The Interlopers involves a theme that is often seen in works of fiction. The story revolves around two men who inherited a multi-generation feud between their families. Ulrich von Gradwitz, and Georg Znaeym are the two hunters, forced into a deep hatred due to historic occurrences. The origin of the feud: the Gradwitz clan was given the legal ownership of a strip of land. Their neighbours, the Znaeyms, however, felt that this land was their property. And so the timeless quarrel had began.
The reader finds the current head of the Gradwitz family, Ulrich, patrolling his land, with malicious motives. His neighbour Znaeym is no more just in his actions, as he is hunting on his neighbours land. The two hunters both anticipated an encounter with one another, and thus were ready to commit murder in order to end their dispute.
The story quickly raises its pace as both men come face to face with one another. On the dark, stormy night, both men are staring down the ends of their rifles. Both guns are cocked and loaded, but neither of them are fired. As they exchange words, the men come to see that they are not capable of taking another human life, no matter what the reason. Both men are in a standoff, neither of them having the stomach to pull the trigger. All of a sudden, in a convenient act of nature, a blinding strike of lightning attacks the forest, destroying some plants. Amidst the strike, the two men were struck by falling trees, leaving both of them pinned down in plain sight of one another.
The story's theme changes when the men are hit by the fallen arbors. Friendliness, empathy and sympathy is shared between the former enemies. The men come to realize that the feud was unnecessary, and a compromise on hunting privileges is made between the men. The pinned hunters have nothing to do except wait for their men to arrive, lift off the trees and start their new friendship. The two men are excited when they hear footsteps. They anxiously wait for the men, until the excitement turns into tragedy. The fast approaching men are, in fact, not men at all. They are wolves.
While reading the interlopers were you upset with the ending or did you enjoy creating your own ending?
ReplyDeleteIf both characters hadn't agreed to befriend one another, do you think the feud would have continued on for more and more generations?
ReplyDeleteHey Janine and Lory! Thanks for the comments, and the great questions.
ReplyDeleteJanine:
I like the ending, I feel that it left the reader with a good amount of dramatic tension, as well as sparking the imagination by conceiving possible outcomes for the scenario.
Lory:
I'm sure the feud would have carried on. In fact, I believe the fact that the two men were killed over the argument would further anger the families. However, it could work in the opposite way. Maybe the families could see that the violence was unnessecary, and end the feud.
Thanks ladies:)