Chapter 2
The Address
Author: Marga Minco
🖋️ Introduction About the Author:
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Marga Minco (1920–2023) was a Dutch journalist and writer.
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Born into a Jewish family, she is best known for her works based on World War II and the Holocaust.
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Her writing is marked by simplicity, realism, and emotional depth.
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"The Address" is based on real-life experiences of loss, trauma, and recovery after the war.
📚 Introduction to the Chapter:
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"The Address" is a short story about a daughter who visits a house to reclaim her mother’s belongings after World War II.
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It explores themes of loss, memory, identity, and the impact of war on personal relationships.
📌 Characters:
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Narrator (Daughter) – A Jewish girl who survived the war and returns to retrieve her mother’s possessions.
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Mrs. Dorling – A former acquaintance of the narrator’s mother who took their belongings for safekeeping.
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Narrator’s Mother – A victim of the war who had trusted Mrs. Dorling with their valuables.
🧵 Summary:
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After World War II, the narrator returns to a city to find the address her mother had given her before the war — "Address 46, Marconi Street".
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Mrs. Dorling had taken their valuable possessions (like cutlery, silverware, etc.) for safekeeping, claiming it was "for their own safety."
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When the narrator visits, Mrs. Dorling does not welcome her warmly and refuses to recognize her.
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In a second visit, the narrator finds only Mrs. Dorling’s daughter at home and sees all her mother’s belongings in use — but everything feels cold and unfamiliar.
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Though these items were once part of her happy home, they now bring painful memories.
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In the end, the narrator decides to leave everything behind, realizing that true memories are in the heart, not in material things.
💡 Themes:
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Loss and Displacement – The war caused people to lose their homes, identities, and loved ones.
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Memory and Identity – Personal belongings can trigger memories, but they can’t recreate the past.
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Impact of War – War destroys not just cities but also human relationships and trust.
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Material vs Emotional Value – Physical items can’t replace emotional connections and lived experiences.
📝 Important Points to Remember:
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The story is narrated in first person.
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Title “The Address” symbolizes not just a location, but a lost connection and past life.
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The narrator shows emotional maturity by letting go of the belongings.
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The story ends on a note of detachment and acceptance.
✍️ Moral/Message:
The story teaches us that clinging to the past may not bring peace. True healing comes from accepting the present and moving on.
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