The Young Man's Predicaments in The Bridegroom

The young man is confronted with numerous predicaments in the story. He attempts to handle them himself and not with the help of his bride, the bride’s parents, Piet and the black people who are involved. The predicament that his bride-to-be will stay in his caravan in the hot Kalahari alone with the other black people when his gone and the mutual understanding between the young man and Piet when she will be living with the young man, how will he handle Piet? One would find that there is a clear divide between the young man and the black people that reside with him on the camp. He would merely see them as assets to him, than actual people that are employed by the government to help him with his work. This contrast between him and the black people play a major role in the predicaments the young man finds himself.

The young man and Ou Piet have a closer association and a better understanding than the other black people. Piet cooks and cleans for the bridegroom and works around his camp, but they have a mutual understanding, more than a working relationship “‘Ou Piet! Kerel! What did you do to the koeksusters, hey?’ he called out joyously.” The young man and Piet find themselves in tense situations, where the young man would use his race supremacy. In that era political rule was strictly white and other races were seen as inferior and mediocre. The young man acknowledges that Piet is a good cook, but reminds him that he better prepare the food well when his bride-to-be comes to live by him “Piet, You must do everything when the missus comes.’” (The Bridegroom, N.G, p.74). At this moment the two characters stare at each other with a pause and in this a common understanding is felt between the two men and a feeling of tension. It is ...

... middle of paper ...

...t of the bottle of brandy.” (The Bridegroom, N.G, p.78), but this made him more worried that it could lead to them stealing his brandy “Hell, no, man, it was mad. If they got the taste for the stuff, they’d be pinching it all the time.” (The Bridegroom, N.G, p.78) and worse misbehaving around his bride-to-be. He will rather give them sugar and yeast to make them beer when his away to Francistown.

The young man’s predicaments all revolve around his need to satisfy those that will judge him and he becomes trapped between the apartheid rule and humanity’s desire for equality and respect towards others. This is purely a personal issue that can be resolved solely by him, but should take into the consideration of those involved. We see glimpses of this coming through the young man, but being raised in an era of apartheid it overpowers his common understanding of respect.