Interpretation

“The Ladder” by Sheila Purdy is a short story about a young woman who lets anxiety and fear get the best of her; she failed grasping the opportunity of advancing in her career and, in the end, she may have found the necessary determination to try again.

• First of all, do you believe that Annie’s story is credible?
• Do you know some people who managed  to climb the career ladder?

When discussing and interpreting the short story, it is important for you to focus on Vera and Angela Burns, the two secondary characters.

• What are the risks of climbing the career ladder? Vera, for example, looks down on Annie. She does not even have the decency of looking her in the eye when talking to her.
• Do you agree to the fact that one should be cunning in order to keep one’s position? Just look at Angela Burns who, feeling threatened by Annie, decided to do the catering job herself.

Think about what might push a ...