Write a critical appreciation of the essay Tight Corners’ written by E. V. Lucas.

Ans.

Introduction

After reading the essay, ‘Tight Corners’ written by E. V. Lucas, we note that it seems to be a short story rather than an essay. The purpose of the writer is to give more and more pleasure to his readers while many of them like to get some moral from a short story. Because of such purpose they are often led away from the main theme. This essay, Tight Corners’ shows that such difficult situations come in the life of each and every person and they make them much worried. The writer advises his readers that they should not lose their courage in the midst of such difficult situation.

The man in the tight-corner

As we read this story related to the essay, we find the best description of its characters in an impressive manner in spite of the fact that there is not much scope for characterization. In, “Tight Corners’, the writer has drawn the picture of that man who was fond of acting out of fun. This is the reason that he had involved himself in tight corner or in a difficult situation. He did not come out of that difficult situation by his personal efforts but he became free from it by the sudden goodluck and the mercy of God. This story also shows the special aspect of his personality. The readers of this story take much interest in reading this essay specially the thoughtless act of that man who had become free from that difficult situation by chance and by his goodluck.

The real charm of the essay

As we read this interesting essay, we find the real charm of this story in that difficult situation in which the main character of the story was involved. The writer shows the tight corner or the difficult situation in these significant words, “Here was I, with sixty-three pounds in the world and not five hundred pounds worth of securities, the purchaser of a picture which I did not want, for four thousand and fifty guineas, the top price of the day.” When the time arrived for writing the cheque, the writer felt very miserable and much worried because he had not enough money to make the full payment of that painting. He tried to borrow money from his friends and relatives but they refused to give him any financial help. The money lenders also did not keep their promise to lend him any money. He thought over the problem for a long time but he failed to decide what he should do. His friend had also disappeared because he was a selfish man without any sympathy for him. The writer felt himself all alone in this wide world, so he described the difficult situation in these words, “Alone I was to free this awful weird. I have never felt such a fool or had a colder feet. I believe I should have welcomed a firing party.”

His Style

The description of the writer’s freedom from the Tight Corners’ is described in these words, “If ever a messenger of the high gods wore a green baize apron and spoke in husky cockney tones this was he. I could have embraced him and wept for joy.” These words, “Tight corners are tighter when they are mental” show the unique style of the writer.

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