Interpreting The Short Story 'How Lucky You Are'

Essay on How Lucky you are
In this essay i will be analyzing and interpreting the short story “How Lucky you are”. This story shows the reader just “how lucky you are” - meaning how privileged most people are, and to not take anything for granted. The story uses various techniques and themes to impact the reader, which i will explain later.
The protagonist Max is a privileged rebellious teenager. He has issues in school, and lacks motivation because of his father. “This time last year, he’d been full of enthusiasm for his new school…. His dad had sat him down, explained how he felt stifled and need to get away. He was going off travelling, to “find himself”, he said.” - Page 1, Line 10. Max develops as a person throughout the story, as he meets Ishraqi and hears her life story. You could say Ishraqi is the opposite of Max, as Ishraqi is a disadvantaged young teenager, who came to the United Kingdom as an unaccompanied young minor. Her parents were arrested at an anti-government demonstration. She is described as Iranian fit girl, with black hair and really nice dark eyes. The turning point

There was a usual bunch of people milling round outside the vast concrete and glass block looming into the sky” Page 2, Line 37. We get the impression of a suburban area, almost like a metropolis. Max acts as Ishraqi’s tour guide for the day, and uses the tram to loop round the town centre. “It’s so… grey - She murmured peering out the window - No trees and not even much sky with all these buildings.”. - Page 4, Line 117. Ishraqi is not used to the sight of South London, as Iran is a more colorful country with a very different culture. She can wear whatever she want, and has more freedom. Shortly after this, Ishraqi and Max share a kiss. Immediately after, Alexsa rings, and tells them that Ishraqi would be seen shortly. And just like that, Max loses her forever. Here, he learns the harsh realities of life - the hard