Self-Absorption

Saki's works are filled with characters who are completely self-absorbed, caring little for the comfort and well-being of others. In many cases, this is done for the sake of creating humorous situations. For example, Clovis is at a villa where a child goes missing. Clovis asks for the situation that led to the child's disappearance and is told that the child's father had gone inside to check on the sauce to be used for the asparagus in an upcoming meal just before the child is found to be missing. Clovis grabs onto the idea of what kind of sauce is going to be used and notes that the mother simply does not pay any attention to the fact that he asks about the sauce, returning the conversation to the child. This lack of concern about the child is typical of Clovis's self-absorption. This is also typical of Reginald...