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About the author
Marga Minco born 31 March 1920 was a Dutch Journalist. She lived in Breda a town near Netherlands with her parents, her brother Dave and he sister Bettie. Her pious father was warden in the local Jewish church and her mother was a school teacher. In the early part of the world war II Minco contacted a mild tuberculosis and was sent to the hospital in autumn 1942 she returned home by the time her parents were forced by the German occupiers to move into the city’s Jewish quarters. Later in the war, Minco’s parents, brother and sister all were departed to concentration camps, none returned. Marga Minco was the only member who survived the Second World War II.
Later in her life Minco married the poet and translator Bert Voeten whom she had met in 1938 and later with whom she hid during the world war. After the war they worked on a number of newspapers and magazines. They had two daughters one of whom is the writer Jessica Voeten. She died at the age of 85.
1. ‘Have you come back?’ said the woman. ‘I thought that no one had come back.’ Does this statement give some clue about the story? If yes, what is it?
The statement reveals that Mrs. Dorling, the lady who opened the door knew the author’s family very well. The two families knew each other, but she was of the opinion that the entire family of the author was killed during the war. So instead of receiving the author warmly she pretended as if she did not recognize her and cautiously shut the door.
2. The story is divided into pre-war and post-war times. What hardships do you think the girl underwent during these times?
The story, “The Address” is divided into pre-war and post-war times. There are clear indications of the hardships which the narrator a young girl had to undergo during the war times. The family had a lot of valuable belongings. When the war broke out Mrs. Dorling renewed her contact and started visiting their house. She took away all the possession on the ground that she wanted to save all their nice things in case they had to leave the place. After the war was over the girl was the lone survivor of their family. She was living in a small rented room. She wanted to meet Mrs. Dorling and ask for the valuables. But when she met Mrs. Dorling she found her using all her mother’s belongings shamelessly. Suddenly she lost interest in the things that has belonged to a connection that no longer existed. She decided to leave it all behind and resolved to move on.
3. Why did the narrator of the story want to forget the address?
Mrs. Dorling was an old acquaintance of the narrator’s mother. She had carried their valuables to her house for safety during the war time. She said that she wanted to save all her nice things because they would lose everything if they had to flee the place. The narrator’s mother told her Mrs. Dorling’s address. The narrator remembered the address.
When the war was over and things became normal the narrator had an intense longing to see and touch the objects which were lined with the memories of her former life. She thought that all the belongings must still be preserved with Mrs. Dorling. So she went to Number 46 Marconi Street. She was horrified to find a room she knew but did not know. She found herself in the midst of familiar things which she longed to see again. Suddenly the objects lost their value. In strange surroundings they too appeared strange to her. She realized that she no longer wanted to possess them. Now the Address lost all its significance to her and she wanted to forget it.
4. ‘The Address’ is a story of human predicament that follows war. Comment.
The phenomenon of war brings a lot of sufferings for human beings. It brings with it death and destruction. It kills the feelings of love and sympathy. In this story the narrator’s mother leaves all her valuable things with an acquaintance. The mother dies and many years later the narrator returns to Mrs. Dorling to take back all her belongings. But the woman showed no sympathy for her. She even pretends as if she did not recognize her. Instead of returning those articles to the narrator she shamelessly used them which actually belonged to the narrator’s mother. She cheated Mrs. S a woman who had total trust in her. On the contrary the narrator made a second visit to her house and the second time the house was opened by Mrs. Dorling’s daughter a girl of fifteen. The girl gave a warm welcome to the narrator. The narrator found herself in the midst of familiar things which she longed to see again. Suddenly the objects lost their value. In a strange surrounding they too appeared strange to her. She realized that she no longer wanted to possess them. Now the address lost all its significance for her and she wanted to forget it. She could get no solace or comfort from them. She resolved to forget the address and move on in life.
Marga Minco born 31 March 1920 was a Dutch Journalist. She lived in Breda a town near Netherlands with her parents, her brother Dave and he sister Bettie. Her pious father was warden in the local Jewish church and her mother was a school teacher. In the early part of the world war II Minco contacted a mild tuberculosis and was sent to the hospital in autumn 1942 she returned home by the time her parents were forced by the German occupiers to move into the city’s Jewish quarters. Later in the war, Minco’s parents, brother and sister all were departed to concentration camps, none returned. Marga Minco was the only member who survived the Second World War II.
Later in her life Minco married the poet and translator Bert Voeten whom she had met in 1938 and later with whom she hid during the world war. After the war they worked on a number of newspapers and magazines. They had two daughters one of whom is the writer Jessica Voeten. She died at the age of 85.
1. ‘Have you come back?’ said the woman. ‘I thought that no one had come back.’ Does this statement give some clue about the story? If yes, what is it?
The statement reveals that Mrs. Dorling, the lady who opened the door knew the author’s family very well. The two families knew each other, but she was of the opinion that the entire family of the author was killed during the war. So instead of receiving the author warmly she pretended as if she did not recognize her and cautiously shut the door.
2. The story is divided into pre-war and post-war times. What hardships do you think the girl underwent during these times?
The story, “The Address” is divided into pre-war and post-war times. There are clear indications of the hardships which the narrator a young girl had to undergo during the war times. The family had a lot of valuable belongings. When the war broke out Mrs. Dorling renewed her contact and started visiting their house. She took away all the possession on the ground that she wanted to save all their nice things in case they had to leave the place. After the war was over the girl was the lone survivor of their family. She was living in a small rented room. She wanted to meet Mrs. Dorling and ask for the valuables. But when she met Mrs. Dorling she found her using all her mother’s belongings shamelessly. Suddenly she lost interest in the things that has belonged to a connection that no longer existed. She decided to leave it all behind and resolved to move on.
3. Why did the narrator of the story want to forget the address?
Mrs. Dorling was an old acquaintance of the narrator’s mother. She had carried their valuables to her house for safety during the war time. She said that she wanted to save all her nice things because they would lose everything if they had to flee the place. The narrator’s mother told her Mrs. Dorling’s address. The narrator remembered the address.
When the war was over and things became normal the narrator had an intense longing to see and touch the objects which were lined with the memories of her former life. She thought that all the belongings must still be preserved with Mrs. Dorling. So she went to Number 46 Marconi Street. She was horrified to find a room she knew but did not know. She found herself in the midst of familiar things which she longed to see again. Suddenly the objects lost their value. In strange surroundings they too appeared strange to her. She realized that she no longer wanted to possess them. Now the Address lost all its significance to her and she wanted to forget it.
4. ‘The Address’ is a story of human predicament that follows war. Comment.
The phenomenon of war brings a lot of sufferings for human beings. It brings with it death and destruction. It kills the feelings of love and sympathy. In this story the narrator’s mother leaves all her valuable things with an acquaintance. The mother dies and many years later the narrator returns to Mrs. Dorling to take back all her belongings. But the woman showed no sympathy for her. She even pretends as if she did not recognize her. Instead of returning those articles to the narrator she shamelessly used them which actually belonged to the narrator’s mother. She cheated Mrs. S a woman who had total trust in her. On the contrary the narrator made a second visit to her house and the second time the house was opened by Mrs. Dorling’s daughter a girl of fifteen. The girl gave a warm welcome to the narrator. The narrator found herself in the midst of familiar things which she longed to see again. Suddenly the objects lost their value. In a strange surrounding they too appeared strange to her. She realized that she no longer wanted to possess them. Now the address lost all its significance for her and she wanted to forget it. She could get no solace or comfort from them. She resolved to forget the address and move on in life.
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