The Train from Rhodesia Essay Example

The Train from Rhodesia Essay The newly-weds are on a train which runs through Rhodesia. The woman is looking at the souvenirs that are on offer at the train station, this is where she sees a sculpture of a lion that she falls in love with. Most of the exploitation takes place between the husband and the sculptor. But, the first sign of exploitation is actually between the wife and the sculptor, she may not know that she is doing it though. It takes place in lines 32-33 her hand commanded This suggests that she thinks that she is in control, and has more authority than the sculptor does. She expects her wishes to be carried out by anyone whom she emits them to. She seems very enthusiastic about the sculpture as soon as she sees it, Nadine Gordimer, the author, goes into great detail about the lion almost as if she wants to put the reader in the wifes place an to try and get us as excited as she herself was. Finally, in line 78 after much pondering, the woman decides not to buy it. The young woman makes out to be that the creation was too expensive, so the husband, who wishes to show off, it seems starts negotiations with the sculptor to show his new wife that he can provide her with whatever she desires. When the sculptor doesnt give in to his bartering so the husband gives up and walks away from the sculptor. As the train is pulling away from the station the sculptor starts to chase after the train to try and sell him the lion once more. We will write a custom essay sample on The Train from Rhodesia specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Train from Rhodesia specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Train from Rhodesia specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Questioning for the last time at the windows this line makes the reader feel as if the sculptor has to accept the measly offering of one-and-six baas for his work. The reason that the sculptor must accept this is because he does not know when there is another train and how long it will be before he can feed his family again. The husband must have been expecting this because he reached into his pocket for the money, as one automatically opens a hand to catch a thrown ball. This is yet another sign of his exploitation of the sculptors work because he had thought previously that he would eventually get the product for a price that was less than it was worth. It is also a sign of humiliation for the sculptor, and to make it worse, when he finally did manage to sell his product it was for less than half the original asking price. The husband was exploiting the sculptor and his work. He made a joke about it to his wife. In line 135 it tells the reader that the young man was shaking his head with laughter and triumph. This is a sign of his ignorance towards the culture of the country he is visiting supposedly for his honey-moon and the exploitation of the people he is around, he is taking advantage of the sculptors poverty by paying less for the sculpture than what it is worth. The idea of this shocks the young woman and infuriates her. But how could you her voice was rising and breaking with the shrill importance of anger. This surprises her husband, we know this by Good Lord, whats the matter? he sincerely thought that she would have been pleased with him. She goes mad at him for exploiting the generosity of the sculptor.