"What, Of This Goldfish, Would You Wish": A Theme in Etgar Kere's Work

In the paper "Etgar Kere's "What, Of This Goldfish, Would You Wish": Theme Essay" we will research and analyze this book. The conversation displays Sergei's need for a companion, (the goldfish), because it is his only friend and the goldfish is obligated to remain with Sergei on the grounds that he must grant him three wishes. In the short story "What, Of This Goldfish, Would You Wish?" by Etgar Keret states, ''After the last wish, Sergei won't have a choice. He'll have to let the goldfish go. His magic goldfish. His friend".

This statement demonstrates that Sergei did not have any desire to spare the kid by considering the last wish since that would mean he would lose his solitary friend that would converse with him daily. The loss of his fish friend would mean he would be desolate again, but the fish would be more than happy to receive his freedom. According to the passage, Keret states, “‘I’ve been saving it. Saving it for something.’ / ‘For what?’ the fish says. But Sergei won’t answer”. The fish is more than happy to be released so he tries to persuade Sergei into letting him go.

Sergei is reluctant to give an answer and his silence indicates that he did not want to share as to why he did not use his last wish.The reason for this was probably being because he didn’t want the fish to know he actually cared and that his actions were all for the purpose of not being lonely anymore, however he must feel very embarrassed about it, hence the fact he did not reply. In view of the two wishes that Sergei utilized, it demonstrates that he thinks about others despite the fact that he experiences considerable difficulties indicating that he likes to keep to himself.In the short story, "What, Of This Goldfish, Would You Wish?", by Etgar Keret, states,"The first wish, Sergei used up when they discovered a cancer in his sister". One of the desires he utilized was to spare his sister. It demonstrates that he cared for her and did not need her to pass on in light of the fact that she had lung cancer.

He did not need his sister to know that he granted a wish for her and the goldfish was there to encourage him and give the desire. Sergei’s next wish is purely for the benefit of his girlfriend and her son. The text states, "The second wish Sergei used up five years ago, on Sveta's boy, the kid as still small then, barely three, but the doctors already knew something in her son's head wasn't right". The other was for his lover, Svet, for her withering son. He used it on him because he had some condition that did not enable his mind to develop to its full size and since he cherished his love for Svet, he wanted to save her son because he saw all the torment she was experiencing. This demonstrates that Sergei had put others all before himself and he is an extremely selfless individual. He must decide if he wants to use his last wish to save Yonatan. He is conflicted because he does not want to use his last wish since then he would lose his solitary companion that talks to him everyday. He needed to spare the last wish for himself because he had used the other to spare the other essential individuals throughout his life. In the short story, "What, Of This Goldfish, Would You Wish?", by Etgar Keret, states, "’You killed him, Sergei,’ the goldfish says. "’You murdered someone- but you're not a murderer’".

The goldfish endeavors to influence him to make the wish since he realized that Sergei was not a murderer and that where it counts Sergei accomplished something that was not right. The issue of whether or not he should use the wish emerges. Sergei wants to be able to fix his mistake, but he finds difficulty in choosing between risk and keeping a friend, or keeping his good name and losing a friend. The goldfish wanted his freedom and roam free from Sergei. The text states, "The fish swishes his fish tail back and forth in the water, the way he does, Sergei knows when he's truly excited. The goldfish can already taste freedom. Sergei can see it on him". Sergei did not have any desire to make the wish since he needed to endeavor to keep the goldfish around longer so he would have somebody to converse with everyday. He sees that the goldfish is eager to at last get his flexibility so the fish attempts to influence him to concede the wish.