The Outstation Literary Elements

Short story

The events described in the story take place in Malaysia after World War I

Third-person point of view

The tone and mood of the story is calm and peaceful; only the scenes of the protagonists’ fights are emotional and filled with fury.

Both Cooper and Warburton are the protagonists; an antagonist as a character is not presented in the story.

The main conflict is in the confrontation of the characters. Mr. Warburton embodies common sense and good reasoning, while Mr. Cooper is hot-tempered and very harsh with the natives. Though Mr. Warburton is presented as a snob given his manners and behavior, but it is Cooper who is a real snob as his hatred towards the natives shows. Cooper has too high of an opinion of himself and does not respect other people. Ideological confrontation is the major conflict of the story.

The climax comes when Cooper is found with a kris in his heart. His death is the logical outcome of his attitude towards the natives.

Mutual dislike and total disapproval of each other between Cooper and Warburton foreshadows conflicting situations might occur.

Malay personalities are not clearly described; Mr. Warburton has learned a lot about the Malays during the years of his position at the Fort, but what exactly he has learned about them is not made explicit.

Allusions to the Boer War and World War I are traced in the story.

Images of nature are often used by the author, mostly as a background of Mr. Warburton’s recollections. Descriptions of the main characters’ appearances are also described.

The paradox is that Mr. Cooper, being a strong man, could not protect himself from a Malay boy.

Mr. Warburton’s life is depicted in terms of a parallel between his present and his past.

“The moon made a pathway on the broad river.” (Moon is a metonymy for its light.)

“Peace stole into the soul of Mr. Warburton.”