The Strangers That Came To Town Analysis

In his short story, "The Strangers that Came to Town", Ambrose Flack is showing that true freedom is about being accepted. He shows this theme using many parts of the story. He shows it through characterization, the plot, and also the setting. Although freedom can mean many different things, such as freedom of speech, or freedom to express yourself, Flack uses and provides a lot of support in the story, using the Duvitch family, as to why true freedom is about being accepted. Despite what freedom may mean to other people, I also agree that true freedom is about being accepted, and can only be reached upon acceptance.

First, Flack uses characters from the Duvitch family to support that true freedom comes from acceptance. Ambrose Flack uses characterization many times throughout the story using the Duvitch family, especially with inward shown

He uses this mainly in the introduction, the resolution, and the climax of the story. In the climax, the boys Andy and Tom pull a prank on the Duvitches by poisoning their fish. This shows that they didn't have the freedom to catch the fish without being sabotaged, all because the boys felt the Duvitch's were lower than them so it was okay to do what they did. Flack states that, 'The Duvitches were marked people" (3), especially Mrs. Duvitch being marked by the other women in the neighbourhood. This shows Mrs. Duvitch doesn't show her face or feel free to leave her house because she is considered "marked". In the resolution, Andy's father says, "Why should I value them any the less? Who would have dreamed that the Duvitches would have so much more to offer us than we have to offer them" (17). This statement proves that as they were accepted into the lives of the community members, they began to open up and feel free to express themselves. In conclusion, Flack supports showing that true freedom is about being accepted using the