We're Not Afraid to Die...

If We Can All Be Together

Introduction of the Author
Gordon Cook (born December 3, 1978, in Toronto) is a two-time Canadian Olympic sailor. He sails for the
Royal Canadian Yacht Club. He is the son of Stephen Cook and Linda Cook. He had a great interest in
writing stories too.
Cook is a graduate of the Engineering Physics program at Queen's University. At Queen's University, he
also met his 2008 Olympic team partner Ben Remocker, where they were members of the university
sailing team. Cook and Remocker became the first Canadians to sail a 49er in an Olympic Regatta at
the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where they finished 14th.
In 2009 Cook partnered up with West Vancouver sailor Hunter Lowden and the two campaigned together
for the 2012 Olympic games. While Cook and Lowden did not make the first round of qualifications at the
2011 ISAF worlds in December 2011, they did qualify at the 2012 49er worlds in Croatia making Cook the
only person ever to represent Canada twice in the 49er Class at the Olympics Games. Cook and Lowden
came third in the first race of the 49er class in the 2012 Olympic games but did not qualify for the medal
race.
Alan East: -
Alan was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in 2003 and has gained extensive experience as a litigator,
manager, and legal trainer. In 2004 he co-founded and managed a niche legal practice specialising in
Criminal Litigation and Prison Law gaining higher rights of audience in criminal proceedings and working
as a Duty Solicitor. In 2007 he joined the Crown Prosecution Service as a Senior Crown Prosecutor.
In 2010 Alan joined Coventry University as a Senior Lecturer in Law and works passionately to support
access to justice working closely with Central England Law Centre. In 2016 he became a director of
Coventry Independent Advice Service.
Finally, Alan is a co-founder of a multi-academy trust Central Academies Trust which has as its aim
improving standards in Secondary Education.
Synopsis
This chapter deals with a first-person account of an adventurous ordeal that one family experiences. The
author gives a brief about the voyage, taken by his family to duplicate round the world voyage which was
made 200 years earlier by Captain James Cook.
The author and his family had always dreamt of sailing in the British Waters. In this chapter, you will study
about the adventure and the struggle of this family during the voyage. The never accepting defeat attitude
by all the family members is beautiful to learn.
Character List
 Author – A 37-year old businessman who has dreamt to sail and has spent many years honing his
sailing skills to finally achieve his dream of sailing in the British Waters.
 Mary – Author’s wife, a woman with courage. She supports her husband’s dream of sailing and is
ever ready to face any adventures.
 Jonathan – Author’s – 6-year-old son. A little boy with great wisdom and understands the
importance of family and wishes to be together even if they all die.
 Suzanne – 7-year-old girl with patience and perseverance. She dares to endure pain and chooses
to remain silent, not to bother her father. She understands the severity of the situation and
behaves way ahead of her age.
 Larry Vigil – American crewman.
 Herb Seigler – Swiss crewman to help the family sail in the Indian Ocean.
Theme
The story We’re Not Afraid to Die speaks about the adventures of a family which is out on a voyage. This
story is an encounter described by the author which he experienced while taking the voyage. You will
witness a stream of unfortunate events that lead to a disaster for this family living its dream of sailing. The
story brings many emotions which helps you to understand the importance of bonding in a family and you
will see how each member of the family perseveres to survive this deadly situation.
In this story, all the characters are brave and love each other immensely. The surprise package is the kids
who show great courage in such a difficult time and give moral support to their father who struggles to
save everyone. The story represents how courage can help you overcome any situation. It
beautifully highlights the struggle of each member of the family and the combined efforts of all the
members that helped them survive such a catastrophic event.
The story also shows the struggle of a father determined to save his family and leaves no stone unturned
to bring the situation under control. It also brings the combined efforts of each character to fight this
situation. The little boy Jonathan exhibits a great deal of courage and is also ready to die if all his family
members are together. All that matters is that they are together. The young girl Suzanne is seriously
injured but chooses not to bother her father who is struggling to save everyone.
This entire story revolves around the family and their positive attitude which saved everyone. The whole
family stands together and fights this situation with an indomitable spirit. The story shows how unity
might help you to overcome the toughest of situations. The family members trust the author and how
their faith in him boost his confidence to fight. In this chapter, you will learn how your attitude can affect
your performance in any situation.
Summary
A dream to duplicate the round-the-world voyage
The narrator, a 37-year-old businessman and his wife Mary have dreamt to voyage around the world like
the famous Captain James Cook. For the voyage, they have been perfecting their seafaring skills for the
past 16 years. They have got a professionally built, 23 metre and 30 ton wooden-hulled boat, Wavewalker.
The boat has been tested for months in the roughest of the weathers.
The beginning of the voyage
In July 1976, the narrator, together with his wife and kids (son Jonathan, 6 and daughter Suzanne, 7) sets
sail from Plymouth, England. The initial period of the three-year journey (from the west coast of Africa to
Cape Town) proves to be quite pleasant. Before heading east, they employ two crewmen, namely, Larry
Vigil and Herb Seigler to help them tackle one of the world’s roughest seas, the southern Indian Ocean.
The second day they encounter strong winds and alarming waves. By December 25, they manage to reach
3,500 kilometres east of Cape Town. Despite the bad weather, the family celebrates Christmas on the
boat. However, the weather worsens with the passing time.
A catastrophe- the attack of the huge wave
On the early morning of January 2, the family faces strong, mighty waves and screaming winds. They
attempt to slow down the boat by dropping the storm jib. They carry out life-raft drill and prepare
themselves for the worst-case scenario by donning life jackets and oilskins.
Later in the evening, a “perfectly vertical”, huge, tremendous wave hits the deck of the boat throwing the
narrator off the boat. He accepts his ‘approaching death’ and begins to lose consciousness. The boat is
just about to overturn when another huge wave comes and turns it right back. The narrator grabs the
guard rails and sails into the boat’s main boom. He suffers injuries in his ribs and mouth.

Fight for survival

Realising that the ship had water in its lower parts, he instructs Mary to take the wheel, while Larry and
Herb pump out the water. He checks on the children in their cabin, where Sue informs him about a bump
on her head to which he does not pay much attention.
The narrator begins waterproofing the gaping holes. Most of the water now deviated to the side.
However, their hand-pumps block due to debris and the electric-pump gets short-circuited. Fortunately,
he finds a spare electric pump and connects it to an out-pipe in order to drain out the water.
