An Elderly Lady is up to No Good

“Idle chatter and problems were the worst things she could think of, and now she was faced with one of the biggest problems she had ever encountered.”

Maud’s reaction to the idea of “idle chatter and problems” is the text’s first indication of her peculiar mindset. In later stories, it will be revealed that she has actually genuinely suffered in life. Despite this fact, however, it is small inconveniences that most rattle her—particularly those that force her out of her solitude and routines.

“After a period of intense undercover work by tabloid journalists, it emerged that she had been admitted to a private rehab clinic; she had been abusing both legal and illegal drugs, as well as drinking heavily.”

The Ambiguity Between Justice and Vengeance of both the characters and the world they inhabit is conveyed in the narrator’s recounting of Jasmin’s backstory. Her substance misuse is neither glamorized nor explicitly condemned—it is simply recounted as part of her characterization. This is in keeping with the story’s overall characterization of Jasmin: some of her behavior is problematic, even unethical, but in general she is neither monster nor saint. The diction “intense undercover work” juxtaposed with the detail of “tabloid” journalists creates an ironic contrast between the reporters’ disreputable mission and their hard work. This also highlights the moral gray zone the story operates within.

“Maud was confused and didn’t really know what to say. Automatically she reverted to her role of Very Old Lady.”

The unconventional capitalization of “Very Old Lady” indicates that Maud thinks of this as a character name—it is not her authentic self, but a persona she puts on when needed.