Magomedgadzhieva Karina

Do we have the right to intrude into other people’s lives and change their
fates?
In the short story “The Apple Tree” written by John Galsworthy we read
about a love triangle between farm-girl Megan, recently graduated Frank Ashurst
and his friend’s sister Stella Halliday. Ashurst suddenly appeared in Megan's life
and turned it upside down. She fell in love almost at first sight with the young man,
who also developed feelings of affection for her. By making a lot of promises to
her, talking about a life together away from everyone they knew, Ashurst planted
hope in Megan for a future together for them. We watch as he swiftly bursts into
the girl's life, practically forcing her to run away with him far from all her family
and friends. Even though Ashurst realised that he couldn't afford to just be with the
farm girl, because he belonged to a higher class, he let Megan believe in the
possibility. After leaving for another town and seeing the alternative life he might
have, alongside people from his class, Ashurst gradually realises that he has
promised the near impossible. An encounter with Stella turns his view of the future
upside down. He comes to the conclusion that he does not want to go back for
Megan, but does not let her know about his new plans. This is what dramatically
changes the rest of her fate.
I think the main character was mean to Megan. He allowed himself to
indulge a fleeting attraction, made impossible promises, and then dumped the girl
without even telling her that he couldn't build a future together with her after all.
Megan, being very young, and perhaps sincerely feeling something for Ashurst,
probably didn't realise right away that he'd abandoned her. The long wait, the
disbelief in the possibility that her lover could leave her like that and not even
return for his belongings, gradually drove the girl mad. We see how intruding into
the young girl's life Ashurst has completely changed it for the worse. His
interference led Megan to commit suicide, which would not have happened if he
had treated her with dignity.
It can also be said that the Hollidays, by intervening in Ashurst's life and
showing, so to speak, the bright side of it also changed the young man's fate. They
helped him to decide how he should move forward in this life, something he was
noticeably having difficulties with. However, I find it difficult to say that this was
a positive intervention, because somehow or other it all led to the death of an
innocent girl.
Thus, we can conclude that one should not barge into one person's life,
promise them fabulous things and then abandon them without explanation, as we
can never know how this may end up for the person.