Summary Of Nathan Englander's The Twenty-Seventh Man

In the short story The Twenty-Seventh Man, Nathan Englander illustrates how people’s fear about death and the future will gradually turn into acceptance, entwining the lives of those on death row. Through the four writers Pinchas, Zunser, Bretzky, and Korinsky, the author describes their madness as they are trapped in jail, awaiting their execution, and unable to bond with each other. However, by the end of the story, the four men are more accepting of their death and each other, acknowledging their commonalities and becoming no longer afraid. These four criminals of Russia already are displayed with unresolved weaknesses; Zunser “trying to adapt to change”, Bretzky “hadn’t really awakened”, Korinsky that “worr[ied] about… his wife”, and Pinchas, without his own worries, worries about “the others’ breathing, making sure they were alive” (Englander 10). These worries from each person contributes to their personality and acting towards each other, while Pinchas will become the one to help bring them together, along with Zunser’s adaptability. Their personalities still conflict, with fear and pessimism conflicting with Zunser’s optimism. Zunser had “hope” in “a way out” (11), while Korinsky disagreed pessimistically, …show more content…
Bretzky i against both Zunser and Korinsky, that he says “he shall endure it, but without your whining about being cold” (11). As the bystander, Pinchas does not choose to