Sredni Vashtar By H. H Munro Analysis

A young boy with a terminal illness, a tremendous imagination, and a domineering guardian contribute to the portrayal of “Sredni Vashtar,” a short story by H. H. Munro. The surprise ending and the author’s focus on suspense contributes to critics’ dismissal of the story, arguing that Munro’s bizarre style can be described as “slight” and “superficial” and classifies as commercial fiction. However, the author’s utilization of point of view and focus on theme supplies the work with originality and literary merit. The tale of “Sredni Vashtar” is told in third-person omniscient. This point of view helps readers understand the thoughts and feelings of all the characters, primarily of Conradin and his guardian, Mrs. De Ropp. Readers can achieve …show more content…
In “Sredni Vashtar,” the theme is very obscure due to the peculiar plot of the story. However, once identified, the theme of the story is a crucial puzzle piece to its understanding and the argument that it is a work of literary fiction. One theme is how religion can give those that are unhappiest a reason to live and have hope for humanity. Conradin’s religion is focused on the polecat-ferret he keeps locked in the tool shed that coins the name of Sredni Vashtar. Though he fears the animal, Conradin worships it and has faith that the ferret will hear his desires and terminate his enemies. Conradin assumes “As Sredni Vashtar was a god he must be supposed to know [his thoughts]” (Munro 922). Since Mrs. De Ropp sells the Houdan hen, the ferret becomes Conradin’s remaining will to live. When his guardian threatens to take away the ferret, Conradin silently prays, “‘Do one thing for me, Sredni Vashtar’” (Munro 923). The godlike figure of Sredni Vashtar provides a source of comfort for the boy and makes his life more bearable. The sense of security the boy feels motivates him to provide offerings and festivals for the ferret. Later, as the ferret viciously attacks Mrs. De Ropp, Conradin is content with the thought that Sredni Vashtar was motivated by the boy’s prayers and desires. Since this central theme is evident throughout the short story, the …show more content…
Munro’s utilization of suspense contributes to the point of view of the characters and is focused more on exposing their thoughts and feelings than filling readers with anxiety. Conradin waits for Mrs. De Ropp to return. Her intentions were to remove what was keeping Conradin in the tool-shed for so long. Therefore, if she were to find Sredni Vashtar, the boy’s cherished ferret, Conradin would no longer have anything to worship or live for. As a result, Conradin was rightfully anxious that Sredni Vashtar would be banished from the premises. Readers can then see that the ferret is an extremely important part of Conradin’s life, and his suspense shows that his faith in the ferret was very strong. In spite of critics’ arguments that suspense would tarnish the piece of its literary merit, it instead strengthens the point of view of the characters, specifically