This short story looks like a deep one from the first glance, and there are a few reasons for such a statement. The author describes the life with the experience it brings. The experience of good and bad things that can happen. Dina involves in numerous events during the story, and these seem to be quite dismal, especially when people’s coldness is added. But she goes through this finding the ways of living that would be good for her. In this image the escape and challenge are combined with the notice challenge substitutes escaping from problems. It teaches us to be strong and not to give up as well as to be attentive toward others.
Then – people. There’s no clear distinction between good and bad characters; there are only deeds and attitudes. Dina’s father was cruel. Her mother was good. Heidi is sincere and Dina is somewhat rough. But they are people after all. We may blame somebody of characters, but we may also regard it as a call for deep thinking and self-development. The author doesn’t blame anyone in her story – mainly the life itself and consequences are depicted.
Friendship and Family relations are the issues touched in the story. Dina is reserved and doesn’t try to make friends. She needs somebody but she denies it. And then Heidi appears. Different girls for the first sight turn out to be rather alike. And Dina spends all the time with her. She even says she loves her. Friendship is important. Dina’s family didn’t look like a happy family. Again after mother’s death Dina keeps her activity though her feelings are broken. The author emphasizes the importance of these relations in our lives.
Speaking about interaction among characters, we may see the female characters – Dina and Heidi – go from differentiation to close friendship. Their relations help them to advance: both of them discover something new in themselves and in the world around. Finally they break, but Dina would probably like to change this. The relation between Dr. Raeburn and Dina is secondary. He examines Dina, but their talks don’t bring as much positive outcomes unlike Dina-Heidi line. Also the opposition Dina-world is worth remembering. They are closely related but simultaneously they are at a great distance. A traditional confrontation that has been pictured in literature for hundreds of years.
Generally, the story teaches us to communicate not looking at any differences (especially those of skin colour), to challenge the world and oneself, not to give up, to be friendly and try to accomplish our responsibilities best.
