Posted by Syed Nasir on June 05, 1999 at 20:55:15:
In "Handling Charges," a short story by Ghita Orth, the black horse appears to symbolize Jeff and his ailment. He is dying from a remediless disease. His mother, Tova, watches Jeff choose the black Arabian horse. It's the only black horse that is mentioned; Arabian horses are presented as one of the most beautiful and prestigious breeds of horses. Orth uses the horse to represent Jeff, who also is unique as a result of his disease and condition. The color black represents death and the author might have used the color to show that Jeff choosing the black horse represented his near death. Tova also realizes her son's traumatic future and prepares for his death by letting him choose the black Arabian horse.