They keep pumping and steering all night long. Even their Mayday calls are not answered as they are in a
remote corner of the world.
Injuries of Suzanne
Sue’s head swells, her eyes go black and has a deep cut on her arm. On being asked about her injuries, she
replies to her father that she did not want to bother him when he was trying to save them.
Desperation to reach the land
The family manages to survive for 15 hours since the wave hit the boat. The water levels are controlled to
a considerable level, but they still have leaks below the waterline. They decide to rest and work in
rotations.
The wave had left Wavewalker in a considerably bad state. Since it is not in a condition to make them
reach Australia, they decide and hope to reach the nearest island, Ile Amsterdam, a French scientific base.
Unfortunately, the chances to reach the island are very slim unless the wind and seas subside. Besides,
their supporting engine had also been damaged.
January 4 and 5
After pumping out the water for 36 hours continuously, they take a sigh of relief as just a few centimetres
of water is left to be pumped out. They decide to hoist the storm jib as the main mast is destroyed and
head towards the supposed location of the islands.
Having found some corned beef and crackers, they eat their first meal in two days.
However, their relief is short-lived. The weather starts changing for the worse and by the morning of
January 5, they are again left desperate.
Courageous Jonathan
As the narrator goes to comfort the children, he is left spellbound to see the fearlessness of his son,
Jonathan, who says that he does not fear death as long as they all are together. This fills the narrator with
determination and courage to fight the sea.
The ongoing struggle
He tries his best to protect the weakened starboard side. That evening, the narrator and his wife sit
together holding hands, feeling hopeless and thinking that their end is approaching. But still with all the
moral support that he receives from his children, he continues his efforts. Fortunately, Wavewalker sails
through the storm. He works on the wind speeds in order to calculate their exact position. While he is
thinking, Sue gives him a greeting card expressing her love, gratitude, and optimism.
Though he is not very convinced, he instructs Larry to steer a course of 185 degrees saying that if they are
lucky, they can hope to find the island by the evening. He then goes to sleep with a heavy heart.

Ultimate victory
Fortunately, they sail on and manage to find Ile Amsterdam by evening. On being informed about this, the
narrator's joy knows no bound. Jonathan calls him the “best captain” and the “best daddy” in the whole
world. Soon, they get offshore and struggle to reach the island with the help of its inhabitants.
Stepping on the land after such turmoil fills the narrator’s thoughts with cheerful and optimistic Larry and
Herbie; supportive Mary; a brave seven-year-old girl who did not want her parents to worry about her
head injuries and a six-year-old boy who is not afraid to die.
Textual Questions
Understanding the Text
Question [Link] the steps taken by the captain
(i) to protect the ship when rough weather began.
(ii) to check the flooding of water in the ship.
Answer:
(i) In order to protect the ship from rough weather, the captain decided to slow it down. So, he dropped
the storm jib and lashed a heavy mooring rope in a loop across the stern. Then they double-fastened
everything and went through their life-raft drill, attached lifelines and donned oilskins and life jackets.
(ii) To check the flooding of water in the ship, the captain made some repairs and stretched waterproof
oilskins in the openings. He secured waterproof hatch covers across the gaping holes which diverted the
water to the side. When the two handpumps were lost overboard and the electric pump short-circuited,
he found another electric pump and connected it to an out-pipe and managed to pump out the water.
Question 2. Describe the mental condition of the voyagers on 4th and 5th January.
Answer: On 4th January, the mental condition of the voyagers was vacillating between hope and despair.
After 36 hours of continuous pumping they could pump much of the water out. But they had to keep pace
with the water still coming in. However, their respite was only short-lived. The storm started building up
and the situation again became worse.
The narrator went to comfort the children. Jon asked innocently if they were ‘going to die’ but added that
he did not mind dying as long as all the family members were together. This statement of the narrator’s
child boosted his morale. He became resolute to fight the sea. Those were critical moments for all of
them. Mary and the narrator sat together holding each other’s hands. They were scared and felt that their
end was very near.
Question 3. Describe the shifts in the narration of the events as indicated in the three sections of the text.
Give a subtitle to each section.
Answer: The text has been divided into three sections
Section 1:Disaster Strikes This part describes the narrator’s desire to go sailing around the world, the
preparations they made and the start of their journey and the coming storm. The family celebrates a
wonderful Christmas. However, by the New Year the sea becomes rough and the next evening an
enormous wave wrecks the ship and injures the narrator and his family members.
Section 2: Survival Attempts and Searching for Land
This section describes the frantic efforts to save the boat from flooding and the display of heroism by all in
the face of disaster. Near the end of this section, the efforts of the narrator to navigate to some nearby
islands for safety is mentioned, which the narrator terms as ‘pinpricks in the vast ocean’.
Section 3: Triumph of the Spirit This part describes the triumph of the spirit and seamanship of the
narrator as they reach an island safely. Fittingly, the narrator is given the title of ‘The best daddy and the
best captain’ by his son.

Talking About the Text

Discuss the following questions with your partner.
Question 1. What difference did you notice between the reaction of the children and the adults when
faced with danger?
Answer: There was not much difference between the reaction of the children and the adults when faced
with danger. However, it was not on the expected lines, as the children were only 6 and 7 years old.
When the adults faced the danger, they were anxious and found ways of battling it. Later, when the
motion of the boat brought more and more water in, both Mary and the narrator sat holding hands as
they felt the end was very near.
On the other hand, the children showed great courage and did not get lose hope. When Sue hurt herself,
she did not worry others about her injury. When the narrator went in to comfort them, Jon said, that they
weren’t afraid to die if they could all be together. Sue also gave a card to the narrator that she made with
the message of hope.
Thus, the children showed greater positivity than their parents. Hence, we can say that the children were
more optimistic than the adults.
Question 2. How does the story suggest that optimism helps to endure “the direst stress”?
Answer: The voyagers did not even once lose their hope or show any weakness.
When the waves were high, the hopeful crew slowed the ship down, fastened everything with a mooring
rope and went through the life-raft drill. When the storm struck their ship, the captain was almost killed,
and the ship was nearly a wreck. However, he held onto the wheel. Water was getting into the ship, but
Larry and Herb kept pumping like madmen. This shows that they were not willing to give in to danger and
were ready to fight it.
