Theme and message

Prejudice

The short story “The Inevitable” by Daniel A. Hoyt explores the theme of prejudice, which is reflected in different ways. 

First, the theme of prejudice is illustrated when the narrator describes the incident between the white police officer and black teenager Michael Brown, who was fatally shot. The event influences the narrator and fuels her prejudice against the police. 

Then, the theme can be seen during the narrator’s altercation with the former police officer after the concert. She provokes him by using bad language and threatening to have the real police called, which only makes things worse. Consequently, readers are led to believe that the former police officer is most likely as brutal as the narrator thought.

Thirdly, the narrator shows prejudice during her conflict with her daughter. The narrator is pr...