Summary of the story 'The Highway'
A valley in Mexico. There is a Highway which connects Mexico and the United States of America. Hernando is a farmer whose hut and fields lie by the side of the highway. It is raining and hence Hernando has stopped tilling his land and is waiting for the rain to stop.
After some time Hernando notices an unusual thing that no vehicle has passed there on the highway for an hour. Normally, the highway is busy. Sometimes some travelers take a break there. Some of them come to Hernando with some request. They call Hernando for a photo click. They want his hat on his head. But, today highway being empty surprises him. His wife asks him if there is anything wrong. He says that something big is going to happen.
After sometimes hundreds of cars rush past one after another on the highway heading towards the North. These are the people fleeing Mexico to the USA. After a little gap, an old car slows down and stops near Hernando. Smoke is coming out of the bonnet. It is the steam from the radiator. The driver requests Hernando for some water for cooling the radiator. The car is topless and is packed with young ladies. they are drenching. Fear could be seen on their face. They are in a hurry. Hernando moves fast this time and fetches a bowl of water. While pouring water, Hernando asks why hundreds of cars rushed past towards north. The young man says a war has started and that is going to be disastrous as atom bomb would be dropped. They all fear that this 'War' would end the world. Now, the ladies start weeping. The driver takes out a peso to give it to Hernando but Hernando refuses politely. The car moves away.
Hernando remains calm. He doesn't seem to understand what an atom bomb is. So, he is not at all disturbed. Innocence is bliss. He goes to the field and resumes his work.
Analysis and commentary
In the story, there is a river. Interestingly, the Highway is type of river; that is empty, shining and still. The road stands for the life in villages while river stands for the life in cities.
No traffic in the highway suggests that there is a lull before a storm. Here, storm is the rushing cars and dangerous war.
Hernando has made shoes from the tyre of a car smashed in the accident. Here, simplicity of a villager is shown.
Hernando says he helps the travellers those who come to him. He never hurries up. But, this time he hurries up to fetch water. May be the fear on the face of the ladies made him move fast.
When the young man offers a peso to Hernando for his service, the latter ( Hernando) declines to accept it. This shows the simplicity of village people.
While the city people are desperate, fear struck, and are on their way to safety, Hernando remains poised and calm because he is innocent. Innocence is bliss.
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