Summary of 'The Address' (Class 11 English)

The story takes place in Holland after the Second World War. The narrator, a young Jewish woman, returns to her hometown. During the war, her mother had given all their valuable belongings (silver cutlery, antique plates, and vases) to a non-Jewish acquaintance named Mrs. Dorling to keep them safe. Mrs. Dorling lived at 'Number 46, Marconi Street'.

When the narrator visits the address, Mrs. Dorling answers the door. Despite recognizing the narrator and wearing her mother's green knitted cardigan, Mrs. Dorling behaves coldly. She refuses to let the narrator inside or talk to her, clearly showing she has no intention of returning the valuable belongings.

The narrator visits again when Mrs. Dorling is out. Mrs. Dorling's 15-year-old daughter lets her in. Inside, the narrator is shocked to see her mother's precious belongings arranged in a tasteless, ugly manner in a strange room. The items suddenly lose their emotional value because they are disconnected from her mother and placed in a depressing environment. Realizing that these material things will only bring back painful memories, the narrator decides to leave them behind forever and resolve to forget 'The Address'.