Gordimer

"And they took heed of the advice on a small board fixed to the wall:  Consult DRAGON'S TEETH the People for Total Security." (p. 235)

When I think of dragons, I usually imagine childhood stories of knights in armor and princesses; however, this story is far from a fairytale.

In the story, the parents are constantly upgrading the security of their house in order to "protect" the family.  Usually, consciousness of security is a good thing.  In this story, a large worry of safety leads to horrible consequences.  If we spend our lives constantly worrying about danger, nothing can be truly enjoyed.  For example, the parents in this story are so concerned about the family's safety that they forget to focus on the actions of their child.  This is pretty ironic because their actions were actually supposed to improve his safety instead of hurting him.  Also, the company is supposed to provide "Total Security."  Sure, it provided security from the outside world, but who would have ever thought of the danger within the home - imagination.