolizes the 33-years old man who helps other people, his a boarder-crosser, but he’s also between two sides, and he has to make big decisions – a so-called go-between. The man talks about his terrible experiences, and how the illegal refugees are being treated awfully. “You know what Spain is?” is the first sentence in the story, and here we are already involved, and it makes the short story more interesting....

Words: 1223 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Ali Smith's Short Story - the Go-Between

...The Go-Between – Written by Ali Smith In 1948 the United Nations took a moral stand against human rights crimes and adopted the Universal Declaration of human rights. A Proclamation of thirty rights that belong to us all. 'Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.' 'Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.' These words were written in article 13 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and were the inspiration to Ali Smith’s short story ´the Go-Between´. She wrote this story as a celebration of the anniversary of the proclamation. In this short story we follow the 33-year old former microbiologist, who gives us a direct insight into what it means to be African refugees on the border between Morocco and Spain. The narrator is, for some reason, fled from his native Cameroon, and has several times tried to flee across the border to Europe. None of his attempt is successful, and they have cost him part of his ear and a finger. He explains in details about how flight tests are done and the treatment he has received from the authorities. The narrator has abandoned himself to escape and is now settled in the Spanish city Ceuta, located in Morocco. Here he helps people to get over the border fence to Spain. He is a border crosser, a mediator between the French Doctors and the refugees – he is the “Go-Between”. Ali Smith starts his short story by giving us the felling...

Words: 907 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Compare the Main Features of Peasant Society with Those of Tribal Society. Be Sure to Include How the Exchange of Surplus Differs Between Tribal and Peasant Society, and When and How Social Relationships Go Beyond

...(every part is different not common). The second view is the ladder type. This is made up of a string of developmental stages or levels, which are defined by diverse subsistence economies and accompanying levels of socio-political integration. The tribal world was defined as a system by the confronting of indigenous people by explorers or colonialists, later described by anthropologists. On the other hand, peasants are a member of a class of persons who are small farmers or farm labourers of low social rank. This definition however is not that accurate as it varies in different communities and systems. Studies on peasants by Anthropologists took place since 1950 and have been increasing. The main difference between these social groups can be seen by quoting Geertz; ‘’Culture is the fabric of meaning in terms of which human beings interpret their experience and guide that action takes, the... network of social relations. Culture and social structure are... different abstractions from the same phenomena’’. Therefore tribes, with a homogeneous population can be associated with a Cultural structure whilst peasants with a Social one. A factor that can be discussed is the distribution of surplus that is produced...

Words: 886 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Peace In Richard Merrell's The Middle Ground

...From mutual doubts, communication barriers, inadequate physiological and survival needs to intensified fear and how quickly amity vaporized to enmity. He further describes them by stating that “they were the ones who carried the letters, but did not sign and seal them; who memorized the speech on wampum belts, but did not draft it; who translated, but did not speak, at the grand councils; who stood between the tables crowded with colonial and Indian leaders at a treaty banquet to make sure that the liquor and talk flowed freely, but did not join the feast.” (33) The job of these go betweens was simple, they are to prevent or alleviate the consequential dispute between the whites and the Indians. Conrad Weiser, a German immigrant, Shickellamy, Croghan, Post and Montour would "downplay differences and play up-or, if need be, make up-areas of common ideology, common interest, and common experience" (p....

Words: 1651 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Essay

...several definitions, it is not just between boy and girl, not just between husband and wife or not between dad and son. Actually no one can give the truest and deepest meaning of love. Thousands of book related to love, thousands movies and millions definition has been created but no has proved the actual definition of love. The writer of the song “My Heart Will Go on”, Horner James defines love between boy and girl. According to him love is a strong bond once connected nothing can break it. It is trust, believe no matter how far or near you are, which last for a lifetime. This four minute song mirrors the themes of disaster and love from the movie “Titanic”. Every night in my dreams I see you, I feel you That is how I know you, go on The character Rose falls in love with an ordinary boy Jack. The very first phase of her love starts with dreaming about her loving one. Every night she dreams about him, which is strong reason behind knowing him. She holds his hands, go for walk and talks to each other, she really feels like she is in heaven. These lines really says that whenever we fall in love, most of the time we think about him/her. For the further deeper meaning life is the communication between two souls. She promises him that she will never let him go and will dream, feel his love for life time. The phrase “Go on” mean to continue moving forward...

Words: 1040 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

History as Sbq

...May/June 2010: ‘Germany wanted Austria to go to war with Serbia in 1914.’ The tension between European superpowers pursuing their dreams and agendas to expand their powers and retaining their supremacy inched them closer to war. In spite of that, Germany still remained as the focal blame of this crisis as it is believed that it was Germany who wanted Austria to go to war with Serbia in 1914. This essay analyses the judgment placed on Germany on their enthusiastic movements to support Austria going against its rival, Serbia that was said to be equally responsible for the outburst of the war. Source A agrees that it was Germany who wanted Austria to go to war with Serbia through this telegram from Bethmann-Hollweg, the German Chancellor to the German Ambassador to Austria. It is clearly seen that Germany had kept herself aware of the on-going crisis and that Germany gave her utmost support to Austria by providing Austria the ‘Blank Cheque’. Germany too, had to fulfill her obligations as a member of the Triple Alliance. Furthermore, it was the ‘Blank Cheque’ that boosted Austria’s courage to impose a harsh ultimatum to Serbia. Source A is accounted to be a reliable source as a chancellor, who knew his country’s policies very well, wrote it. Moreover, this telegram was written in times of the crisis. However, it can also be deemed questionable as Germany may have had hidden agendas for her own interests such as her expansionist policy; ‘Weltpolitik.’ This source is further...

