The Address Class 11 English Snapshot

• "The Address" by Marga Minco narrates the emotional journey of a daughter who visits the house of Mrs. Dorling, a woman who had taken her mother’s belongings during the war under the pretext of safeguarding them.
• The protagonist recognizes the belongings but feels disconnected from them due to their unfamiliar surroundings and tasteless arrangement.
• Despite her initial curiosity, she decides to leave the past behind, realizing that memories hold more value than objects.
• The story highlights themes of memory, loss, and emotional detachment caused by the trauma of war.
  

Visiting Marconi Street

The protagonist, a young woman and daughter of Mrs. S, goes to 46 Marconi Street in Holland to find her family’s belongings, which Mrs. Dorling took during the war to "keep safe." At the door, Mrs. Dorling, wearing the protagonist’s mother’s green knitted cardigan with faded wooden buttons, doesn’t recognize her and seems distant. Seeing the cardigan confirms she’s at the right place, but the cold welcome unsettles her.

Feeling Disconnected from the Past

Stepping inside, the protagonist finds her family’s treasures, such as silver spoons, antique plates, a pewter plate with an apple she once loved, and a Hanukkah candleholder. But the items are arranged oddly in a musty, gloomy house, making them feel strange and out of place. The unfamiliar setting stirs painful memories of the war, and she feels a deep sense of loss, as if her connection to these once-cherished objects has been broken.

Recalling Wartime Promises

In a flashback, the protagonist remembers Mrs. Dorling visiting their home during the war, taking valuables like silverware and vases. Her mother trusted Mrs. Dorling to return them after the war ended. Right after the Liberation, the protagonist was too overwhelmed to care about these items. But as life slowly returned to normal, curiosity about her family’s possessions drew her to the address.

Second Visit and a Choice to Move On

On a second visit, Mrs. Dorling’s teenage daughter welcomes her into the living room, where the protagonist sees more familiar items, like a tablecloth with a burn mark she recalls from childhood. The daughter casually mentions using the items, like eating off decorative plates, unaware of their meaning. Realizing these objects no longer hold their old emotional value in this strange setting, the protagonist decides not to take them back. She chooses to forget the address, finding peace in letting go of the past.

Healing from War’s Wounds

The story captures how war severs ties to the past, making familiar objects feel empty in new surroundings. By choosing to leave the belongings behind, the protagonist learns that memories matter more than things. Her decision to forget the address reflects her strength in moving forward, finding closure despite the war’s lasting scars.

The story reflects the psychological impact of war on individuals and their relationships with the past. It conveys how material possessions lose their meaning when detached from the memories and emotions they once represented. The protagonist’s decision to let go of the belongings symbolizes her acceptance of loss and her determination to embrace the future.

The central theme of "The Address" is the emotional scars left by war, particularly the pain of loss and the disconnect from one’s past. It explores how material objects, when removed from their original context, fail to evoke the same emotions. The story also highlights the resilience of the human spirit in overcoming grief and moving forward.

The story emphasizes the importance of letting go of the past and cherishing memories over material possessions. It teaches that true value lies in emotional connections, not in physical objects, and underscores the need for closure and healing after traumatic experiences.

Difficult Words

• poignant – causing a strong feeling of sadness or regret
• evoke – to bring to mind
• chink – a narrow opening
• fleetingly – for a moment
• musty – having a damp smell
• bay window – a window that projects outwards
• enamel – a smooth, hard coating
• jamb – the side post of a door or window
• lugging – dragging something heavy
• vases – decorative containers for flowers
• crick – a muscle spasm
• beckoned – signaled with a gesture
• endured – survived
• cumbersome – heavy or difficult to carry
• horrified – filled with fear
• scarcely – hardly
• antique – old and precious
• fancied – liked
• pewter – a metal made of tin and lead