It can be easy to feel lonely, even though there are millions of people in the world all around you. People are busy dealing with their own life and are so independent, that they often forget about the people around them. In the short story “Serrusalmus” by Lesley Glaister, we meet Marjorie, who suffers from agoraphobia and is living in her own little peaceful world with her fish.
Marjorie is a woman in her forties. She lives on her own with her fish in an apartment. She prefers fish over people, because, in proportion to the people, the fish are more peaceful. “It soothes her to watch the fish. They aren’t busy like the ants and the people. They are peaceful,” (page 82, line 36-38).
She has a fish named Russ, of the genus Serrusalmus. She talks about Russ as if he was her child or a real person. “He is a beautiful boy, and although she does not have favourites, if the truth be told he is her pride and joy,” (page 83, line 4-6).
Russ is her favorite because his strength and brutalism works as a substitute for Marjorie’s weakness. He makes her feel stronger.
She is mentally unstable and suffers from agoraphobia, which is a fear of big crowds and open spaces. Marjorie rarely leaves her apartment and she has developed a dread of people. The only person she does not fear is Ron from Fish ‘n Feathers.
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