In
Roald Dahl's short story, "Man From the South," an American cadet is
found on a Jamaican beach seated with an English and a Spanish men. This cadet
lights up his cigar with a lighter in the middle of all the wind. The Spanish
men dressed with a white suit is surprised that this American could light up a
cigar with just a lighter so he offers him a bet. If he could light up 10 times
his lighter in a row he would receive a Cadillac from the year, but if he fails
once the Spanish men would cut the Americans pinkie finger. The cadet at first
decides not to bet but then he realizes that his pinkie has never worked for
him so he bets. The English, Spanish and American boy goes up to the Spanish
apartment and the bet start. The cadet is a pro and lights up his candle very
relaxed until he is in his 8th light. Everything was on the American side and
he was going to own a cadi, until what seemed as the Spanish wife entered the
room and stopped all the bet. She apologizes for her housebound and told them
that he has nothing to bet and that the Cadillac was hers. All this bet ended
and the only thing that the American learned is to don't trust strangers.
I admire Roald's skill of making images in your head without putting illustrations on his work. For example,
It was a fine garden
with lawns and beds of azaleas and tall coconut palms, and the wind was blowing
strongly through the tops of the palm trees making the leaves hiss and crackle
as though they were on fire (1).
This is a perfect use of imagery because without even knowing
Jamaica Dahl gives a precise description of this beach. I imagined a beach in
Esmeraldas called Atacames because of the palm trees and the wind that the
author describes.
Roald's skill in imagery is good but not so good as his
characterization. For example when the American lights up the cigar,
With his thumb he raised the top of the lighter, and
again with the thumb he gave the wheel a sharp flick. The flint sparked and the
wick caught fire and burned with a small yellow flame (8).
Not only he explained meticulously the American action, but also
he described perfectly the lighter and how this pro made it light. This can
tells us that the cadet knows what he is doing and he has a true passion with
his lighter.
This story is so interesting and well written that it really makes
me picture it in my mind without having to see illustrations or a movie. What
this book tells us is that strangers are not only trustful and you need to
think of your actions before committing them. Roald Dahl is for my one of the
best short story authors I have read and I am looking forward to read more of
his work. Imagery and characterization is what makes book feel real.
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