Theme of the Story An Angel in Disguise
One of the key themes in this story and a popular one at the time, is the sorrow and societal burden created by drunkenness. One important issue raised by the campaign for the banning of alcohol was the huge numbers of men who neglected the needs of their families in favour of drinking in bars and taverns. In the story An Angel in Disguise’, this theme takes perhaps a more tragic turn, as the mother is the one falling prey to the charms of drink, leaving her three children home alone and neglected.
Next there is the theme of selfishness versus selflessness. When an unnamed pauper woman dies from excessive alcohol use, the villagers gather at her house and show pity for the three motherless children John, Kate and Maggie. As the farmer Jones and Mrs. Ellis were inspired by the feelings selfishness, they show their sympathy only for two children of the dead mother. While adopting these two children, their personal motives are clearly seen.
Farmer Jones adopts John who is a strong boy of twelve years old. He knows that the boy can look after his fields and help him in his farming. On the other hand Mrs. Ellis who was looking for a maid, adopts Kate as a maid. But nobody shows interest to adopt the crippled girl Maggie. Everyone thinks her a burden. Even, one of the villagers suggests that she should be sent to the poor house. Whereas the farmer Jones and Mrs Ellis’ decision to adopt John and Kate respectively is governed by selfish motive of acquiring hands to help them in their works, Joe Thompson out of compassion takes Maggie home along with him. Joe Thompson cannot see the innocent girl suffer for no fault of her own.
Then, the writer portrays the redeeming power of love through the character of Mrs. Thompson. In the beginning of the story, Mrs. Thompson has been shown as a hard-hearted, short tempered and irritable woman. She grows violent at her husband for bringing the invalid child home and inquires him of the reason for not taking her to the poorhouse, but later on she is conquered by the feeling of love which springs in her heart at the arrival of the girl. The love for the child has changed her. Now, she no longer wishes to send away the child to the poor house but wants to take care of her as a mother.
It appears, as if Mrs. Thompson had turned bitter earlier because of being childless, but as soon as the love of a child touches her, she is transformed. By the end, Mrs. Thompson is not an irritable, ill-tempered and self-afflicting woman but a loving, mother¬like figure. Maggie’s arrival makes Mrs. Thompson to have a soft comer for her and she starts looking after her and loses all her ‘vinegar’ nature. With the arrival of Maggie the whole household of Joe Thompson seems to be brimming with joy. Indeed it is the great power of love which brings unbounded happiness in their house and changes their lives.
Treasure Trove Poems and Short Stories Workbook Answers