Social Responsibility

Mrs. Curren believes that a crime has been committed in the formation of governmental policies in South Africa, and for much of her life she believes that her role, or her function, is to live as a "good" person who is ashamed. She plays her role well. She teaches her courses in the classics staying far away from the turmoil. After retirement she stays home, reads, plays Bach, and is ashamed of the governmental policies for which she believes she is blameless. With the news of her impending death, Mrs. Curren begins to step outside of her usual routine and she sees things that challenge her notion of social responsibility. A series of experiences also challenges her notion that she is blameless for current affairs and her ability to sit quietly by and say nothing.

For her entire adult life Mrs. Curren has been against many policies...