"The Open Window" by H.H. Munro- Summary

The Open Window

H.H. Munro

Saki is the pen name of H.H. Munro. He is a famous short story writer from England. His stories are known for its satire, wit and humour. The short story “The open Window” by Saki is famous for its twist in the climax and humour. The story is about Frampton Nuttel’s, the protagonist of the story, visit to the house of one of his neighbours, Mrs. Sappleton.

Nuttel suffers from a nervous condition. He has come to a village on the doctor’s recommendation to spend some time alone. Earlier his sister has lived in the area. His sister, by considering that he may not talk to his neighbours, has given him letters of introduction to his new neighbours. With her letter Nuttel starts to visit his neighbours. Nuttel visits the Sappleton family first, where he meets a fifteen-year-old girl named Vera, the niece of Mrs. Sappleton. Vera gives company to Nuttel while he waits. By knowing that Nuttel has not met the Sappletons, Vera tells Nuttel some information about the family. Vera says that three years ago to the date, Mrs. Sappleton's husband and two younger brothers went for hunting. On an October those three went through a large French window. They never returned. Vera gives descriptions about the clothes they were wearing, the dog that accompanied them, and the song that Mrs. Sappleton's younger brother sang on their way. Vera says that her grief-stricken aunt keeps the window open and watches out the window expecting their return.

Meanwhile Mrs. Sappleton enters apologising for her delay to meet him. She asks whether he mind to open the window in the afternoon. She adds that she opens it as she expects her husband and brothers to return at any moment. Nuttel listens, thinking that Mrs. Sappleton has gone crazy. He feels sorry to meet her at such a tragic condition and tells about his nervous disorder to her. Suddenly, Mrs. Sappleton brightens as she tells Nuttel that her husband and brothers are arriving. Veera looks at that direction in a horrified way. The frightened Nuttel runs away from that place.  Mrs. Sappleton thinks his nervous breakdown as a reason for Nuttel's strange behaviour. But Vera replies that he is afraid of dogs.

The last line of the story: "Romance at short notice was her [Vera's] specialty." reveals the theme of the story, and unveils the character of Vera.  Veera perfectly victimized Nuttel by narrating about her aunt's family through her imagination. Bored Vera took her chance to deceive Nuttel and later the same trick she used to her aunt about Nuttel. The climax shows that Veera played intelligently to wile her time.