Marie

The Overall theme of this story could be seen as the parallels between Courage and Fear. Marie, in here old age is caught in the paradox of living in the security of her fears. She is overly precise when it comes to the details of getting to her Social Security Appointments on time, making sure she has all the proper documentation, arming herself against the threat of attack, even, as the story describes, "when going down the hall to the trash drop".She takes all these steps and precausions out of fear. Fear that she may lose her source of income, fear that she may be overlooked, fear that she may be harmed. It is ironic that she feels a sense of security living in these fears. The text states that she felt life was all chaos and uncertainty, and therefore she must always be prepared, always stick to a regimented set of rules. She thinks this will keep her safe from challenges that would cause her fear, but really she is a prisoner of the anticipation of fearful or unpleasant encounters.

An interesting irony is that she finds courage when life does present new challenges, and she actually throws off her fear. She secretly wishes for another jab at the man who attacks her, and seems to have taken some pleasure in the power found in slapping Vernelle in the face. Later on in the story we read that the incident of the train, leaving her stranded without luggage, though distressing, brought her to the Heaven like city of Washington D.C., land of possibilities. It is when she sits and thinks, and is not in action, that fear and regret take hold of her again.