1. The Line and the Situation
This line is spoken by Mrs Dorling when the narrator appears at her door after the war. The narrator has come to 46, Marconi Street with the address her mother had given her, hoping to find the household belongings that were left there for safety.
Instead of welcoming her, Mrs Dorling says in surprise, “Have you come back? I thought that no one had come back.” This reaction immediately tells us that she never expected to see any member of that family again.
2. What Clue Does the Statement Give?
Yes, the statement gives an important clue about the background and theme of the story:
- It suggests that the story is set in a post‑war situation. During the war, many people (like the narrator’s family) had to leave their homes or were taken away, and most of them never returned.
- Mrs Dorling’s words show that she believed the narrator’s family had either died or gone away forever. So she felt safe in keeping their possessions as if they now belonged to her.
- It hints at the narrator’s identity as a survivor: she is one of the rare people who has “come back” after the war, when almost everyone else from her community has disappeared.
- The line also foreshadows a moral conflict: the narrator has come to reclaim her past (through her mother’s belongings), while Mrs Dorling has grown used to owning those things and does not want to give them up.
3. What Does It Tell Us about Mrs Dorling?
- She took the narrator’s family objects “for safekeeping” during the war, but her shock at seeing the girl shows that she had not really expected to return them.
- The line reveals her guilt and fear: she is uneasy because she knows that the rightful owner has unexpectedly come back.
- It also hints at her selfishness. Instead of expressing relief that someone has survived, she immediately worries about the consequences for herself and the things she has kept.
4. Connection with the Main Themes of the Story
The statement is closely linked to the main themes of “The Address”:
- War and displacement: People were forced to leave their homes, and many never came back. The narrator’s return is unusual and unexpected.
- Loss and survival: The girl has lost her mother, house and previous life. She is now trying to pick up the broken pieces, starting with the address.
- Moral decline and selfishness: While some people suffered, others quietly kept their belongings and hoped the owners would not return to claim them.
5. Exam‑style Answer (in 2–3 sentences)
Yes, the statement gives a clear clue about the story. It suggests that the story is set in the post‑war period, when many people who had left their homes never returned. Mrs Dorling’s words show that she thought the narrator’s family was gone forever and that she could keep their belongings as her own. The narrator’s unexpected return as a survivor hints at the coming conflict over these possessions and introduces the themes of war, loss and human selfishness.