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The open window is the main set piece of Vera’s story, literally framing her uncles’ return for the characters inside the Sappleton home. Though each character sees the same thing when looking through the window, what this image means changes depending on their perspective. For Mrs. Sappleton, who knows her husband and brothers will soon be returning from a hunting trip, seeing the men through the window is exciting. To Mr. Nuttel, who believes these men are dead, it is terrifying. The open window thus represents the power of storytelling to shape one’s view of the world outside.
The Open Window Quotes in The Open Window
The The Open Window quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Open Window. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
The Open Window Quotes
Poor aunt always thinks that they will come back some day, they and the little brown spaniel that was lost with them, and walk in at that window just as they used to do. That is why the window is kept open every evening till it is quite dusk. … Do you know, sometimes on still, quiet evenings like this, I almost get a creepy feeling that they will all walk in through that window - "
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Explanation and Analysis:
Vera’s elaborate explanation for the open window ends with an element of horror. Knowing full well that her uncles are not dead, and in fact will be returning through the open window later that afternoon, Vera sets the stage to frighten Mr. Nuttel. She includes specific details as well, like the little brown spaniel, to make her story seem more reliable, thoroughly convincing Mr. Nuttel (who has no reason to disbelieve the seemingly innocent Vera) that her fiction is fact. He, along with the reader, does not know the true fate of Vera’s uncles, and as such her words create Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non
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The Open Window Symbol Timeline in The Open Window
The timeline below shows where the symbol The Open Window appears in The Open Window. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
The Open Window
Vera points out a large open window, commenting that Mr. Nuttel may wonder why it has been left open on an October...
(full context)
Turning to look out the window himself, Mr. Nuttel sees three men and a dog walking across the yard, one with...
(full context)
