What is theme of "Dusk"?

The main theme of the short story "Dusk" is the inscrutability of human nature. Despite our best efforts, our conclusions about others are often nothing more than speculative convictions. We know less than we think we do about the motives, impulses, and objectives of our fellow man.

In the story, Norman speculates about the lives of those he comes across. He sees dusk "as the hour of the defeated" and believes that dusk completely hides...

The main theme of the short story "Dusk" is the inscrutability of human nature. Despite our best efforts, our conclusions about others are often nothing more than speculative convictions. We know less than we think we do about the motives, impulses, and objectives of our fellow man.

In the story, Norman speculates about the lives of those he comes across. He sees dusk "as the hour of the defeated" and believes that dusk completely hides one's true self from others. He readily admits that he is "heartsore and disillusioned." However, he does not reveal the reasons for his melancholy. Just as dusk hides others' true selves from him, Norman's reticence hides his true motives, impulses, and objectives from us.

Although Norman himself remains largely inscrutable to us, he does not shy away from speculating about the lives of others. He imagines that an old man he sees is "one of the world's lamenters who induce no responsive weeping." Norman theorizes that the old man is probably poor and shown little regard within his home circle.

Norman's reticence is only matched by his conceit. In his encounter with the young man, Norman imagines that he can rightly discern the youth's motives. However, he is soon proven wrong when the young man outsmarts him. So, the main theme of the short story is the inscrutability of human nature: we know less than we think about what compels others to act the way they do.