They didn’t lose hope. Even the little girl was so brave that she didn’t inform her parents about her
injuries. The little boy, an epitome of courage, said that he was not afraid of dying. All this gave the
captain a new hope and a will to fight.
The narrator checked and calculated that their only chance of survival was a 65-kilometre-wide island in
150000 square kilometres of ocean. Still they set sail towards it. They were optimistic about finding the
small island in the vast ocean. Finally, they set foot on land and survived. Their optimism paid off. All this
shows that optimism was the key to their survival. It helped them endure the direst stress.
Question 3. What lessons do we learn from such hazardous experiences when we are face-to-face with
death?
Answer: Such experiences teach us that courage, perseverance and tolerance can achieve what seem to
be insurmountable odds. They teach us how to react in the most difficult situations. They make us learn to
never lose hope and find reasons to stay positive and optimistic in the face of adversity. We learn to try
our best to stay calm and composed. We also understand the importance of unity and teamwork and how
to utilise our common sense, skill, and efforts to avert any catastrophe. Further, we learn to be very
careful and cautious in our actions when facing such hazardous experiences.
Question 4. Why do you think people undertake such adventurous expeditions in spite of the risks
involved?
Answer: The world is full of all sorts of people. Most of them like to lead a risk-free and peaceful life, but
there are a few among us who believe that if we want to live life to the fullest, we have to go beyond the
day-to-day routine. They don’t hesitate even to undertake dangerous expeditions. If that were not the
case, a lot of mysteries, places and events would not be known to the world.
Such expeditions are risky. But still people go on them without caring for even death or disaster. They are
very daring. It takes much courage to perform such tasks. For them life is a battle which can be won only
after fighting for it, rather than sitting relax and carefree. The history of mankind shows that our progress
owes much to such brave and fearless people.

Short Questions and Answers

Question 1. Where did the narrator want to go? Why?
Answer: The narrator and his family loved adventures. The narrator wanted to duplicate the ‘round-the-
world’ voyage made by the famous explorer Captain James Cook 200 years ago. So, he set sail in
Wavewalker, a boat specially designed and made for the purpose. Perhaps the dangers and adventure
involved in the voyage and their desire to accomplish something unique beckoned them to undertake the
journey.
Question 2. What preparations did the narrator and his wife make for their round-the-world sea voyage?
Answer: The narrator and his wife wanted to ‘duplicate’ the round-the-world voyage made 200 years ago
by Captain James Cook. They had been making formidable preparations for the last 16 years. First of all,
they got a boat especially designed and professionally built for this purpose. They tested it for months in
the roughest weather. They spent all their leisure time in strengthening their seafaring skills in British
waters. They were both mentally and physically prepared to undertake their exceptionally long and
challenging sea voyage.
Question 3. Describe the boat Wavewalker.
Answer: The narrator wanted to duplicate the round-the-world voyage made by Captain James Cook 200
years ago. In order to undertake this journey, they got a boat built professionally. The boat, named
Wavewalker, was a 23 metre, 30 ton wooden-hulled sailboat. They had spent months fitting it out and
testing it in the roughest weather they could find.
Question 4. Why did they take on two crewmen with them at Cape Town?
Answer: Before heading East from Cape Town, they took on two crewmen who were experienced seamen.
They were Larry Vigil, an American and Herb Seigler, a Swiss. The narrator took this step because he knew
that they would require help to tackle one of the world’s roughest seas – the southern Indian Ocean.
Question 5. What troubles did they face after completing the first leg of their journey?
Answer: The first leg of their journey passed pleasantly as they sailed down the West Coast of Africa to
Cape Town. But the trouble started when they left Cape Town.
On the second day out of Cape Town, they began to encounter strong gales. Gales didn’t worry the
narrator, but the size of the waves was alarming. They rose as high as the main mast. The howling of the
wind and the spray was painful to the ears.
Question 6. How did the voyagers celebrate their Christmas and where?
Answer: On Christmas Day, the voyagers were 3500 kms East of Cape Town in the southern Indian Ocean.
Though the sea was rough, they enjoyed a wonderful holiday. They celebrated Christmas singing carols
complete with a Christmas tree with them. They expected the weather to improve but it didn’t.
Question 7. How was the weather on the morning of 2nd January?
Answer: On New Year’s Day, the weather saw no improvement and was bad. On 2nd January, it got even
worse. The waves were gigantic. They were sailing with only a small storm jib but still were going pretty
fast. As the ship rose to the top of each wave, they could see the endless, enormous sea rolling towards
them. The wind seemed to be howling.
Question 8. What attempts did the narrator make to protect himself and his family from the huge waves?
Answer: The waves were gigantic on 2nd January. In order to protect themselves, they decided to slow
down the boat. They dropped the storm jib and lashed a heavy mooring rope in a loop across the stem.
Then they double-lashed everything, went through their life-raft drill, attached lifelines, donned oilskins
and life jackets, and prepared themselves for the worst-case scenario.

Question 9. What were the first indications of the ‘impending disaster ‘that ultimately struck them on
January 2?
Answer: The first indication of the impending disaster came at about 6 pm on January 2. An ominous
silence prevailed all around. The wind dropped. The sky immediately grew dark. Then came a growing
roar. A huge vertical wave, almost twice the height of the other waves, came roaring towards the ship.
These were the indications of the coming disaster.
Question 10. What happened after the ‘ominous silence’?
Answer: The ominous silence was the first indication of impending disaster. The wind dropped and the sky
immediately grew dark. The narrator saw what he thought as an enormous cloud coming towards the
ship. With horror he realised that it was not a cloud but a wave like no other he had ever seen. It was
almost twice the height of other waves.
The wave hit the boat and wrecked it completely. Water gushed from all sides and the boat started filling
with water.
Question 11. What was the result of the ‘tremendous explosion’?
Answer: The gigantic wave hit the boat and a tremendous explosion shook the deck. A torrent of green
and white water broke over the ship.
The narrator’s head smashed against the wheel and he was flung overboard. He was almost dead and the
whole ship was reduced to a wreck.
Others were also hurt in the process. Then the frantic efforts to save the boat and everybody’s life began.
Question 12. How did the narrator accept his ‘approaching death’ and why was he still peaceful?
Answer: The narrator saw a torrent of green and white water breaking over the ship. His head had
smashed into the wheel. He felt himself flying overboard and sinking below the waves.
He was losing consciousness. He accepted his approaching death without murmuring. He felt quite
peaceful even when death was approaching and Wavewalker was near capsizing.
