The Soft Voice of the Serpent by Nadine Gordimer

Background on the Author: Nadine Gordimer

• Nadine Gordimer (1923–2014): South African writer known for short stories and novels.
• Key themes: Political issues in South Africa, including apartheid and censorship.
• Published The Soft Voice of the Serpent in her first collection of short stories (1952).
• Won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1991.

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Summary of the Story

Main Character:

• A 26-year-old man who has lost his leg.
• Struggles to adjust to life with his amputation.
• His wife supports him and often wheels him into the garden.

Key Event:

• While in the garden, he notices a locust with a missing leg.
• Identifies with the locust and feels they share a similar struggle.
• This realization provides temporary comfort and makes him feel less alone.

Turning Point:

• His wife attempts to touch the locust with a stick, startling it into flight.
• The man realizes that, unlike him, the locust can fly despite its missing leg.
• This contrast deepens his sense of isolation.

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Themes and Key Ideas

Loss and Isolation:

• The story reflects the emotional impact of physical loss and the challenge of coping with change.

Identity and Adaptation:

• Highlights how the man tries to normalize his situation, seeking comfort in a shared experience with the locust.

Contrast between Human and Nature:

• The man's inability to "fly" symbolizes the human struggle to rise above physical and emotional challenges.

Hope and Disillusionment:

• Initial hope from the locust's resilience is replaced by a reminder of his own limitations.