Words: 1423 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

America Vs School In Germany

...School in America vs School in Germany I have been grown up in Germany for 15 years and of course I had to go there to school. But know I have the opportunity to experience a school year in an American high school. And what I recognize that there are many differences between them. In Germany there are three different kinds of high schools, which start from the fifth to 10th or 12th grade. The grades you receive decide which kind of high school you go to after the elementary school. In Germany they use a grade system from 1, which is like an A, to 6, which is like an F. So if you had, in your elementary school, very good grades like only 1’s or 2’s, you will go to the highest High School, which is called “Gymnasium.” If you had good grades like 2’s and 3’s, you would go to the normal school, and when you have worse grades than this, you would go to the lowest school. Germany uses this school system because they think it is the easiest way for having for everybody the choice to learn on his own level....

Words: 627 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

The Gap Between the Official Curriculum and Actual Curriculum

...QUESTION The gap between the official curriculum and actual curriculum is often as the result of the misuse of available instructional time. Discuss. The term ‘curriculum’, was derived from the Greek word ‘curere’ which literarily means ‘racecourse. As a broad concept, the term ‘curriculum’ does not have a concise or precise definition. However, it can be explained in terms of academic content as the planned interaction of learners and instructors with instructional content, materials, resources and processes for evaluating the attainment of educational objectives. Simply put, it is the set of courses, coursework and their contents offered at a school or educational and training institutions. We have several scenarios of the usage of the term, curriculum. Some of these are official, actual, null, formal, informal, hidden, enacted, experienced and unintended curricula. Nevertheless, the concentration of this work is on the gap between the official and actual curricula. The official curriculum is the administratively and legally documented programme of study and other aspects of school life, subject matter, skills and values that policy makers expect learners to be taught. It usually gives the basic plan of lessons to be followed, including objectives, sequence and materials. Some components of the official curriculum include the syllabus, timetable, official calendars, official list of recommended books, content and style of final and intermediate examination. Difficulties...

Words: 1490 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Movie Michael vs. Texit Tobit

...shall first go over all the ways these stories are similar to each other. Then I will go over the differences between them. There are many similarities between the two stories and I will split them up into two categories; first I will give examples of all the obvious similarities between them, then I shall explain some similarities that have to be explained more deeply. Some of the more obvious similarities have to do with the general plot of these stories. They both include similar main characters, a younger man, a young woman, and a dog. In both stories the man must travel far. There is an angel in them. The angel is sent to help the man and woman with their problems, and the angel succeeds in heping them. The angel is with them for the whole journey. Also the angel gives good advice and leads the characters to doing the right thing in the story. Those were some simple similarites between the stories, now I will look a little deeper into them to find some more similarites. In both stories the angel does not tell the characters that he was sent by god to help them. In the movie Michael the angel loves to battle whenever he can, and in the story of Tobit the angel fights the demon Asmodeus. Eventually the angels identity is revealed to the characters of the stories. In both the woman character has been married several times. And finally they both have nice endings where the characters live happily ever after. Now I will go over the differences between the two stories...

Words: 919 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Paper 1

...Caitlin Craven Professor Truffin ENGL 102-10 17 February 2016 Gone Fishin’ As a tremendous fish hung at the end of the line, the fisherman holds it beside the boat pondering what to do with this fish. The fisherman then carefully surveys the fish and all of its features. After thoroughly studying the fish, the lines were cut and the fish is set free. Many readers may wonder why the fisherman ultimately decides to let the fish go, yet in Elizabeth Bishop’s “The Fish”, the fisherman must make the ultimate decision of whether to keep the fish or turn it loose by identifying with the fish and its condition. Through visual imagery and a sense of pity, a relationship between the fisherman and the fish is formed leading to the ultimate decision to let the fish go. With this “battered and venerable and homely” fish hanging from the hook from his mouth, the fisherman analyzes the rough, scaly skin and large eyes with sympathy (8-9). Looking at the fish, it appears to be old, because of its “brown skin” that “hung in strips like ancient wallpaper” (10-11). Even if the fish is “old and grotesque to the untrained or empathetic eye,” the reader becomes fixed on this fish that is “blurred and imperfect” (McCabe 95). With the flaws and imperfections of the fish, the fisherman starts to pity the fish. The fisherman once again sympathizes with the fish because it has withstood “barnacles forming on his skin, cut gills, and five big hooks,” which still remain (16-17). The fish...

Words: 1362 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

The Value of Education

...suggests many students are only in pursuit of a higher education because they lack societal value and purpose after graduating high school, resulting in them feeling obligated to go to college in hopes of obtaining structure and a high paying job. Unlike Bird, I believe a college degree holds a lifetime of abundant benefits. It is our duty as a society to push the value and credibility of higher education, as it can open many doors one couldn’t possibly achieve without some sort of earned credibility or degree. In “College is a Waste of Time and Money,” Bird tells us while lecturing across US college campuses, she came to realize that many students aren’t in school because they want to learn, but more so because they felt obligated to attend since they are not highly valued in our society. She suggests young adults go to college for several different reasons; some may go with a genuine interest in learning, some may go in order to get away from home, yet still be supported by their parents and taxpayers, but most go because it’s the ‘normal’ thing to do. For the most part, I agree that young people go to college because it is what is expected of them. It is almost as if society gives them no other acceptable options, other than to head straight to college right after graduating high school. While some may go off the grid, take a gap year, travel, work, or do something else instead of going to college, it will still always be expected of them to eventually pursue a college degree;...

Words: 1542 - Pages: 7