Analyse af novellen 'The Decline of the West'

This fictional short story is about a suburban family located in the outskirts of London. Mike is a 45-year old father who is troubled by his wife’s and two kids’ materialism. His wife, Imogen, and his kids, Tom and Billy, respectively aged 15 and 11, are all quite financially demanding and expectant of Mike.

Both Tom and Billy are never satisfied by anything Mike does. Even if he gets them the latest new, relatively useless, but fashionable gadgets, they still do not seem to appreciate Mike's selflessness. Imogen is never supportive of Mike, and always chooses to stand by her children's side. One could say that she's not a very good parent, as she says it is Mike who spoils the kids, when in reality, it may be both of them. Imogen, because she is the one who is always spending her time with the kids, always telling them they're in the right and everyone else is in the wrong, always leaving chores for Mike to do, and does nothing but whine about how Mike is never doing anything right. Mike, because he is a very manipulable man, what might be the reason for his children's extreme materialism.

As the reader, one might say Mike is the victim here. Granted, the writer did a great job to make the reader feel sympathy and/or empathy for Mike, one should stay on a contemplative level and question Mike’s motives and choices. Why is he not doing anything about his demanding family? As a family man, he should step up in his shoes and at least act as the traditional father who can in an orderly fashion bring up his own kids. Well, that might be easier said than done, as we do not know the background of this family, and we are not actually entering the mind of Mike and gain access to his current thoughts, as it is only told what Mike thinks about the given situation. Understand this right, Mike’s thoughts and opinions are clearly displayed, but not as descriptive as it should have been. No side thoughts or reflective thoughts are provided to the reader, by the writer. So as the reader, you can never really be sure as of why he is not resisting the high expectations put on his shoulders.