Novelleanalyse af 'Black dog'

The black dog is a story that tells us about a woman, called Mrs Case, who Belongs to the upper-class society with her husband Mr. Case. She is lacking attention from her surroundings, and therefore she begins to see a black dog in the garden, which scares her to death. Her husband and two daughters are trying to convince her that there is nothing out there. But after several tries the husband suddenly hears a dog scratching, and his wife is looking at him with a faited smile.

The relationship between John and Brenda Case seems a bit odd.

“She had always been a good housekeeper, but not now”

(Black dog, p. 1, line 20)

This sentence shows us that he obviously cares for her, but not because he loves her. It appears, as if he considers it his moral obligation, to take care of his wife. The fact that he calls her a housekeeper instead of his wife, is a sign that the love is not there.

The girls are described as girls, who belong to the world of prosperity. In the following sentences, we get to hear that the girls definitely belong to the upper-class society.

“The daughters came, big girls with good jobs, bright clothes and successful boyfriends.”