Hector Hugh Munro, penname Saki, was born to Col. Augustus Munro in December of 1870. Having been born in Burma, he was soon sent to England to be raised by his two aunts. He began to write after being released from the Burmese Mounted Police. Saki is known for his numerous short stories which generally satirize English society in a comical manner. These stories often include cruel twists and jokes played on characters and, are quite often filled with irony. Sometimes Saki will go as far as to use extensive animal imagery as well as supernatural occurrences (Saki (1870-1916), An Introduction to). The major themes of Saki’s writing consisted of a thorough analysis and dismantling of social practices of Victorian and Edwardian England
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Saki used the normal routines of London life as a standard for his characters’ behavior. These petty and unnecessary practices were often mocked. He uses his characters to show how people were out of touch with the reality around them. In “Reginald at the Theatre,” Saki uses Reginald to poke fun at the Duchess while they watched a show together. This shows how Reginald was simply there to talk, not watch the play, thus highlighting the disconnection between reality and the minds of certain characters. The “status quo” also plays a large role in the social practices of Saki’s works. Characters often use the saying and maxims of the times as was …show more content…
Often times, characters exhibiting such superiority complexes saw things turn against themselves (Birden “People Dined” 26, 28). Saki could not stand the hypocrisy and pretentiousness of the upper class. They pretended to show concern for others when they were only looking out for themselves (Birden “People Dined” 6). The trivial nature of dining was also subject to Saki’s criticism. In Victorian/Edwardian society, the success of the night depended on the quality of service in addition to the prestige of one’s guests. Saki also had a poor opinion of the customary tea rituals of the time. In his short story “Tea”, Saki writes about a young man who gave up what would have been a beneficial marriage so he did not have to deal with the petty uselessness of tea time (Birden “People Dined” 25, 29, 31). Saki was known to be misogynistic in his writing. He took jabs at women’s pettiness and lack of decision making ability. Often times he portrayed female characters as being highly irrational. In two of his stories, “The Sex that Doesn’t Shop” and “The Dreamer”, Saki continues to mock women, this time for their affinity for shopping. He uses this
Saki used the normal routines of London life as a standard for his characters’ behavior. These petty and unnecessary practices were often mocked. He uses his characters to show how people were out of touch with the reality around them. In “Reginald at the Theatre,” Saki uses Reginald to poke fun at the Duchess while they watched a show together. This shows how Reginald was simply there to talk, not watch the play, thus highlighting the disconnection between reality and the minds of certain characters. The “status quo” also plays a large role in the social practices of Saki’s works. Characters often use the saying and maxims of the times as was …show more content…
Often times, characters exhibiting such superiority complexes saw things turn against themselves (Birden “People Dined” 26, 28). Saki could not stand the hypocrisy and pretentiousness of the upper class. They pretended to show concern for others when they were only looking out for themselves (Birden “People Dined” 6). The trivial nature of dining was also subject to Saki’s criticism. In Victorian/Edwardian society, the success of the night depended on the quality of service in addition to the prestige of one’s guests. Saki also had a poor opinion of the customary tea rituals of the time. In his short story “Tea”, Saki writes about a young man who gave up what would have been a beneficial marriage so he did not have to deal with the petty uselessness of tea time (Birden “People Dined” 25, 29, 31). Saki was known to be misogynistic in his writing. He took jabs at women’s pettiness and lack of decision making ability. Often times he portrayed female characters as being highly irrational. In two of his stories, “The Sex that Doesn’t Shop” and “The Dreamer”, Saki continues to mock women, this time for their affinity for shopping. He uses this