The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses Analysis
In “The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses” by Bessie Head, one reason the warders are intimidated by the political prisoners is because their actions were not justified by their morals. These prisoners were constantly fighting for what they wanted, and they, “felt no guilt nor were outcasts of society” (Head 127). This quote shows that the prisoners do not feel guilty for disrespecting and intimidating the warders. The prisoners act out from time to time, and intentionally impose their beliefs on the warders even though they know they are not supposed to do so. On Hannetjie’s arrival and poor treatment to the prisoners, the inmates do not attempt an escape because they believe that someone like Warder Hannetjie would be a useful attribution to the
…show more content…
In Bessie Head’s “The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses,” she hints about Brille turning Hannetjie into a good warder by first ridding of Hannetjie’s hypocritical ways. When Brille is caught stealing grapes from the farm shed, Hannetjie beat him. However, when Brille catches Hannetjie stealing fertilizer for his farm, he expects Brille to keep quiet for a small bribe of tobacco. Brille makes Hannetjie learn his lesson when the prisoner turns in his warder the next day, despite his acceptance of the bribe. Brill punishes Hannetjie because as he tells his comrades they, “need a good warder” (Head 129). After Hannetjie confesses about his theft, span one continues on doing basically whatever they please. Brille knows that if he pushes Hannetjie to a breaking point, he will give in to the prisoners. Carrying on the punishment hints that Brille knows this desperation in Hannetjie will be evident soon, which is why Brille, “carried this to extremes” (Head 130). He is disrespectful to Hannetjie and treats him like a fellow comrade versus a boss. This story hints that Brille plans on transforming Hannetjie into a good warder because he first makes Hannetjie treat the prisoners more equally, and he then takes the punishment to the utmost point for he knows how Hannetjie will
In Bessie Head’s “The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses,” she hints about Brille turning Hannetjie into a good warder by first ridding of Hannetjie’s hypocritical ways. When Brille is caught stealing grapes from the farm shed, Hannetjie beat him. However, when Brille catches Hannetjie stealing fertilizer for his farm, he expects Brille to keep quiet for a small bribe of tobacco. Brille makes Hannetjie learn his lesson when the prisoner turns in his warder the next day, despite his acceptance of the bribe. Brill punishes Hannetjie because as he tells his comrades they, “need a good warder” (Head 129). After Hannetjie confesses about his theft, span one continues on doing basically whatever they please. Brille knows that if he pushes Hannetjie to a breaking point, he will give in to the prisoners. Carrying on the punishment hints that Brille knows this desperation in Hannetjie will be evident soon, which is why Brille, “carried this to extremes” (Head 130). He is disrespectful to Hannetjie and treats him like a fellow comrade versus a boss. This story hints that Brille plans on transforming Hannetjie into a good warder because he first makes Hannetjie treat the prisoners more equally, and he then takes the punishment to the utmost point for he knows how Hannetjie will