The Theme Of Controversy In 'The Interlopers'

One night in a dark forest two men, Ulrich von Gradwitz and Georg Znaeym, scouted for each other in hopes that death would fall upon the other in defense for property rights. The men are entangled in a three generations land dispute. When the two are trapped beside each other under a tree branch, which had collapsed on them, they are forced to let go of their bloodlust and be civil. In “The Interlopers” Saki conveys a theme of an unresolved feud can turn into a never-ending cycle.
Ever since the feud began it soon became worse with every passing year. Each of the three generations presented in their own drama into the feud, but the third generation had the greatest rivalry. In the text, the narrator indicates how “The neighbor feud had grown into a personal one since Ulrich had come to be head of his family; if there was a man he detested and wished ill to it was Georg Znaeym…” (2). This quote supports my theme because it lets the reader understand how the third generation had twisted their feud into a huge bundle of personal conflicts. The anger and disputes that had amplified for the past three generations had

overpowered the families and they had blatantly let it.
Both the Znaeym and the von Gradwitz have wasted most of their lives on a foolish feud that in the end benefits no one.

While stuck under the branch with Georg, Ulrich, who had been silent for so long finally said “We have quarreled like devils all our lives over this stupid strip of forest… Lying here tonight thinking I’ve come to think we’ve been rather fools; there are better things in life than getting the better in a land dispute” (19). The quote works my theme because it shows how the families have been blinded by the feud and the history behind it that they didn’t stop and appreciate what they around them. Instead, the two have wasted their time and effort on the feud because of how it's become such a big part of their lives. The feud was now the norm for them and they didn’t realize how it was depriving them of their better

judgment.
The ongoing feud has had such a long history that no one can remember the friendship that was once between the two families. “How the whole region would stare and gabble if we rode into market square together. No one living can remember seeing Znaeym and a von Gradwitz talking to one another in friendship. And what peace forester folk if we ended feud tonight.” (21); Georg said to Ulrich knowing how common their feud had become. This quote works the theme because it establishes how the families have detested each other for long that it would be strange to see a member of each family together without tension in the air. This quote also expresses how common their feud is and how it affected the community around them.
In this story, Saki conducts a theme of grudges held for so long can turn into a repetitive pattern. By using the characters, the setting and the history the author helps the readers understand how big feud is in the families lives. As the story proceeded the readers start to see how much the feud has impacted them personally and behavior wise. The story teaches us what it would it be like to live with an all lasting feud every day and how it would affect us in the long run. In this world even the meaningless things have an impact on people it is up to the people in this world to separate what's important and what is just plain foolishness.