Camilo's Epiphany In 'Theft'

In her epiphany, the narrator becomes aware of “her own fault” and that she is responsible for the thefts in her life. The epiphany highlights her passivity and apathy which are evidenced through the characterisation and plot structure.

“Theft” beings with the narrator realises that her purse had disappeared. Her calm recollection of the last time she had held the purse shows us that she is not panicked and in fact, very meticulous regarding the details. This is the first evidence that she has a somewhat detached personality and contradicts with the janitress’ claim that she “leaves things around and don’t seem to notice much” (65). Porter then brings us on a recount of how the narrator’s day had been and who she had interacted with. The interaction between the different characters and our narrator allows the reader to understand her personality and exactly how she has her things ‘stolen’ because of it.

The boy who was “almost as poor as she was” (59), yet had a habit of paying for the narrator’s train fair, was obviously interested in her. However, all that the narrator could think of in regards to Camilo was the materialistic side of him, rather than appreciating his “small courtesies” (59). Throughout the whole interaction she keeps reminding the reader of Camilo having no money and of his “shabby hat” (60). She even coldly brushed him off by asking him — almost in a commanding tone — to “do go home” despite the implication that they live in the same