Question [Link] did the narrator hurt himself on January 2?
Answer: The narrator hurt himself very badly on January 2 when a tremendously high wave hit their boat
and he was initially thrown overboard before being tossed back by the wave to hit the boom of the boat.
Subsequent waves tossed him around the deck like a rag doll, cracking his left ribs and breaking his teeth.
Question 14. “I had no time to worry about bumped heads”, says the narrator. What problem do you think
deserved his immediate attention?
Answer: The problem that deserved immediate attention was the repair of the starboard side, which had
bashed open; with every wave, it was letting water enter the boat. If he did not make some repairs, the
boat would have surely sunk, and they would have drowned.
Question 15. What are Mayday calls? Why was the ship getting no replies to its Mayday calls?
Answer: Mayday calls are distress signals sent through the radio by ships facing trouble in the sea. They
are made to get help from other ships passing nearby.
The boat Wavewalker was not getting replies to its Mayday calls because the boat had reached a remote
part of the sea where other ships did not go.
Question 16. What did Sue say when she was asked by her father about why she had not complained
about her grave injuries?
Answer: Sue had been injured badly when the wave had hit the ship. Her head had swollen alarmingly.
She had two black eyes and she had also showed to her parents a deep cut on her arm. When asked why
she had not complained about her injuries earlier, she replied that she had not wanted to worry her
parents when they were trying to save them all.
Question 17. “I didn’t want to worry you when you were trying to save us all.” What does this show about
the speaker?
Answer: This shows that she was very courageous. The speaker of these lines is the little girl, Sue. She is
just 7 years old. After the gigantic wave hit the ship, she was also hurt. Her head was swollen when the
narrator saw her in the cabin. However, she never mentioned the deep cut in her arm because she didn’t
want her father to worry about her when he was trying to save everybody else.
Question [Link] happened on the morning of 3rd January?
Answer: By the morning of 3rd January, they had managed to pump out the water out of the boat to a
reasonable level and the situation was under control but, they suspected a huge leak somewhere and
found that nearly all the boat’s main rib frames were damaged down to its bottom. The narrator knew
that Wavewalker will not be able to hold together long enough to reach Australia. So, the narrator made
some calculations and found two small islands a few hundred kilometres to the East. They hoped to reach
one of them.
Question 19. What were the chances of the voyagers’ survival after the big wave hit them?
Answer: The chances of the survival of the Wave walker’s crew were very bleak. They somehow survived
for 15 hours after the wave hit the boat. But the
narrator knew that the Wavewalker was not going to hold on much longer. He checked his charts and
calculated that there were two small islands a few hundred kilometres to the East. Their only hope of
survival was to reach these islands in the vast ocean.
Question 20. Why did the narrator and his wife Mary feel that ‘the end was very near’? What situation
made them feel so?
Answer: The situation which made them feel that “the end was very near” that at 4 PM on January 4,
black clouds began building up behind their boat, within an hour the wind increased to 40 knots and the
waves were getting higher. The weather continued to deteriorate throughout the night, and by dawn on
January 5, the motion of the boat brought more and more water in through the broken planks. Thus, they
felt that the boat would sink, and they would all die.
Question 21. How and when did Wavewalker ride out the storm? How did the narrator feel at that time?
Answer: The Wavewalker rode out the storm on the morning of January 6 when the wind eased. He was
able to calculate the boat’s position using the sextant and accordingly he asked Larry to steer the boat
towards lie Amsterdam, as he was very tired. The narrator felt that they had to survive, seeing the
optimism of his two children. But he was still having doubts about it and so felt heavy-hearted. But his
calculations proved correct and they reached lie Amsterdam by evening.
Question [Link] the title of the story: “We’re Not Afraid to Die…”
Answer: “We’re Not Afraid to Die…if We Can All Be Together” is the story of rare courage and
perseverance that was shown by the narrator, his crewmen, his wife and children. Everybody confronted
the disaster with patience, courage, and determination. Even the children showed courage. They did not
give up hope even till the last moment. The narrator made all possible attempts to save their lives. Like his
father, Jon reacted very bravely that they were not afraid to die, but it would be better if they died
together. Hence, the title is apt and logically justified.
Question 23. Why did Jonathan call the narrator, the best daddy and best captain in the world?
Answer: Jonathan called the narrator the best daddy and the best captain in the world because they had
reached the island lie Amsterdam. His son was expressing his relief and gratitude towards his father due
to the narrator’s devotion to save them all from death as well as his seafaring skills. He was the “best
daddy” because his devotion to them helped them survive the storm with his efforts to keep the boat
afloat. He was the “best captain” because he had correctly enabled them to steer to the island so that
they survived.
Question [Link] did the narrator call lie Amsterdam the most beautiful island in the world?
Answer: lie Amsterdam was the only hope of survival for the voyagers and so, when they reached there, it
looked the most beautiful island in the world to the narrator. He was successful in saving his family and
crewmen by reaching it. He had won the fight for survival. If they had not reached the island, they surely
would have sunk.
Question 25. Describe lie Amsterdam. How did its inhabitants behave with the newcomers?
Answer: lie Amsterdam was a French scientific base. It was ‘a bleak piece of volcanic rock’. It had little
vegetation but still it appeared to be ‘the most beautiful island in the world’. The boat anchored offshore
for the night. The next morning all 28 inhabitants of the island cheered them and helped them ashore.
Question 26. What did the narrator think of on landing at The Amsterdam? Why?
Answer: The narrator felt very happy for landing on the island because he lost all his hope of becoming
alive in the ocean and when he got to know that he find the ale Amsterdam island. there was a new hope
in the eyes of the narrator and his child's. also say him the best dad in the world.
Long Questions and Answers
Question 1. Highlight the tremendous courage and forbearance shown by the two children during the
struggle to keep the boat from sinking. What values do you learn from them?
Answer: The two children, Suzanne, and Jonathan, showed tremendous courage and forbearance during
the epic struggle put up by their parents and the crewmen to keep the boat from sinking. Sue had been
injured badly when the big wave hit the boat. Her head had swollen alarmingly, and both her eyes were
hind. She also had a deep cut on her arm. But she did not complain about her injuries as she did not want
to worry her parents when they were trying to save them. When the author went to comfort the children,
his son Jonathan, asked him if they were going to die. When he was assured that they would survive, he
told his father that they were not afraid of dying if they could be together. Moreover, Sue had patience
and power enough to even draw the caricatures of her parents with a message of hope and gratitude to
her parents. The children, thus, exhibit extraordinary patience, courage, and tolerance.
