The Telegram Critical Essay PDF

**The telegram** A short story which has a theme that interests me is \"The Telegram\" by Iain Crichton Smith. The short story shows the crisis and anxiety that wartime imposes on both soldiers and civilians alike. Set in a small Scottish village during World War II, the narrative centres on two wo...

**The telegram** A short story which has a theme that interests me is \"The Telegram\" by Iain Crichton Smith. The short story shows the crisis and anxiety that wartime imposes on both soldiers and civilians alike. Set in a small Scottish village during World War II, the narrative centres on two women---a stern, "thin woman" and a fragile "fat woman"---who anxiously await the arrival of a telegram that could potentially bring devastating news about their sons serving in the war. Through powerful characterisation, vivid imagery, and symbolic elements, Smith unravels the impact of war on individuals and communities. The contrast between the thin woman and the fat woman serves as a device to explore the psychological elements of wartime experience. The thin woman, portrayed as an outsider in the village due to her distant and intellectual manor, represents the isolation and emotional detachment that often happens in the uncertainty of wartime. Her stern exterior masks an inner turmoil driven by the fear of loss. On the contrary the fat woman, deeply rooted in the community and more emotional, represents the collective fear that the village feels. Through these characters, Smith illustrates how war's shadow stretches across all societal strata, sowing seeds of anxiety irrespective of personal backgrounds or social standing. The telegram in the story is an ominous greeting of potential tragedy, symbolising the inescapable grasp of war on civilian lives. The telegram\'s arrival brings with it so much tension, forging a palpable atmosphere of dread and anticipation. The very image of the telegram conveys the random and impartial cruelty of war, where the news it bears can alter lives at once. The looming presence of the \'elderly postman\' with the telegram serves as a reminder of mortality and the fragile connections of humans during times of conflict. Smith adds descriptive language and stark imagery to encapsulate the emotional state of the characters and the overall theme of war\'s devastation. The village setting, with its \"tiny houses\" and \"bare island landscape,\" mirrors the desolation brought by war on the human spirit. The quote "they were like two birds 1 fat domestic bird perhaps, the other more aquiline, more gaunt\..." Shows that the imagery of the two women highlights the difference between them the word domestic suggests that the fat woman is more homely and friendly whilst describing the thin woman as a Buzzard, suggests she is dangerous, aloof. We are made to feel an immediate dislike for the thin woman, whilst the fat woman comes across as far more likeable. This reflects the villager's feelings towards these women and highlights the separation between them as they are physically very different. The unpredictability and indiscriminate nature of war are underscored by the randomness with which the telegram might strike. The villagers are aware that the telegram could just as easily be for one family as another, reinforcing that war's reach is arbitrary yet all-encompassing. This arbitrary nature illustrates the unpredictability that governs the villagers' lives---an uncertainty that strips away any resemblance of normality or security. Smith also explores the inner conflict and moral dilemmas induced by war. The thin woman's internal struggle is a symbol of the war-induced division between duty and self-preservation. Her son's participation in the war, though a source of communal pride, also imposes a moral burden on her as she grapples with personal fears and societal expectations. The duality of this experience is compounded by the war's distant, bureaucratic machine---manifested in the impersonal symbol of the telegram---that sharply contrasts with the intimate, human bonds it threatens to break. The use of repetition of the sentence structure in the quote "one got more pay than the other and wore better uniform. One has been to university and therefore became an officer, the other had left school at 14" is used to highlight the difference between the two families by leaving the fat woman son to last as "the other" It seems to be highlighting that he is seen as lower, behind the thin woman son. It is important for understanding of the impact of war that we see how it affects families from different social classes. Background didn\'t matter as everyone had to fight in war. It is also important for the theme of isolation as these women are unable to become friends because of their backgrounds. In conclusion "The Telegram," Iain Crichton Smith captures the pervasive and erosive effects of war on individual and community integrity through characterisation, symbolic elements, and stark imagery. The narrative shows the daily, yet intense struggles endured by those on the home front, who, despite being removed from the physical battlegrounds, are still trapped in the war's shadow through the widespread feelings of dread and loss. Smith's investigation of war's indiscriminate and intrusive nature offers a sad commentary on the far-reaching impacts of conflict, further illuminating the profound human cost of war that resonates beyond the battlefield.