A.E.C. Out of Business by V.S. Pritchett

• A.E.C. Out of Business by V. S. Pritchett is a short story delving into themes of disillusionment, the decline of British industry, and the changing social setting through the encounter between a salesman and a struggling business owner.

Plot Summary

• Mr. Goolding, a resilient, aging salesman for an American firm, seeks out Mr. Foreman, the proprietor of a failing English firm.
• Goolding arrives at Foreman's factory hoping to sell equipment, specifically a thread grinder, believing it can help Foreman's business.
• Foreman is a defeated man, burdened by the factory’s decline and past misfortunes, including a troubled son.
• Despite Foreman’s initial disinterest and pessimism, Goolding continues, driven by professional pride and a desire to make a sale in adverse conditions.
• Throughout their interaction, the story shows the dire state of Foreman’s business and deep weariness.
• Goolding eventually gets a flicker of interest from Foreman, not in the thread grinder, but in the possibility of selling his business to Goolding's American contacts.
• The story has no definitive sale, but a sense of Goolding’s tenacity and Foreman’s resignation to the decline of his business remains.

Main Characters

• Mr. Goolding: An experienced, Americanized English salesman, characterized by persistence, adaptability, and a somewhat insensitive optimism, who has an eye for opportunity and is determined to make a sale despite the grim circumstances.
• Mr. Foreman: The owner of a failing English factory, Foreman represents the decline of traditional British industry, and appears world-weary, defeated, and burdened by personal and professional troubles.

Themes

• Decline of British Industry: The story vividly portrays the decline of traditional British manufacturing when faced with American industrial might, in which Foreman’s factory is antiquated, inefficient, and struggling to compete.
• Disillusionment: Both characters display disillusionment, Foreman with his business and life, while Goolding’s relentless salesmanship masks a potential disillusionment with the changing industrial landscape.
• Tenacity vs. Resignation: Goolding demonstrates determination contrasting with Foreman’s resignation to his fate.
• The Impact of Modernization: The narrative explores the impact of American industrial practices on the UK and the sense of displacement felt by those tied to older, less efficient ways of doing business.
• Generational Differences: Foreman’s troubled son, hinted at in the story, suggests a generational gap and the struggles of younger generations within a declining industrial environment.
• The Nature of Salesmanship: The story provides insight into the nature of salesmanship, highlighting the importance of persistence, adaptability, and understanding customer needs (or lack thereof).

Key Points

• The setting is a dilapidated, outdated factory somewhere in England.
• The factory symbolizes the decline of British industry.
• The atmosphere is bleak and reflects Foreman’s pessimism and despair.

Style and Tone

• The story is written in a realistic style with detailed descriptions of the characters and their surroundings.
• The tone is somber and melancholic, reflecting the themes of decline and disillusionment.
• Pritchett uses dialogue effectively to reveal the characters’ personalities and attitudes.
• The prose is precise and evocative, capturing the atmosphere of the factory and the emotional states of the characters.

Symbolism

• The factory symbolizes the decline of British industry and the fading past.
• Goolding’s modern equipment represents the encroachment of American industrial practices.
• Foreman’s weariness symbolizes the burden of the past and the struggle to adapt to change.

Key points

• The story is a commentary on the changing economic landscape and the decline of traditional industries.
• It explores the contrast between American optimism and British resignation.
• The characters are well-developed and represent different aspects of the changing industrial world.
• The setting plays a crucial role in creating the story’s atmosphere and reinforcing its themes.

This short story explores disillusionment and struggling business. A salesman encounters a defeated factory owner. Despite the owner's pessimism, the salesman persists, driven by professional pride.