The Bet

Roald Dahl´s story " Man From the South" takes place in a resort located in Jamaica. It starts with the narrator who has no name sitting beside the pool looking a a group of young people fulling around and notice a man walking by the the pool making little jumps in every step, his name was Carlos and ask for a chair to the narrator. Then, a girls and a sailor approached to them and took a seat, and the sailor offered a cigarette and light to the two gentlemen. Carlos took this as a chance and proposed a bet to the sailor but it wasn't any bet, the bet consisted that they went back to the hotel room and  the sailor should turn his lighter on for ten consecutive time. If he wins he gets a green Cadillac but if he looses he gives his little finger from his left hand away.the sailor thought about the bet for a wile and agreed. they were in the room and the sailor had light the lighter eight times but just after that a woman entered the room and stooped Carlos and explained to everyone that he had lost eleven cars and has collected forty seven fingers doing this bets and took some of her away too.





I really enjoy how Roald Dahl uses characterization to understand the character better and know more about him. 
"He was immaculately dressed in a white suit and he walked very quickly with little bouncing strides, pushing himself high up onto his toes with each step. He had on a large creamy Panama hat..."









Roald uses smart ways so you can see the emotion of the character such as when he said " he walked very quickly with little bouncing strides" this makes you see the personality of a person and how he is joyfully jumping along the pool. 

Another things about Roald is the way he uses imagery it makes it easier for you to understand such as characterization.

"It won't matter. Come to think of it, I can't remember ever in my life having had any use for the little finger on my left hand" 

Even though this is kind of creepy it shows that the boy is just thinking on what he will win and not enough on what he will lose showing that he is to ambitious. 


This story "Man from the South" is a really weird but interesting story that makes you think a lot. The story makes you think that the ambitious to have something you don't need can make you make wrong discussions such as the the kid did by being his finger. Also, the story gives a good theme that is treasure what you have and don't put in risk what really is important for you.