Walter Streeter

W.S.

“W.S.” comes from “The Complete Short Stories of Leslie Poles Hartley”. Leslie Poles Hartley was an English novelist, short-story writer, and critic whose works fuse a subtle observation of manners traditional to the English novel with an interest in the psychology.  L. P. Hartley was the author of over twenty volumes of fiction, the best known of which are The Go-Between(1953), which is regarded as a modern classic. “W.S.” was published posthumously in 1973.

The main character of the story a writer - Walter Streeter - gets one after the other four postcards with messages from anonymous and starts thinking them over. There are many interrogative sentences in the text. Some of them are rhetorical questions that Walter Streeter asks himself. Much of the text is subordinated to the antithesis technique.  

At first, an unknown admirer praises Walter Streeter, then immediately informs him about the shortcomings of his literary style. Walter Streeter himself is at first not interested in what is happening between him and W.S., then plunges into the mystery of his personality. Could it be a man? No, she's definitely a fan in love, a mouse-like woman (simile) who is a lunatic (metaphor).

Initially, the writer thinks that the initials of the interlocutor are commonplace, then it seems to him that these are his initials. He thinks he can probably write to himself that this is a sure sign of a split personality, then Walter Streeter convinces himself that everything is fine with his mental state and he is not crazy. Walter Streeter's belles-lettres undergoes changes along with the author himself, he sometimes gets to write, sometimes not. The writer wants to burn the postcard in the fireplace, but immediately abandons this idea and intends to show it to a friend. Aside from that, Walter Streeter wants to burn the postcard in the fireplace, but immediately abandons this idea and intends to show it to a friend. In addition, an ambivalent situation has emerged in the police. Walter Streeter found no solace here. There doesn't seem to be anything to worry about, but if the postcard continues to be sent, it's better to report it to the police again. W.S. could be a fan, but what if it's actually an ill-wisher? Again, the antithesis technique.

Inner thoughts and feelings of the main character are interwoven with the narration. His characterization  is revealed by receiving letters. The story may be divided into 4 logical parts which rely on 4 postcards with their contents and effect on the protagonist. The writer is an insecure person who finds it difficult to accept criticism, which is why he responds to letters not only from fans, but also from a critical audience. He is interested in all sorts of mysteries and mysticism, which is why he is so easily carried away by this kind of detective investigation. Interestingly, Leslie Poles Hartley uses antonomasia creating the main character’s name. Walter Streeter concerns the financial sphere of life and sounds too materialistic rather than suitable for the imaginary world of a writer. Perhaps W.S. hints at this when he writes the author does not understand his characters enough, because his main goal is to make money. The anonymous sender called Walter Streeter a borderline case (metaphor) that is not able to choose between the reality and the other world. This will be a reference to what will happen to the writer at the end of the passage, when he begins to suspect that he is going crazy.