The Open Window Summary
The Open Window was written by Hector Hug Munro who was better known by
the pen name ‘Saki’. The story begins with Frampton Nuttel who visits the
countryside for treatment of his nerves. He didn’t know anybody in that place so
his sister gave him some letters of introduction hoping this would help him to get
acquainted with a few people there. Once he reaches the country, he visits Mrs.
Sappleton where he meets her fifteen-year-old niece named Vera. She is a
confident and calm looking girl who assures Mr Nuttel that her aunt would be
coming downstairs soon. Meanwhile, Vera enquires with him if he knows any
people around that place. He mentions that his sister visited that place some four
years ago and gave him some letters of introduction. On that account, he has
come to visit Mrs. Sappleton.
As Mr Nuttel looks around the room, he realises that the house is also inhabited
by men. However, he is hesitant and wonders whether Mrs. Sappleton is a
married woman or a widow. While he is lost in thoughts, Vera suddenly mentions
that about three years ago, her aunt’s husband and her two younger brothers
went out for shooting, but never returned. She points towards the large French
window that opens to a lawn. Further, she tells Mr Nuttel that the men never
came back as they were trapped in the swampy land and their bodies could not
be recovered till date. Vera further says that her aunt, Mrs. Sappleton always
keeps this particular window open until it gets dark hoping that her husband and
brothers would return someday. Sometimes, even Vera feels that her uncles
would come through the open window along with their dog in the same manner.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Sappleton arrives and apologises for being late. She also
mentions her husband and brothers who have gone out shooting for birds.
Besides, she tells Mr Nuttel that she keeps the window wide open for them to
enter into the house, so that they do not ruin the carpet with their mud-coated
shoes. However, Mr Nuttel feels a spooky air in the room and he tries to change
the topic of discussion. But Mrs. Sappleton continues talking about shooting and
the scarcity of birds in that area.
Soon, Frampton realises that she is looking towards the window while talking to
him and not paying attention to him. Suddenly she tells him that the men have
returned from their shooting and were just on time for tea. This frightens Mr
Nuttel even more and he shivers with fear. He turns to look towards Vera for
sympathy, but even the young girl was looking through the window with a dazed
horror in her eyes.
Mr Nuttel starts feeling uncomfortable and suddenly notices three figures
carrying guns under their arms, walking across the lawn towards the open
window. A tired brown spaniel is also coming along with them. Frightened Mr
Nuttel quickly grabs his stick and hat and rushes out of the house. Finally, Mrs.
Sappleton’s husband walks into the room, but is surprised why Mr Nuttel
hastened out of the room without meeting him. Mrs. Sappleton tells her husband
that he is ill and rushed out of the house even without bidding a goodbye to
anyone. The way he exits the room appears that he had seen some ghosts. To this,
Vera states that probably Mr Nuttel is afraid of dogs. She mentions how he was
once attacked by dogs in a cemetery and he was so nervous that he had to spend
a night in a newly dug grave with the dogs growling around him.
TARGETED LEARNING OUTCOME
The chapter – The Open Window illustrates that we should not believe other
people’s words blindly, who often try to manipulate or convince us to believe
them.
Or, If you are gullible you can be trapped easily.