Question 2. “We’re Not Afraid to Die” is a saga of patience and bravery. Comment.
Answer: The story ‘We’re Not Afraid to Die’ is a story of the rare courage and perseverance of the
narrator’s family. The narrator’s undertaking to replicate Captain James Cook’s voyage was a challenging
task, as they had to sail in some of the roughest seas. However, the voyagers kept their spirits high and
made efforts to save the boat and their lives. Even in the worst of circumstances, the captain did not give
up hope and tried his best to protect the ship from flooding. AU the dangers and disasters were
confronted with patience, courage, and determination.
Even the children showed exemplary courage. They were not afraid to die if they were all together. The
two crewmen continuously pumped out water and never complained. They trusted their captain and
worked as a team. Luckily, the voyagers were able to come out of a near death experience due to their
never-say-die attitude. Thus, the story proves to be a saga of patience and bravery.
Question 3. The hurdles of life can be challenged if we have confidence to make optimum use of our
potential. Elaborate.
Answer: The statement holds true in the light of the story ‘We’re Not Afraid to Die…….’. The narrator along
with his wife, children, and two crewmen overcame the worst situations and defeated death by fighting
the adverse situations which cropped up during their voyage. When the big wave hit the boat, it was
severely damaged, and the narrator was badly injured. However, he did not pay attention to it and held on
to the wheel. Both Larry and Herb kept pumping out water and did not stop.
Moreover, when the handpumps stopped working and the electric pump short-circuited, he did not lose
confidence and used electric pump to drive out water from the boat. Even the children had confidence in
their father, and they hoped to survive. They also: showed great courage. Jon said that they were not
afraid to die if they are all together. Sue made a card to thank her parents. It was a great example of unity
and trust that they had on each other,
Thus, it can be concluded that by staying optimistic like the children and making the best use of your
potential like the narrator, one can fight adversities and be a winner.
Question 4. The reaction of the crew and children gives us an insight into the human mind and how it can
help us to survive any disaster. Discuss.
Answer: The reaction of the crew and children gives us an insight into the human mind. The crew reacted
to the danger with a fighting spirit and optimism. Their undaunted efforts helped them to survive the
disaster. On the other hand, the children showed amazing maturity and resilience in the face of disaster.
They remained strong and composed.
Despite serious injuries, both the children displayed courage and patience.
Adopting a courageous attitude in times of difficulties motivates one to face the upheavals of life
courageously. It is rightly said “Cowards die many times before their death; the valiant face death only
once”, and when the valiant do die ,they die a hero’ death. The story inspires us to maintain our calm in a
crisis. Stress and panic only worsen the situation. If we accept difficulties as a way of life and face them
with a brave front, they soon fade away. By being positive and not losing faith in ourselves can help us to
survive any disaster.

The Address
By Marga Minco
About the Author
Poet Name: Marga Minco
Born: 31 March 1920 (age 100 years), Ginneken en Bavel, Netherlands
Spouse: Lambertus Hendrikus Voeten (m. 1945–1992)
Awards: P. C. Hooft Award, Ferdinand Bordewijk Prize
Movies: Het Bittere Kruid
Nationality: Dutch
Theme
This story is a touching account of a girl who goes in search of her mother’s belongings after the Second
World War in Holland. But even after finding what she so much wanted to touch, to see, to feel and
remember, she leaves everything behind as it could not bring her dead mother back. She decides to move
on and live with only memories of the former times. The address that held so much importance till she
visited that place, lost its value and the girl realised that it could get her nothing but pain.
The Characters
The Daughter: She is the narrator, who returns to Holland to go to the address where her mother’s
precious belongings were kept. As normalcy had returned after the Second World War in Holland, she
wanted to see all possessions that were a bond between her family and herself.
Mrs S – The Narrator’s Mother: In the story, the narrator’s mother has been called as Mrs S. She was a
simpleton who could not see the manipulating and fraudulent nature of Mrs Dorling, her acquaintance.
She trusted Mrs Dorling and allowed her to keep all her precious belongings for the time being.
Mrs Dorling: She has been described as an old acquaintance of Mrs S. After a long gap, she appeared
again during the war. She possessed a cunning personality. She is most reluctant to recognise the
daughter and does not allow her to enter the house.
About the Lesson
This chapter centres around a daughter who goes in search of her mother’s belongings after the war, in
Holland. She finds all the objects which evoke memories of her earlier life. However, she decides to
leave them all behind and resolves to move on.
The chapter begins when Mrs. S’s daughter visits Mrs. Dorling’s house after the liberation war in Holland.
She remembers the address, therefore reaches there, and meets a woman (Mrs. Dorling) whom she
knows very well.
To her surprise, Mrs. Dorling who was a frequent visitor to their home before the war refuses to recognize
her. The narrator introduces herself again and again but all in vain. Mrs. Dorling is wearing a green knotted
cardigan which once used to be owned by Mrs. S, her mother. The narrator wants to talk to Mrs. Dorling
but later turns a blind eye and shuts the door on her face.
Narrator once again confirms the address by looking at the nameplate again which suggests Mrs. Dorling
in black letters on white enamel and a house number i.e. 46.
Having been detected by Mrs. Dorling, the narrator walks slowly to the station. While walking down, she
recalls the moments spent with her mother and the time when things had started disappearing from her
room as well as home. When enquired, her mother told the narrator about Mrs. Dorling who was an old
acquaintance my mother, whom she had not seen for years. But suddenly she had turned up and renewed
her contact with her mother.
Narrator’s mother also adds that every time she leaves there, she takes something home with her.
According to her mother, Mrs. Dorling had taken everything starting from antique plates to the crockery
used at their home. In short, she would insist to give all those things in order to save them from the war.
According to her mother, she would carry a full suitcase, or a bag stuffed with household things. Her
mother wanted the narrator to remember the ‘Number 46, Marconi Street’ i.e. address of Mrs. Dorling.
The narrator, once again, decides to go to Mrs. Dorling home. This time, a girl of about fifteen opens the
door. Narrator enquires if her mother was at home. She denies saying that she has been to market to run
an errand.
