Chen 1
Kate Chen
Ms. Anton
ESLEO
August 9，2015 The symbol of “The Interlopers”by Saki In my point of view, I think the huge beech which falls on the top of Ulrich von Gradwitz and Georg Znaeym is the symbol of "The Interlopers". The beech symbolizes the ruthless forces of nature. It goes without saying that the conflict between human and the nature runs through the whole novel. Saki describes the unexpectedly disaster that two protagonists suffered like this: "And before the moment of hesitation had given way to action, a deed of Nature's own violence overwhelmed them both. A fierce shriek of the storm had been answered -- a mass of falling beech tree had thundered down on them. " (Saki 84) When Ulrich and George are pressed by the beech and cannot move, they are still cursing and scurrility. Gradually, they are restored to reason and resolve the feud. Through this description, it's clear that the huge beech tree is the ruthless forces of nature or the executor of the forces of nature. The hatred makes Ulrich and Georg lose their minds and makes them consider everything beneath their notice, which causes them to feel they are the most powerful people who can decide on everything, even the death of people. However, the nature tells them through the fallen tree that there still a miraculous amount of strength are more powerful than theirs. Simultaneously, people are weak in front of the nature and the life of people is in controlled of the nature's hands. There's no doubt that invading the nature and showing disrespect to the nature must be punished. Therefore, human are very powerful but compare with the nature, they are fragile and obscure.