A. Write an essay (700-900 words) in which you analyze and interpret Richard Knight’s short story “Sorry for Disturbing You”. To put your interpretation into perspective, your essay must include a discussion of at least two of the other items listed below. One of these must be a text.
The short story “Sorry for Disturbing you” written by Richard Knight focuses on the regret of choices one makes in life. The story presents the encounter between a lonely man, full of regrets, and a man, realizing he does not want end up lonely and full of regrets.
The story revolves around the protagonist Ian Harter and starts in medias res with Ian opening the door to his house finding an old and drunk man on his doorstep. Ian reluctantly lets the stranger, Michael, enter his home where he is alone with his daughter, Corinne, whilst making him tea and offers to help him call a cab. Ian finds out that Michael was associated with the former owner’s of Ian’s house, and he also finds out about how Michael was rejected by his own family. In the end Ian ends up driving Michael home. Michael apologizes, saying “sorry to disrupt your evening”, signifying the title of the story, and Ian returns home to his wife and daughter. The composition of “Sorry for Disturbing You” is mainly chronological. However, there is a breach of the chronologically time line as Ian reflects over his meeting with Michael in the beginning of the story. The story spans over a couple of hours, from the moment Ian opens the door to when he returns home to his wife and daughter. The story is told by a third person limited narrator, as we only get an insight view on Ian’s thoughts. This means that the portrait of Michael is based on Ian’s perception of him and how he appears in the dialogue between them. Ian’s wife, Karen, should have been at home, but “they had things to sort out”, which means that they are separated. They are having marital problems, and it is clear that Ian is unhappy