Ms. Jenifer Keebler I
Feb 09, 2025
the wrong place… i just need help understanding the theme?
The title of the story is "The Wrong Place" by Susan Michalski. In the narrative, Lana wakes up curled in a corner of her seat at the back of a train. She lifts the shade to find that the sun is hidden behind a bank of clouds, reminiscent of the eiderdown her mother used to wrap her in as a child. Her husband, Ted, a distinguished military man, has gone to Philadelphia on urgent business. Before his departure, she knitted him a red cap and scarf for warmth. Unable to wait any longer, she packs a bag and boards the northbound train.
As the train rumbles beneath her, she is lulled into a daydream of lying beside her husband in their big white bed, warmed by his presence and amused by the rumbling of his snores. Suddenly, a violent jolt sends her crashing to the floor as chaos erupts around her. The deafening grind of steel against steel shatters her moment of peace, and bags and people tumble like acrobats in disarray. Despite the pandemonium, Lana remains trapped under her seat until she manages to escape.
Outside, the train lies in ruins, scattered like a child's toy. Uniformed men move through the wreckage, and in her desperation, Lana grabs one for information. In a rush, he informs her of the tragedy: "A bomb, Miss. The President was on the train." As confusion and panic ensue, she notices a man on horseback racing through the trees toward a road beyond the trestle. A flash of red catches her eye, triggering her to chase after it. Despite her efforts, she is no match for the horse, which reaches the trestle just as a second fireball erupts, raining destruction upon the rider.
Lana falls to the ground, covering her head as she waits for the chaos to settle. Afterward, she crawls towards a red scarf that has fallen a few yards away. Inhaling its scent, she weeps, exclaiming, “Oh, my Teddy! I am so sorry! Whatever were you doing here?”
What do you believe is the central theme of this story?
3 Answers
This is really difficult. But I think the theme is, as the title might suggest, Time. Her husband was in the wrong place at the wrong time. She picked the wrong time to go visit him, and because of that, the time they would have spent together was cut short.
Another theme might be the significance/importance of small people and lives in the world. The fact that the president was bombed seems not to bother her at all, but what she cares about more is her husband. Even though the president’s death will have a greater impact on her and the rest of the country, maybe even the world, her husband’s death matters more to her. So in this case, seeing the ‘big picture’ isn’t really important. I hope I made sense.
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