English Literature (BookRags)
What is the relevance of the title?
The suitcase by S.K Mphahlela
The suitcase by S.K Mphahlela
The title is important because it illustrates the unimportance of physical things. In the start of the story, the narrator is angry that he has been limited to one suitcase of belongings for his departure from the Soviet Union. While packing, he realizes that he was angry for nothing because his belongings didn't amount to much and weren't important. His belongings were so unimportant that after arriving in America, he packs the suitcase away and never thinks about it again..... until his son discovers the suitcase years later. Once unpacked, the narrator comes to see that even though the articles themselves are insignificant, each article holds a story of the narrators past.... something to be passed down to his son.
The Suitcase