Brackley and the Bed

READING
Reading literature
1
All five short story features are represented in the short story “Brackley and the Bed” to a larger or smaller extent:
Short time span: About two-thirds of the short story takes place during one single day in Brackley’s life. The remainder covers some subsequent weeks.
Few characters: There are only two characters in the short story: Brackley and Teena.
One central incident: The central incident is Teena’s arrival in London.
Conflict: The intrusion of Teena into Brackley’s seemingly uncomplicated life in London.
Turning point/surprise: The main turning point is at the end when Teena reveals that her aunt is coming over to stay with them.

2
2a The short story is set in post-war London before 1962. There is a reference to the Colonial Office in London which handled matters related to the British colonies. Trinidad and Tobago was a British colony until 1962.

2b Brackley is the protagonist of the short story. He is a young Tobagonian who has come to London in search of work. Being a Caribbean he realizes that it is difficult to find decent work and accommodation in a white society such as London. He seems to have resigned to his fate, which has often been so typical of many immigrants from the colonies. When encountering such challenges, it is easy to become passive, lazy and apathetic. He also understands that the English do not care and that he has to rely on himself. In this environment he also tries to adapt to the British society by e.g. playing rummage and putting emphasis on material objects such as the bed. In relation to Teena he shows that for him a relationship to a woman is more a question of comfort and having someone to take care of the domestic needs and the household than romanticism. To secure this he is willing to change and comply with Teena’s demands, however, somewhat unwillingly.