The Address

Summary

The Address by Marga Minco is a moving story about war, loss, memory, and the limits of material possessions. It is narrated by a young Jewish girl who returns to Holland after surviving the Second World War. Her purpose is to recover the valuable belongings her mother had entrusted to Mrs. Dorling, a family acquaintance, before the war.

During the war, Mrs. Dorling regularly visited their house and took away silverware, crockery, table linen, and other valuable items, claiming she was keeping them safe. Although the narrator always found her cold and businesslike, her mother trusted her in those desperate times.

After the war, the narrator visits Mrs. Dorling’s address. On her first visit, Mrs. Dorling refuses to acknowledge her and shuts the door. Later, the narrator returns, and Mrs. Dorling’s teenage daughter unknowingly invites her inside.

There, the narrator sees her family’s belongings arranged in a completely different home. Instead of bringing joy, the familiar objects appear lifeless and unfamiliar. They awaken painful memories of her mother and the family she has lost, making her realize that possessions cannot restore the past.

In the end, she leaves without claiming anything. She understands that memories live in the heart, not in objects, and that true healing comes from accepting the past rather than trying to reclaim it.

Central idea: The story shows that while material things may survive war, the emotional world attached to them often cannot.

Extract-based Question 

"I stopped, horrified in a room I knew and didn't know."

1. Why does the narrator say she knew and did not know the room?

A. She had lived there as a child.

B. It contained her mother’s belongings in a strange setting.

C. She had forgotten the address.

D. The room was completely empty.

2. The objects had “lost their meaning” because:

A. They were old and damaged.

B. They belonged to Mrs. Dorling now.

C. The loved ones connected with them were gone.

D. They were of little monetary value.

3. What is the central idea conveyed through this extract?

A. Wealth brings happiness.

B. War destroys only buildings.

C. Material possessions cannot replace human relationships.

D. Memories should always be forgotten.

Answer Key: 1. B | 2. C | 3. C