Graves (short story)

"Graves" is a short story by Alice Munro, first published in 1983. It is considered one of Munro's most anthologized and studied works. The story explores themes of memory, family secrets, guilt, and the unreliable nature of narratives.

The narrative centers around a young girl's memory of her brother, James, and a significant event from their childhood involving a trip to locate graves in a distant cemetery. The graves they seek are those of their father's family. The story is narrated retrospectively, with the narrator reflecting on the impact of this experience and the subsequent loss of James in the Second World War.

The search for the graves becomes a metaphor for uncovering hidden truths and confronting the past. The story examines how childhood experiences shape identity and how memory can be both subjective and distorting. The ambiguity surrounding James's motivations and the details of their journey contribute to the story's overall sense of mystery and emotional complexity. The ending leaves the reader with a sense of unresolved grief and the enduring power of the past.