# The Boar-Pig explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Saki.

## What happens

Matilda Cuvering, a mischievous thirteen-year-old, deliberately releases a large boar-pig into a paddock to trap Mrs. Stossen and her daughter, who are sneaking into a garden party uninvited. She then extorts money from them for the Fresh Air Fund before luring the pig away with rotten medlars.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Class and Status

The Stossens' desperate attempt to attend the party uninvited highlights the importance of social standing and the lengths people go to maintain appearances.

### Hypocrisy and Moral Facade

Mrs. Stossen's indignation at Matilda's trickery contrasts with her own dishonest scheme to gatecrash the party.

### Rebellion and Individuality

Matilda's clever defiance of adult authority and her refusal to conform to expected behavior exemplify youthful rebellion.

## Character check-ins

### Matilda Cuvering

Thirteen-year-old girl who orchestrates the entrapment of the Stossens and extorts money from them.

### Mrs. Philidore Stossen

Uninvited guest who attempts to sneak into the garden party with her daughter.

### Miss Stossen

Daughter of Mrs. Stossen, accompanying her mother in the failed infiltration.

## Key lines

> I could not do violence to my conscience for anything less than ten shillings.

Matilda insists that her conscience demands at least ten shillings before she will help.

_Shows Matilda's manipulative use of moral language to justify her extortion._

> The animal wasn't savage at all, and as for the ten shillings, I don't believe the Fresh Air Fund will see a penny of it!

Mrs. Stossen complains that the pig was not dangerous and suspects Matilda kept the money.

_Reveals Mrs. Stossen's bitterness and her mistaken assumption about Matilda's honesty._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_49_se/chapters/the-boar-pig
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_49_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_49_se/chapters