Narrator enters her house and sees an old-fashioned Hanukkah candle holder, wooden tablecloth, teapot,
spoons, and many other things which once belonged to her mother. She even feels the burn mark which is
still there on the tablecloth.
But soon she realises that she has to catch her train. She leaves the house and decides never to come
back again and to forget the address of Mrs. Dorling’s home.
Word Meanings
poignant – arousing sadness
evoke – arouse
resolves – decides
chink – narrow opening
fleetingly – for a short time
cardigan – sweater with buttons
musty – stale
bay window – large window sticking out of the wall of a house
jamb – doorpost
struck – occurred to
apparently – evidently
acquaintance – known person
turned up – appeared
antique – a collectable object, old and often valuable
table silver – cutlery (knives, forks and spoons) made of silver
lugging – carrying
crick – strain
reprovingly – with disapproval
beckoned – called
stored stuff – belongings kept in a safe place
confronted – come face to face with
endured – survived
errand – work involving going out of the house
Hanukkah – used in the Jewish festival of lights
cumbersome – unmanageable
oppressed – saddened
still life – painting of an arrangement of flowers and/or fruits
fancied – desired.
pewter – tin alloy
jingling – light metallic sound
severed – cut off
shreds – tiny pieces
Summary
Mrs Dorling’s Indifferent Attitude Towards the Narrator
The narrator knocked at the door of a house, but the door was opened only a little. She asked the owner if
she knew her. The narrator told her that she was Mrs S daughter. But the owner of the house, Mrs
Dorling, denied knowing her. Mrs Dorling’s face gave absolutely no sign of recognition and she kept staring
at her without speaking any word.
The narrator thought that perhaps she was mistaken and had rung the wrong bell. Then the narrator got a
glimpse of her mother’s green knitted cardigan which Mrs Dorling was wearing. This confirmed to her that
she had reached the correct address. But Mrs Dorling excused herself by saying that she could not talk to
the girl that day and she should come again later. Then she shamelessly closed the door.
Someone Watching the Narrator from the Window
The narrator stood for some time on the steps even after the door closed. Someone was watching her
from the bay window. The girl presumed that someone other than Mrs Dorling must be watching her and
must have asked why the narrator came there.
The Narrator Remembers What her Mother had Told her
After this refusal, the narrator walked back to the station thinking about her mother. Her mother had
given her Mrs Dorling’s address years ago. It had been in the first half of the war. The narrator’s mother
told her about Mrs Dorling, an old acquaintance.
She also informed her that every time when Mrs Dorling came, she took something home with her. The
reason Mrs Dorling gave for her actions was that she wanted to save all the good things, as the narrator’s
mother would not be able to save everything if they had to leave suddenly. The narrator’s mother had
accepted the idea. She was rather obliged towards Mrs Dorling that she was carrying such heavy luggage
every time she visited, as it was really risky during the war.
The Narrator Remembers When She Met Mrs Dorling
The narrator arrived at the station without having paid much attention to things on the way. She was
walking in familiar places again for the first time since the war. She didn’t want to upset herself with the
sight of streets and houses full of memories from a previous time. In the train she remembered the first
time when she had seen Mrs Dorling. It was the morning after the day her mother had told her about Mrs
Dorling, who was wearing a brown coat and a shapeless hat. The narrator had asked from her mother if
she lived far away, as she was carrying a heavy case. Her mother told her that Mrs Dorling lived at Number
46, Marconi Street.
Initially the Narrator was Reluctant to See the Family’s Old Belongings
The narrator had remembered the address but waited a long time to go there. Initially after the war was
over, she was not interested in all their belongings lying with Mrs Dorling. She was afraid to see the things
that had belonged to her dead mother. She did not want to see their belongings lying in Mrs Dorling’s
house in boxes and cupboards and needing to be put back in their old places again. She was scared that
the things might make her very nostalgic. But gradually her life became normal again and one day, she
became curious to know about all the possessions.
The Narrator Decides to Visit Again
After her first visit did not yield any result, she decided to visit a second time. This time a girl of about
fifteen opened the door, as her mother was not at home. The narrator asked about Mrs Dorling. She was
told that Mrs Dorling was not at home. She followed the girl along the passage. She noticed an old-
fashioned iron candleholder which they never used. They went into the living-room.
The narrator was horrified. She found herself in the midst of their old belongings, but they oppressed her
as they were kept in strange surroundings and in a very tasteless manner. She was hurt to see her family’s
belongings lying in a tasteless way with the ugly furniture and muggy smell. The tablecloth, the silver
cutlery and even the still life showing the apple on the tin plate belonged to her family.
The Narrator’s Keen Observation of Mrs Dorling’s Daughter
She was keenly observing the girl, who had a broad back similar to that of Mrs Dorling. The girl was
placing teacups for tea to be served. She was pouring tea from a white teapot which had a gold border on
the lid and then she took out some spoons from the box. All this crockery and cutlery belonged to the
narrator’s family, but perhaps the girl was not aware of this fact. She cracked a joke about eating dinner in
those antique plates. The narrator also found a burn mark on the tablecloth. The narrator indirectly hinted
to the girl that they missed things which are either missing from their original place or have been loaned
to somebody.
The Narrator Remembers About Polishing the Silver Outlay
The narrator remembers the time when her mother was alive, and the narrator was at home either bored
or ill. Her mother asked her to polish the silver cutlery. She was surprised to hear that the cutlery that
they were using was made of silver and even Mrs Dorling’s daughter was surprised to hear that they were
using silver cutlery for everyday eating.
The Narrator’s Final Resolution
The narrator decided that she could not stay there anymore. The address was correct, but the narrator
didn’t want to remember it anymore. She felt that the objects were linked to a memory of a time which
no longer existed. They had lost their value in the strange surroundings.
She comforted herself by thinking that her present house was too small to accommodate all the old stuff.
She left the house, leaving all her family’s belongings behind.
Highlights
 The narrator decides to visit the address that was given to her by her mother, where all her
family’s precious possessions were kept safely by Mrs Dorling.
 The first time when the narrator visited the address, Mrs Dorling behaved in the most absurd
manner. She refused to recognise the narrator and did not let her enter the house. So, the
narrator returns empty-handed.
 The narrator is reminded of her mother (Mrs S) who had given this address to her years ago, when
in spite of war, they were living in Holland and she saw Mrs Dorling who was introduced to her as
an old acquaintance of her mother.
