Themes and message

Escapism

One of the main themes in the short story "The Park" by James Matthews is escapism. The park represents the focus of the main character’s fantasy and hopes. The childish desire to play in the park and have this continue forever is implied throughout the text, starting with the main character’s memory of a different fair ground: “For a brief moment he was astride one and he prayed it would last for ever, but the moment lasted only the time it took him to whisper the prayer” (ll. 63-64). The simple and innocent fun he could have at a place like that becomes the single object of all his desires. It is an experience that he cannot find in his home environment:

As he rolled the tyre, his spirit was in the park on the swings. There was no barrier to his coming and he could do as he pleased. He was away from the narrow streets and squawking children and speeding cars. He was in a place of green grass and re...