Final answer:
The main theme of "The Open Window" by Saki is deception and storytelling, with social etiquette playing a significant role in the narrative. The story emphasizes how storytelling can influence perceptions and manipulate social interactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main theme of "The Open Window" by Saki is A. Deception and storytelling. In the story, the character of Vera skillfully concocts a tale that deceives Mr. Nuttel into believing that her family members have died and might return as ghosts. This causes a great deal of distress to Mr. Nuttel when they do come back, as he believes they are the supernatural figures of Vera's story. The theme of deception is intertwined with the art of storytelling as Vera's ability to tell a convincing story highlights the power of narrative to shape people's perceptions and reactions.
Through Vera's deceptive tale, Saki also explores themes related to social etiquette as her story manipulates the social interactions and expectations present in the situation. Vera uses the conventions of courtesy and polite conversation to weave her story and elicit a specific response from Mr. Nuttel.
While the story does involve discussion of the supernatural, it is clear that the focus is not on real supernatural events, but rather on the use of supernatural elements within a fabricated story to deceive another. This act of storytelling can be seen as a metaphor for the various ways in which people wear "masks" and veil their identities in social situations, highlighting the theme of appearance versus reality.