Full name: Nguyễn Thị Kim Quế ( Iwami )​

Student ID Number: DAV227331

THE KEY​
Isaac Bashevis Singer
The short story “The Key,” written by Isaac Bashevis Singer invites the reader into
the world of an elderly widow named Bessie Popkin. She lives in a small New York
apartment surrounded by the neighbors whom she considers untrustworthy people. At first
glance, we find the poor widow alone in her accommodation, preparing to buy some food
down the street. Although shopping is a normal daily activity in everyday lives, Bessie
Popkin's life seems to be miserable, depressed, and struggling. She checks the lock over
and over, hides her money, and feels threatened by the world outside. The rising action
unfolds when Bessie enters a supermarket where she can’t even open the door by herself
due to her old age, and she starts to encounter many challenges, such as enduring the
glaring light, navigating through impatient shoppers pushing wagons, and struggling with her
bad memory. Then, as if life has satisfied enough that the crisis arrives. The old woman
comes back to her apartment, trying to put her key into the special lock. Unfortunately, her
key breaks inside, and she realizes she is now locked out of her home. She feels hopeless
and vulnerable, thinking about leaving the shopping bag, coming back to the street to find a
hardware store to help her, only to affect her health since she sleeps on the street for the
whole night. In the falling action, Bessie’s desperation gives way to a fragile relief as the Irish
super and her neighbors step in to help her back into her own home. At the end of the story,
Bessie lies down on her bed. She was physically and emotionally exhausted. When she
drifts into unconsciousness, her husband, who is Sam, appears.

The story’s insight is not stopped at the plot but is emotionally enhanced by the
author’s use of imagery. It helps readers to see, hear, and feel what Bessie experiences. For
example, in the supermarket, the environment seems chaotic. The author writes, “The lamps
burned with a glaring light,” which shows that the light in the store is very bright and
uncomfortable. This strong light makes the store feel cold and unfriendly. Bessie feels small
and weak in this place that is not made for her, shown by the detail: “The shelves were either
too high or too low.” The sounds are also very loud—“The noise was deafening,” and the
shopping carts crash into each other, making the store seem dangerous even during normal
activities. Besides, the scene outside the church at night provides an intense emotion of
Bessie’s isolation. After being locked out, she comes to “a church…darkened by shadows.”
She is “barely able to sit down,” her knees “wobbled,” her shoes “pinched in the toes and
above the heels,” and “a bone in her corset broke and cut into her flesh.” These physical
details create a clear and strong picture of things falling apart. Finally, in the bedroom
scene, the imagery turns inward and dreamlike. Bessie lies on her bed, unable to even open
her bag. “There was pressure on her breast, and she felt like vomiting. Something heavy
vibrated up from her feet to her chest.” This physical sensation evokes something deeper
than simple fatigue—perhaps a heart attack or a quiet slipping away.

Based on such rich imagery, the novel employs detailed characterization. Bessie is
depicted as being fragile and vulnerable. Years of loneliness and hardship wore her down.
Her actions and thoughts signify an overwhelming sense of uncertainty and fear. In fact, she
keeps checking the door for the state of its lock and keeps the money under the bed. It
indicates the high extent of threat she feels from the world. Furthermore, Bessie’s
helplessness and vulnerability are emphasized through the hardships she faced with such
simple tasks as getting the door of the supermarket open, or looking for the money in the
handbag. In spite of being vulnerable, Bessie’s character is not without that resilience and
need for independence. In spite of getting tired and getting frustrated with it, she insists on
shopping herself. However, the broken key and her inability to get into the house symbolize
the limits of her independence and highlight how fragile her situation really is. Overall,
through detailed characterization, the author effectively shows Bessie’s physical and
emotional weakness, her deep fear, and her loneliness.

This detailed portrayal of Bessie’s character naturally leads to the story’s use of
symbolism. One of the most powerful symbols is the broken key. The key, which allows her
to grant access to the comfort house but it snaps in her hand symbolizing the loss of control
and security in her life. It reflects how aging and hardship have weakened her to the world
.Similarly, the cold stone steps where Bessie sits outside the church symbolize isolation and
abandonment. The hardness and chill of the steps mirror her emotional pain and loneliness,
emphasizing how she is left exposed and vulnerable without protection or warmth. The
church itself is often a symbol of refuge and hope, is closed and shadowed. It underscores
her sense of despair and the absence of comfort. Moreover, The glaring lights in the
supermarket symbolize the overwhelming and hostile nature of the outside world. Instead of
providing clarity or guidance, the bright lights expose Bessie’s vulnerabilities and discomfort,
making her feel small and lost in a place that seems indifferent to her needs.

While these symbols evoke sympathy to Bessie’s life , the story also employs irony
to highlight the painful contrasts between her expectations and reality. For example, Bessie
insists on doing her own shopping to prove she can still manage on her own. However,
shopping actually makes her exhausted. This contrast between her intentions and the actual
outcomes creates a poignant sense of irony. Additionally, the Irish superintendent, whom
Bessie perceives as a “blood enemy,” unexpectedly shows kindness by helping her. This
contrasts with her fearful expectations. This dramatic irony underscores her isolation and
misunderstanding of those around her. Through these ironic moments, the story reveals the
gap between Bessie’s inner world and external reality. It highlights her vulnerability and
loneliness in a world that no longer feels safe or familiar.

The central theme of the story revolves around the harsh realities of aging and the
profound sense of isolation. Through Bessie’s experiences, we can explore how growing old
often brings physical weakness, emotional vulnerability, and a loss of independence. The
story also emphasizes the loneliness that elderly individuals may face. That is, they navigate
a world that feels increasingly cold, unfriendly, and indifferent to their needs. Additionally, the
struggle to maintain dignity and control despite these challenges emerges as a powerful
theme. It reveals the quiet resilience of those confronting the decline of their bodies and
spirits.

Personally, I believe Bessie becomes alert and distrustful not merely because of her
old age, but mainly due to the loss of her husband. His death left a hole in her life that no
one else could fill. What she does each day feels more like surviving than truly living. The
deep sense of hopelessness explains why a person isolated himself/herself. I feel so much
related to Bessie. When I was in secondary and high school, I often questioned the purpose
of living. I couldn’t understand why I had to study or try hard when everything seemed
meaningless. The people around me often do something I hate: gossiping, cheating during
exams, and constantly fighting. I lost trust in everyone, even my parents, who didn’t express
love through words like I had seen in Western families. I disconnected from the world. I
studied alone, played alone, and when I felt stressed or hurt, I kept everything inside,
believing that asking for help made me weak. I thought being fully independent was the only
way to protect myself from being disappointed or hurt by others. But one day, I lost my
phone because I accidentally left it in my friend's bag. I had no choice but to ask for help. To
my surprise, the entire class responded. The very classmates I had assumed would gossip
about me were the ones who posted on school confession pages, reported it to teachers,
and helped search for my phone for a long time. That moment changed me. I realized I had
shut myself off so tightly that I couldn’t see the kindness in others. I only saw what I
expected to see, not the truth. Losing my phone was a turning point. It helped me reconnect
with people and rediscover the more energetic, trusting version of myself. I believe the
broken key in Bessie’s story and my lost phone share a symbolic connection. Both are small,
unexpected events that lead to transformation.