Analysis of Ali Smith's short story 'The Go-Between'

Most people sees the opportunity to travel as a human right, but somehow there are still people around the world who is forced to be in their native country even though it might be filled with big problems as for example hunger or war.

This situation is presented in the short-story “The Go-Between” written by Ali Smith, where the main character has tried to escape to Europe a couple of times unsuccessfully and tries to deal with the big problems in the country.

The story is told by a first-person narrator. It gives the reader the situation and circumstances at eye level which also leaves the reader with a big impression, because the reader feels like an eyewitness as in the following quote: “What they did, instead, was they chased us with dogs, sticks, electric shock sticks and guns, and a boy near me fell down, he had a bullet in the leg, and then a guard was beating the boy on the same leg with a stick”. The narrator describes it in great details that makes the reader feel present and close to the situation, which is a good effect in this exact situation.