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.

Because the story is told by the main character it is important to look at who the main character is and how he sees himself. The main character is a 33-year-old previous biologist from Cameroon. He is a clever man and which is also why he calls himself “Professor Me”. Also he is well-educated and speaks a number of European languages such as Spanish, French, Italian, English and some others. Because of all the languages he can speak, he compare himself with Vodafone which is a telecommunications company. He compare himself with Vodafone because he is capable of translating and helping the other people with contact. He thus makes himself indispensable which is a smart way to make sure to stay in Europe as he also underline in the following quote: ”I’m a born border crosserer. I’m MarocTel. I’m Vodafone. Without the connection, nothing”. He makes it clear this whole system needs him, and if they sent him back they will have nothing left. This comparison is not the only one Ali Smith uses in the short-story. Ali smith uses the symbolism to get the reader closer to the main character and he tries to help the reader to understand the main character and his exact situation. ”Nobody leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark”. The preceding quote also describes some of the symbolism in this short-story. The main character compare his home with a shark’s mouth, which underlines that these people who is trying to start a completely new life is doing it because it is deadly dangerous to live in the area they live in in Africa.