Concetti Chiave
- The story centers around a seventeen-year-old boy named Smith, born into a working-class family and living a life of crime.
- Smith is caught breaking into a bakery and sent to a borstal, where he is expected to reform under an authoritarian yet enlightened governor.
- The governor selects Smith to participate as a long-distance runner in a rehabilitation competition, offering him some freedom during training.
- Smith uses this opportunity to reflect on his life, developing a personal philosophy that contrasts with the values of the establishment.
- In an act of defiance, Smith intentionally loses the race to humiliate the governor, prioritizing his principles over personal gain.
One the Sillitoe's best-known and one of the most appreciated short stories, and it gives the title to the 1959 collection.
What is the life of Smith?
According to the plot we come to know that a seventeen - year - old boy, known simply as "Smith", is born into a working - class family, and lives by theft, Bulgar and other tricks. He is caught by the police whilst breaking into a bakery and sent to borstal, where he is supposed to become a reformed character. The borstal is ruled by an authoritarian governor, who nevertheless believes in enlightened methods and chooses Smith as a long distance runner in the competition organized each year as a part of the rehabilitation system.
The strategy of Smith
Smith accepts, finding a form of freedom in the few hours spent out of the borstal, which permit him to think about his condition , his own life and life in general, working out a personal philosophy of people and such moral values of honesty and integrity, which are the opposite of those followed by the hated Establishment. He devices a special strategy to humiliate the governor, who would gain only personal satisfaction and encouragement for his methods by an expected victory. Smith decides to take part in the competition, but, at the end, to let another runner overtake him just before the tape . In this way he will have the pleasure of witnessing the governor's humiliation. He follows his plan, remaining true to his beliefs, in spite of his personal defeat and the governor's punishment.
Domande da interrogazione
- What is the central theme of Smith's story in Sillitoe's collection?
- How does Smith find freedom during his time in borstal?
- What strategy does Smith use to challenge the governor's authority?
The central theme revolves around rebellion and personal integrity. Smith, a young boy from a working-class background, uses his time as a long-distance runner in a borstal to reflect on life and develop a personal philosophy that opposes the values of the Establishment. His decision to deliberately lose a race to humiliate the authoritarian governor highlights his commitment to his beliefs over personal gain.
Smith finds a form of freedom through the hours spent running outside the borstal. This time allows him to think deeply about his life and develop a personal philosophy that values honesty and integrity, contrasting with the values of the Establishment he despises.
Smith devises a strategy to humiliate the governor by deliberately losing a race. Although he participates in the competition, he allows another runner to overtake him just before the finish line, denying the governor the satisfaction of a victory and remaining true to his beliefs despite the personal consequences.
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