Deconstructing a Short Story: One

Deconstructing a Short Story: One Out of Many In One Out of Many, author V.S. Naipaul addresses a storyline set in the 1960s. However, the story itself was published in 2001, the same year as the terrorist attacks on the U.S. (French, 2008). The story's protagonist, Santosh, is a gentleman of South Asian descent, and typically assumed to be a terrorist based on his nationality (Jarvis, 1989). It is believed that the publication of a story of this nature and with this type of protagonist in that year is not coincidental.

Santosh comes to America because his boss has been transferred there and he has the opportunity to continue to serve him in the new country (French, 2008). He also has an "American dream" and has been dazzled by all the hype about the country just like so many other immigrants who arrive every year.

It is not long after his arrival that he realizes he is not accepted in his new "home" and that he must make changes and permanently alter who he is and how he identifies with his race and culture if he is going to live in the U.S. And be "one of the Americans." One of the points made by Naipaul is that those who are colonized can and should make an effort to rebuild culture that is indigenous to them (French, 2008).

When pursuing a dream, things can become overwhelming. This can be positive or negative, but either way it can be confusing and difficult to address and accept. Following through with dreams is the responsibility of the dreamer, and when those who dream decide that they are no longer going to pursue their dreams they must let those dreams go because others are not going to make them come true. With Santosh and his dream, there is a high degree of tension.

That tension is seen through the entire story, not just with the dream, but the dream is a pivotal point and a significant piece of information for those who are attempting to understand how a person can remain part of his or her own culture and also belong to and be accepted by a different culture (French, 2008). Santosh's dream has turned him into a prisoner of his apartment, his job, and his city (French, 2008). Rather than attempt to break free, however, he simply accepts his fate and his captivity.

His anxiety and his self-policing attitude about his work and his life keep him from attempting to do anything different (French, 2008). He continues to have passion and he continues to dream, but he knows deep down that those dreams will never become any kind of reality for him. Santosh is one out of many immigrants who come to the U.S. And one out of many immigrants who do not feel comfortable and at home there.

They simply accept their fate because America is supposed to be the greatest country in the world. If they are not happy there, perhaps the fault lies with them and not with the country? This is part of the thinking of immigrants who cannot acculturate when they come to the U.S., and is emphasized by the idea that they are one of the many, but that there are many to consider (French, 2008). They are not unique in their struggles.

Some believe that Naipaul is anti-American, but the story is not about the negatives of America (French, 2008). The story is about the differences that are seen between dreams and reality. So many people go to other countries or even other states or towns with big dreams, but the reality that they face is often very.