The story is set against the backdrop of this conflict between the ruling FRELIMO government and the rebel group RENAMO (referred to as "bandits" in the text).
The story explores several themes that are characteristic of Gordimer's work, including: nadine gordimer the ultimate safari pdf
By using a young girl as the narrator, Gordimer gives voice to those historically silenced in war narratives: women and children. Her final line, promising to one day go back and find her grandfather’s grave, is a haunting testament to resilience. The story is set against the backdrop of
The story ends with the girl in a school in the refugee camp. She learns English and geography. She says she will one day go back to Mozambique to find her grandfather’s bones. This is not a happy ending, but it is an ending of purpose . She has survived to remember. The story ends with the girl in a school in the refugee camp
Gordimer, a fierce anti-apartheid activist and 1991 Nobel Laureate, uses the story to critique her own nation’s involvement; the minority white government of South Africa funded RENAMO to destabilize its Marxist neighbor.