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

characteristics. In the beginning of the story, afterward not seeing the Duvitch's for a long period of time, Andy's mother remarks that she thought , "The Duvitch's probably wished to be left alone" (2). Although she believed that, in reality based on other information given from the book such as the social standard of the Duvitchs, they don't feel they can leave their house, and interact with the community because of the judgement they are receiving. Flack also states, "Because they cast their eyes on the sidewalk as one passed them by and spoke only when spoken to, the young Duvitches, like their parents, were considered anti-social" (4). This shows that they don’t feel they have the right to speak unless spoken to, because they feel they are less than the other community members based on the judgement they have received. Finally, the Duvitch children have been told be judged at school. It says, "Some of their classmates scoffed at the leaf lard and black bread sandwiches they ate for lunch, huddled in one corner of the recreation room, dressed in their boiled out ragpickers' clothes. After school they headed straight for home, never lingering on the playground" (4). As a result of this judgement, it shows the Duvitch children don’t feel they are free to play with the other kids on the playground after school. In conclusion, Flack supports showing that true freedom is about being accepted using characters, and more specifically inward characteristics of the Duvitch family.
Secondly, Flack uses the plot to show that true freedom is about being accepted.

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

plot.
Lastly, Flack uses the setting to show true freedom is about being accepted. He does this by making the community a more judgemental one, and also describes it as somewhere the Duvitches do not fit in. He states in the introduction when introducing the moving scene that, "They showed no elation at finding themselves in a new neighbourhood, and a very pretty one at that" (1). I feel this means that they don’t feel comfortable because their new lifestyle doesn't fit in on Syringa because they are poorer immigrants. Another time he uses setting is when he describes the social setting of the story, it's stated, "They were the one struggling family in a prosperous community--and poverty, amid prosperity, is often embarrassing and irritating to the prosperous" (3). This proves they would not have felt comfortable or free, quite frankly embarrassed to be the only family struggling. He also uses the setting of the climax to show that they aren;t free to go to the store to buy foo, so they remote to a private pond for food. This shows they aren't free based on not being accepted because the lady who runs the general store, treats them differently in a negative way.
In conclusion, Flack uses the setting, plot, and characters to show true freedom is about being accepted. In his short story, he shows that true freedom is about being accepted very well using inward characteristics, main parts of the plot, and also the main setting which he chose to be a very judgemental environment. If I was in the Duvitch's position, I would not feel truly free until getting accepted by the community I was living in to speak, go to school, or use public services.