Question

Describe the role of the 'balcony' in the story 'The Midnight Visitor'.

Hint:

{Key Points:}

• The balcony does NOT actually exist—it's a lie
• Ausable creates it verbally to trap Max
• Max dies believing in this imaginary balcony
• Shows Ausable's intelligence despite his ordinary appearance

Answer 1

In the story "The Midnight Visitor" by Robert Arthur, the balcony plays a crucial and multi-faceted role in the plot development.
Role of the Balcony:

• 
  Element of Deception:
  The balcony becomes the central element in Ausable's clever deception. He creates a fictional balcony to mislead Max into believing there is an escape route, when in reality there is none. This lie becomes the trap that ultimately eliminates the threat.
• 
  Instrument of Max's Downfall:
  The non-existent balcony causes Max's death. Believing Ausable's story, Max jumps out through the window expecting to land on a balcony, but falls to his death instead. The balcony, though imaginary, becomes the weapon of justice.
• 
  Showcases Ausable's Wit:
  The balcony demonstrates Ausable's quick thinking and intelligence. Despite his ordinary appearance, he outsmarts the dangerous Max using nothing but psychological manipulation—creating a believable fiction that saves his life and protects the important document.
• 
  Contrast with Appearances:
  The balcony story highlights the theme that things are not always what they seem. Ausable, who looks like an overweight, ordinary detective, proves to be extremely clever, while Max, who seems dangerous and professional, is fooled by a simple lie.
• 
  Pivot Point of the Plot:
  The balcony serves as the turning point of the story. Before it, Ausable is at Max's mercy; after the balcony lie, the power dynamic shifts completely, leading to the story's climax and resolution.
• 
  Source of Humour and Irony:
  There is dramatic irony in the fact that readers know (or later realize) the balcony doesn't exist, making Max's fate both humorous and ironically just—he is defeated by his own gullibility.

Thus, the balcony, though imaginary, is the most significant element in the story—a tool of deception, a weapon, and a symbol of intelligence triumphing over brute force.