Theme and message

The main theme of the short story “De-Luxe Model” by Adam Thorpe is evolution and modernity, together with the consequences they bring. The author’s message is that the mechanisation of households is not always as fascinating and important as one might suspect and that people can easily let themselves be captivated by false promises regarding ultra-modern equipment and utensils.

Evolution and modernity

This theme is illustrated by the decision of the Gould spouses to remodel their kitchen. First, they bring modern equipment which becomes fascinating for the narrator:

Nothing prepared me for the change. The scullery wall had been knocked down, so it wasn’t even the same room. Walking into the kitchen by the new glass-paned door was like being transported to a different dimension - or at least to a different house. All the old wooden cabinets and shelves had been torn out and replaced by new, off-white melamine units with metallic handles like grinning lips. The table was also melamine, surrounded by yellow stools with plastic cushioned seats that sighed when you sat on them. (ll. 29-34)

Nowadays, melamine cabinets with metallic handles do not seem like much, yet they were very relevant for the beginning of the twentieth century when such appliances were considered modern. What is more, the modern kitchen is completed by the “robot” (l. 36), which is, in fact, nothing more than a sim...