“The Lumber Room” is a short story and an example of Edwardian literature. Edwardian literature is named such because it was written around the time of King Edward’s rule of England, between roughly 1901 and 1914 (following the Victorian era). While Victorian literature was characterized by romantic portrayals of English upper-class society, Edwardian literature tended to be more critical, drawing attention to the darker aspects of English society, such as the harsh disparities found along the lines of class, gender, and family hierarchies.
While some writers approached such issues with a somber tone, Saki did so via satire and humor. In “The Lumber Room,” Saki is genuinely criticizing the Victorian Era expectation that children silently and unquestioningly obey adults, but he does so in a humorous way. For example, the aunt in the story is hyperbolically cruel and punitive and Nicholas is exaggeratedly intelligent and conniving. By exaggerating these qualities, Saki poses the question to readers: Should all children really always obey all adults?
It is notable that, according to one of Saki’s sisters, she and Saki grew up with strict and rigid aunts very similar to the aunt in the story. In this regard, then, the story likely contains at least some autobiographical elements.