 The narrator noticed many precious items missing from their places. Then Mrs S told her that Mrs
Dorling was helping her by taking her tablecloth, silver cutlery, antique plates, large vases, and
crockery to her house to keep in safe custody, in case they had to leave the house suddenly.
 The narrator decided to revisit the house of Mrs Dorling as she felt the urge to see all her
mother’s belongings. She wanted to touch them, feel them, and remember them.
 On her second visit to 46, Marconi Street, she could get entry into the house as Mrs Dorling’s 15-
year-old daughter opened the door. Her mother was not at home.
 The girl led her to the living room where, to the narrator’s dismay, things belonging to her mother
were arranged in a bad manner.
 Mrs Dorling’s daughter innocently told the narrator that they were using all the antique plates,
crockery, and cutlery.
 The narrator took an impulsive decision to leave everything behind as the precious objects owned
by her mother had lost their value. Also, these objects associated with her mother were now in
strange surroundings.
 The narrator decided to forget her past as it brought back bitter memories. Her mother was no
more there to revive the pleasant memories.
 The narrator walked out of Mrs Dorling’s house, deciding that she would never come back to this
house to see or take away her family’s possessions as she had no place to keep all of it.
Textual Questions
A. Reading With Insight
Question 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?
Answer: Yes, this statement gives some clue about the story. During the early part of the war Mrs Dorling
had shifted the important belongings of her acquaintance Mrs S. from her house to 46, Marconi Street.
These included table silver wares, antique plates, and other nice things such as the iron Hanukkah
candleholder, woollen tablecloth, and green knitted cardigan with wooden buttons. Since Mrs S. had died
during the war, Mrs Dorling did not expect anyone to come back and claim her costly belongings as she
thought no one else knew her address.
The statement indicates the greedy and possessive nature of Mrs Dorling. She did not open the door to
the daughter of her former acquaintance, nor did she show any signs of recognition. She did not let the
girl in. She refused to see her then saying it was not convenient for her to do. The narrator had gone to
this address with a specific purpose—to see her mother’s belongings. Even when she told Mrs Dorling
that only she had come back, the woman with a broad back did not soften a bit. Thus, the clash of
interests is hinted at by the aforesaid statement.
Question 2: The story is divided into pre-war and post-war times. What hardships do you think the girl
underwent during these times?
Answer: During the pre-war times, the narrator lived in some other city far away from home and she
visited her mother only for a few days. During the first half of the war the narrator’s mother was always
afraid that they might have to leave the place and lose all valuable belongings. The narrator lived in the
city in a small rented room. Its windows were covered with blackout paper. She could not see the beauty
of nature outside her room. The threat of death loomed large.
After the liberation, everything became normal again. Bread was getting to be a lighter colour. She could
sleep in her bed without any fear of death. She could glance out of the window of her room each day. One
day, she was eager to see all the possessions of her mother, which she knew were stored at number 46,
Marconi Street. She went to that address. She felt disappointed when Mrs Dorling neither recognised her
nor let her in. She asked her to come again someday. It was evident she wanted to put her off. She was
eager to see, touch and remember her mother’s possessions. So, she had to take the trouble of visiting
the place again.
Question/n 3: Why did the narrator of the story want to forget the address?
Answer: The narrator remembered the address her mother had told her only once. It was number 46,
Marconi Street. Her mother’s acquaintance Mrs Dorling lived there. She had stored the valuable
belongings of the narrator’s mother there. After her mother’s death, the narrator had an urge to visit the
place. She wanted to see those things, touch them, and remember. She went to the given address twice.
She was successful in her second attempt to enter the living room. .
She found herself in the midst of things she wanted to see again. She felt oppressed in the strange
atmosphere. Everything was arranged in a tasteless way. The ugly furniture and the muggy smell that
hung there seemed quite unpleasant. These objects evoked the memory of the familiar life of former
time. But they had lost their value since they had been separated from her mother and stored in strange
surroundings. She no longer wanted to see, touch, or remember these belongings. She resolved to forget
the address. She wanted to leave the past behind and decided to move on.
Question 4: ‘The Address’ is a story of human predicament that follows war. Comment.
Answer: The war creates many difficult and unpleasant situations for human beings. Sometimes it
becomes difficult to know what to do. The human predicament that follows war is amply illustrated
through the experience of the narrator. The war had caused many physical difficulties as well as emotional
sufferings to her. She had lost her dear mother. She went to 46, Marconi Street to see her mother’s
valuable possessions. How greedy and callous human beings can become is exemplified by the behaviour
of Mrs Dorling. She had stored all the valuable belongings of the narrator’s mother, but she refused to
recognise the narrator. She did not even let her in. The presence of her mother’s possessions in strange
atmosphere pained her. Now these valuables had lost all their importance for her as they had been
separated from her mother. She could get no solace or comfort from them.
Short Answer Type Questions
Q1. Why did the narrator go to Number 46, Marconi Street?
Ans. This was the address of the woman who had carried their valuables to her home for safety during
war time. So, the narrator went there to claim the belongings of her mother.
Q2. Why was Mrs. Dorling cautious while opening the door?
Ans. Mrs. Dorling had committed the crime of misappropriating the narrator’s household things a few
years ago. She hoped that the war would uproot the entire family and they would never return. But she
also feared one day someone from the family could turn up and claim the things that she kept at her
home. Hence, she was cautious in opening the door.
Q3. Do you think the woman didn’t recognize the narrator, or she was merely pretending? Give reasons
for your answer.
Ans. Obviously, the woman was pretending that she didn’t recognise the narrator. As soon as she realised
that she had been found out she said, “Have you come back? I thought that no one had come back.”
Q4. Why did Mrs. Dorling refuse to recognise the narrator?
Ans. Mrs. Dorling never thought that the narrator would return after years to get her mother’s stuff back.
She was a greedy woman. She had been using all the stuff and didn’t want to return it. When she
recognized her, she hid herself behind the door and didn’t even want to talk to the narrator. She lied that
she didn’t recognize her. Narrator’s mother trusted Mrs. Dorling as her friend but she displayed an
inconsiderate and selfish behaviour which hurt the narrator.
Q5. How was the narrator convinced that she had made no mistake and had reached the right address?
Ans. When the woman who opened the door gave no sign of recognition, the narrator thought she was
perhaps mistaken and had rung the wrong bell. When she saw the woman wearing her mother’s green
knitted cardigan, she was convinced that she had made no mistake and reached the right address.
