The Briefcase

What is the theme of the briefcase

• scientific theories can be changed at any time and this proved by the way the chef adopted a new theory about earth

• stealing an identity is the best way to fight injustice. This is proven by the briefcase stolen by the chef.

• desperation can lead people to the extremes. This is shown when the chef steals the professors’ briefcase and his life it is also shown in how the chef continues to hold onto the professor’s life, almost adopting the role.

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How was the main character depicted in the beginning of the story

• As someone who is feeling guilty for his crime.

• As someone treated poorly and malnourished. He is lonely

  and dejected as he assumes the other prisoners are thinking

  about loved ones, as he does.

• As someone who is unsatisfied with the maltreatment of the prisoners and planning to steal the professor's briefcase

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The briefcase is the symbol of

• A new identity

• An old dream

• A biography based on the professor's recollection

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The soldiers are to blame and could be described as unjust because

• They stole the identity of the professor to change their life.

• They gave the briefcase to the chef to steal the identity of the professor.

• When the chef freed himself and the soldiers took a professor prisoner in his place. They do not seem to care who they take prisoner but rather seem intent on having the right number of prisoners.

The chef is no longer reading current newspapers. What does this change reveal about his state of mind?

• He feels bored of reading and wants to do some other activities.

• The chef is paranoid about being discovered or caught, so he is very careful.

• He thinks that reading about current events will take him to the memories when he worked as a chef.

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The chef is making new theories and this can be explained as follows:

• The new theories replacing the old ones which means a new identity of the chef is taking the place of the identity of the professor.

• The new theories represent the need to fix the professor's mistake.

• The new theories are a way to escape the bitter reality of the professor.

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Infer the changes that occurred on the character.

• The chef now is no longer prisoned and can do the job of a professor at university.

• The chef is now prisoned in the identity of the professor and he is doing his best to extricate himself.

• The chef is replacing the character of the professor. Now he writes until his hands ache. He is not used to pens, his hands are used to spoons and leeks. The character of the

  professor was his only way towards freedom. However, he will be prisoned in the details of the life of the professor. He must embrace all the details of his life and delete the details of the chef’s life so that he can survive in this world.

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he chef prefers to read old newspapers and history books rather than daily news because

• he misses his past life in prison

• he doesn't want to make connection with the real world.

• he thinks that they are no longer interesting.

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