Imperialism and the Patriarchy
The twin concepts of British colonialist imperialism and male patriarchy work in tandem to foster an analysis of the white male dominion, sense of superiority, expectations of privilege and the righteous—if woefully misplaced—assumption that not other system could possibly have resulted in a better society. The Colonel should probably more rightfully have been referred to as Administrator since that was his position in Ceylon. The constant references to British colonial holdings in that part of the world and the referencing of his military station and attest to the significance of imperialism to the thematic overlay. As for tying it to male dominance of the patriarchal system, one need merely analyze the way the father dominated the lives of his daughters to the point of destroying even the slightest possibility that they might find happiness with another—younger—member of that particular social construct. What the British did to much of the non-white, non-English speaking population of the world, the Colonel does to his family.
Independence
It is easy enough to overlook the sisters’ willingness to submit to their father’s authoritarianism and almost despotic control when they were younger, but their continued submission as they grow older and see their prospects for finding a husband fade with each passing year is inexplicable. Except, of course, that they have each other. Their mutual dependence upon one another in an attempt to create a united front against their father has only resulted in losing all independence and ensuring that they continue to live under his dominion even after his death.
Modernism
One of the themes which the story advances is—fittingly enough—one which exists outside the constructed reality of the fiction and focuses instead on the external means of telling the story. Modernist techniques revolutionary the way fictional stories were presented in the early decades of the 20th century and this story is an excellent example. The opening line steadfastly rejects providing the kind of information essential to traditional storytelling, informing the reader only that something happened a week ago but not releasing the pertinent “what” just yet. The circular construction brings the ending back around to where things started and leaves things unresolved and ambiguous.
