The Soft Voice Of The Serpent

Résumé

Soft Voice of the Serpent, a short story by Nadine Gordimer tells of the most bizarre relationship which a man, who has lost his leg, has with a wounded locust. When the man who is still trying to accept his own injury, notices that the locust has also been handicapped by the loss of a limb, he feels an instant connection towards the locust. Now that the man has found something else which has to deal with the same thing he does his outlook on his situation is brighter. At this point the mans confidence and esteem for himself is soaring, the locust has empowered him as a new person. But then the locust, when scared by the woman flies away. The locust flying off crushes the mans already dilapidated sense of self worth. Throughout the story the author conveys the message that mans feelings of capability and adequacy are often shattered by the same things which build us up