House Taken Over: Themes

Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.

Fear of the Unknown

The central theme of fear of the unknown is illustrated primarily through the narrator and Irene’s fear of the unknown intruders. The narrator and Irene spend their days repeating the same habits and hobbies because it is comfortable and familiar and does not challenge them in any way. The descriptions of the intruders are intentionally vague to leave it up to the imagination who they could be or what they could want. The narrator and Irene are peculiarly incurious. The way the narrator goes right back to preparing his drink and the way Irene simply accepts being barricaded in one side of the house emphasizes this lack of curiosity. However, the first time the narrator hears the intruders, his fear is immediate and reactionary. The way he throws his body against the door before locking it with a bolt is dramatic and implies the intruders are dangerous, but the details do not explicitly explain why.

The narrator and Irene’s fear of the unknown builds a tone of dread and suspense as they go about their slightly modified daily lives. The sleep disturbances they experience suggest the unknown intruders create psychological anxiety for the narrator and Irene. The final scene in the story occurs at night to heighten the tone of fear and dread. The narrator feels horrible, and Irene cries as they stand in the street having lost their home and all their belongings because they were too afraid to confront the unknown intruders. The act of fleeing is meant to appear absurd, and it is ultimately ironic that the narrator and Irene’s fear of the unknown intruders leaves them facing an unknown and uncertain future.

The Inevitability of Change

Throughout the story, the narrator and Irene are confronted by the inevitability of change. The intruders represent unwelcome change that the narrator and Irene are forced to accept. The narrator makes frequent observations that show he is averse to change and modernity. His complaint that there haven’t been any good French books available in Argentina in some time illustrates his displeasure with the state of things in his country. However, his displeasure does not change the fact that the books he hopes to read are no longer available. Similarly, the narrator’s observation that the closed door in the vestibule gives the false impression that part of the house is a small, modern apartment is a subtle jab at the way Buenos Aires is changing. Ironically, Irene and the narrator are soon forced to accept living on the smaller side of the house by the intruders. The new living situation happens against their will but is implied to be inevitable because they merely adjust their habits slightly and do not resist. Each change in the story is presented as a force beyond the narrator and Irene’s control that they must simply accept. Their eventual expulsion from the house illustrates the inevitability of change, but this is not necessarily presented in a positive light. Ultimately, the tide of change takes everything that Irene and the narrator hold dear.

The Consequences of Clinging to the Past

Both Irene and the narrator are defined by their inability to move forward with their lives. The family house itself, which has been passed on through generations, is a strong symbol of history and the past. The narrator would even rather tear down the house than pass it on to distant relatives who might take it apart and sell it for its materials because he prefers the house remain as he has always known it in his memory, even though he won’t be alive to be affected by the changes.

The narrator and Irene’s obsession with keeping the house clean also exemplifies their preoccupation with living in the past. The repetition of the same chores and hobbies shows that the narrator and Irene are living their lives on a loop of rote activity. By refusing marriage and children to carry their heritage forward, they ensure that their lives stay rooted in the past and present, but never the future. On the surface, the decision to privilege the past keeps the narrator and Irene comfortable. They are at ease engaging in their favorite hobbies of knitting and reading French books ad nauseum. However, their inability to look forward is what ultimately causes them to lose the lifestyle and home that they prize so highly.

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