Haywards Heath Themes

The Passage of Time

“Haywards Heath” presents the passage of time as an impossibly strong force that cannot be stopped, no matter how someone might try to resist it. It centers on a middle-aged man, Attila, visiting his old lover, Rosie, in her retirement home. Even before his trip to see her truly gets underway, the changes caused by the passage of time are made clear. When his rental car’s radio startles him when he starts the…

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Mind and Body

Though “Haywards Heath” depicts the mind and the body as firmly connected in many ways, the story also suggests that they can just as easily become disconnected. The connection between the mind and body is made clear in the story’s opening paragraph. As Attila is startled by the car radio, “his heart beat[s] wildly, and his scalp […shrinks] against his skull, hair follicles tightened in alarm.” This description is incredibly visceral and stands out in…

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Race and Identity

Race, though never explicitly discussed, underlies the story in its entirety, an intentional choice that allows the author to comment on the experience of a non-White character. Attila’s race is never stated by the narrator, but certain lines strongly imply that he is Black. For one, he’s described as an international student during his time in university in London. Later, it’s said that, as a student, he “wore a Malcolm X goatee” to his lectures…

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Love

Although it’s been decades since Attila and Rosie have seen each other and many external factors are working against them, the love they still have for each other is strikingly evident. As soon as Attila hears of Rosie’s early retirement, “the idea for the trip came to him [...] and [took] over.” Even so long after their relationship ended, Attila cares enough about Rosie to become entirely “consumed” by his need to see her. Similarly…

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