Abraham Lincoln once said, “I destroy my enemy when I make him my friend” (citation). This quote demonstrates the positivity that is a result of the change from foe to friend, but how impenetrable is this barrier of enmity? Saki’s “The Interlopers,” is based on the ancient family feud between Ulrich Von Gradwitz and his neighbour, Georg Znaeym, over a useless strip of land. Von Gradwitz encounters his enemy hunting on his property, but are both soon crushed by an act of nature. Holding dearly onto life, both men eventually forsake their feud or pretend to do so in the name of friendship. Despite their best efforts, the two men eventually die very painful and inhumane deaths. Ulrich Von Gradwitz’s deception and civility lead one to infer that one will choose to resort to any means in order to protect oneself, however, once one decides to give more importance to enmity than life, one’s downfall is inevitable.
After the two men’s encounter an accident, the protagonist, Ulrich, deployed deception to delude his archenemy while defending himself and his property. Regardless of his efforts, Ulrich’s choice of holding the grudge leads him and his enemy to their demise. Immediately after becoming aware of Znaeym’s …show more content…
Von Gradwitz displayed deception in order to mislead his enemy and safeguard his life. Ulrich aldo characterized civility when he chooses to protect his reputation and swell his pride. The protagonist of “The Interlopers” is given the opportunity to dismantle the barrier of enmity but chooses not to do so, drawing him onto the path of destruction. There is a fine line between being one’s foe and friend. It is one that is difficult, but necessary to cross because the dire consequences of enmity are
After the two men’s encounter an accident, the protagonist, Ulrich, deployed deception to delude his archenemy while defending himself and his property. Regardless of his efforts, Ulrich’s choice of holding the grudge leads him and his enemy to their demise. Immediately after becoming aware of Znaeym’s …show more content…
Von Gradwitz displayed deception in order to mislead his enemy and safeguard his life. Ulrich aldo characterized civility when he chooses to protect his reputation and swell his pride. The protagonist of “The Interlopers” is given the opportunity to dismantle the barrier of enmity but chooses not to do so, drawing him onto the path of destruction. There is a fine line between being one’s foe and friend. It is one that is difficult, but necessary to cross because the dire consequences of enmity are