Question

On the bench by his side sat an elderly gentleman with a drooping air of defiance that was probably the remaining vestige of self-respect in an individual who had ceased to defy successfully anybody or anything. His clothes could scarcely be called shabby, at least they passed muster in the half-light, but one’s imagination could not have pictured the wearer embarking on the purchase of a half-crown box of chocolates or laying out ninepence on a carnation buttonhole. He belonged unmistakably to that forlorn orchestra to whose piping no one dances; he was one of the world’s lamenters who induce no responsive weeping. As he rose to go Gortsby imagined him returning to a home circle where he was snubbed and of no account, or to some bleak lodging where his ability to pay a weekly bill was the beginning and end of the interest he inspired. His retreating figure vanished slowly into the shadows, and his place on the bench was taken almost immediately by a young man, fairly well dressed but scarcely more cheerful of mien than his predecessor. As if to emphasise the fact that the world went badly with him the newcomer unburdened himself of an angry and very audible expletive as he flung himself into the seat.



"Dusk" by H.H. Munro ("Saki")

Question
Use the story to answer the question.

In 3–5 sentences, analyze how the theme of perception versus reality emerges and is shaped and refined in the excerpts from the story “Dusk” by H. H. Munro.

Answer 1

In "Dusk," the theme of perception versus reality is illustrated through the contrasting depictions of the elderly gentleman and the young man. The elderly man, despite his appearance and the air of defiance he projects, is perceived as a figure of loneliness and insignificance, suggesting that outward appearances can mask a deeper despair. Meanwhile, the young man, though better dressed, expresses his frustrations audibly, implying that his circumstances are equally disheartening. This juxtaposition refines the theme by revealing that outward appearances do not necessarily align with inner realities, as both characters reflect a profound sense of discontent and isolation in a world that seems indifferent to their struggles.