Q6. How did the woman try to avoid the narrator?
Ans. First, the woman refused to recognise the narrator. When she realised that she had been found out,
she regretted that she couldn’t do anything for the narrator. Then she asked the narrator to come another
time. She gave the impression that there was someone in the house whom she didn’t want to be
disturbed.
Q7. Why did the author first hesitate to claim her belongings from Mrs. Dorling?
Ans. When the war was over and the narrator began to feel a little secure, she felt like missing her family
belongings. On a second thought, she began to suspect that the presence of her family articles would
remind her of her dear ones who were no more with her, so she hesitated to claim those articles from
Mrs. Dorling’s house. Besides, she lived in a poor room that looked the oddest place to accommodate her
expensive possessions.
Q8. Who was Mrs. Dorling? What did the narrator’s mother tell her about the woman?
Ans. Mrs. Dorling was an old acquaintance of the narrator’s mother whom she had not seen for years. She
had recently renewed their contact. Since then she has been visiting their house regularly. Every time she
left their house, she took something home with her.
Q9. Why did the narrator finally decide to forget the address?
Ans. After the war, the author went to collect the things which belonged to her family. Mrs. Dorling who
had taken away everything did not allow the author to enter in her house. Later, she tried to take another
chance. This time her daughter received her. The narrator entered and saw many things lying here and
there. Her past memories stood before her eyes. But soon she realised that the objects which are
associated with the past had lost their value as being cut off from them. The easiest way was to forget. So,
she decided to forget the address.
Long Answer Type Questions
Q1. Describe the narrator’s first visit to Mrs. Dorling’s house in Marconi Street.
Ans. The narrator was sure that her mother’s belongings must still be preserved by Mrs. Dorling. One day
she felt an urge to see and touch those objects. So, she went to Mrs. Dorling’s house in Marconi Street.
She rang the bell. A woman opened the door and looked at her searchingly. The narrator came closer and
introduced herself that she was Mrs. S’s daughter. The woman kept staring at her in silence. There was no
sign of recognition on her face. The narrator thought perhaps she had come to the wrong house. But she
saw the woman was wearing her mother’s green knitted cardigan. She knew at once that she had made
no mistake. She asked the woman whether she knew her mother. The woman could not deny this. She
said, “Have you come back”? The woman regretted that she could not do anything for her. She asked the
narrator to come some other time and cautiously closed the door. The narrator realized that her visit was
in vain. She stood on the step for a while and then left the place.
Q2. Describe the narrator’s second visit to Mrs. Dorling’s house.
Ans. The narrator’s first visit to Mrs. Dorling’s house was in vain. She decided to try a second time. This
time a girl of about fifteen opened the door to her. Her mother was not at home. The narrator said that
she would wait for her. Following the girl along the passage, the narrator saw their old-fashioned iron
candleholder hanging next to a mirror. The girl made her sit in the living room and went inside. The
narrator was horrified to find herself in a room she knew and did not know. She found herself in the midst
of familiar things which she longed to see again but which oppressed her in the strange atmosphere. She
dared not look around her. The woollen tablecloth, the cups, the white teapot, the spoons, the pewter
plate, everything was full of memories of her former life. Suddenly the objects linked with her former life
lost their value. In strange surroundings, they too appeared strange to her. She no longer had desire to
possess them. She got up, walked to the door, and came out of the house.
Q3. What did the narrator learn about Mrs. Dorling from her mother?
Ans. The war was going on. The narrator was home for a few days. She immediately noticed that
something or other about the rooms had changed. Various things were missing. She looked at her mother
questioningly. Then her mother told her about Mrs. Dorling. The narrator had never heard of that woman.
Obviously, she was an old acquaintance of her mother, whom she had not seen for years. Since then she
had been coming to their house regularly. Every time she left the place, she took something home with
her. She took all the table silver, then the antique plates and several other precious things. She herself
explained that she wanted to save all their nice things because they would lose everything in case, they
had to leave the house. The narrator’s mother never doubted her intention. She rather felt obliged to Mrs.
Dorling for talking all the trouble while carrying their things.
Q4. Why had the narrator remembered Mrs. Dorling’s address? Why did she want now to forget the
address?
Ans. 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 their nice things because they
would lose everything if they had to flee from the place. The narrator’s mother told her Mrs. Dorling’s
address. The narrator had remembered the address.
When the war was over and things became almost normal, one day the narrator had an intense longing to
see and touch the objects which were linked with the memories of her former life. She knew that all the
things must still be preserved by Mrs. Dorling. So, she went to Number 46 in Marconi Street. She was
horrified to find in a room she knew and 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 realised that she no longer wanted to possess them. Now the address lost all
its significance for her and she wanted to forget it.
Q5. Comment on the contrasting elements in the characters of Mrs. S and Mrs. Dorling?
Ans. The mother of the author, Mrs. S was a lady of simplicity. She didn’t seem to have seen the harsh and
cruel side of this two-faced world. She could easily befriend people, and rather more easily, trust them.
That’s why she trusted Mrs. Dorling, who was just an acquaintance of her, and allowed her to keep all her
precious belongings for the time being. Moreover, she was so kind-hearted that she was sympathetic
enough for Mrs. Dorling, who had to carry all her heavy articles all alone.
In contrast, Mrs. Dorling was an absolute thief, a unique combination of cunningness and betrayal. She
cheated Mrs. S and seized her very precious belongings very wittingly. She can be called a perfectionist in
this ‘occupation’ of hers.
Q6. Who is Mrs. Dorling? Do you justify her behaviour in the story?
Ans. Mrs. Dorling is an acquaintance of Mrs. S, the narrator’s mother. In the story Mrs. Dorling exploits
Mrs. S’s fears and insecurity during the war. She insists Mrs. S and took away all her valuable things after
giving assurance that she would keep them safe until the war was over. In fact, Mrs. Dorling had no
intentions of returning the valuables as she was sure that Mrs. S and her family would not survive the war.
So, when the narrator, Mrs. S’s daughter, went to Mrs. Dorling’s house to claim those articles to which her
mother’s precious memories were associated, she even pretended not to recognize her. Instead of
returning those articles to the narrator, she shamelessly used them which actually belonged to the
narrator’s mother and also behaved rudely to the narrator. So, in the context of the above Mrs. Dorling’s
behaviour cannot be justified.