s short story
features a literary technique called dramatic . A writer creates dramatic irony when he/she
reveals information to the reader that one or more of the characters in the story does not know.
It's a good way to create suspense and make a reader think about how characters will react to
the circumstances of the story.
When Vera tells Mr. Nuttel about the missing
men, the reader eventually discovers that this story is a lie. Because Mr. Nuttel does not know
it is a lie, we have an instance of dramatic irony.
Why does Vera have to
lie? Well, for Saki to create the intended effect (dramatic irony) the reader needs to learn
something that the character does not, and the lie makes this possible.
Notice that Vera does not only tell one lie. After Mr. Nuttel runs away, she lies about
the reason he left, saying that he was afraid of their dog:
"I expect it was the spaniel," said the niece calmly; "he told me he had
a horror of dogs.
This lie shifts the focus from Mr.
Nuttels situation to Vera's behavior. Sakis theme now becomes clearer. Instead of a central
message about a man who is trying to deal with a nervous disorder, the reader is presented with
a girl who deceives impulsively, and apparently just for the fun of it. The second lie forces us
to confront the question: what does Veras deceitful behavior say about humanity?
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