Point of View

"Six Feet of the Country" is written from the first person point of view. The narrator remains nameless throughout the entirety of the short story. Though the narrator's thoughts and opinions are presented via the use of first person pronouns, by omitting the narrator's name, the author lends his biases and prejudices an expansiveness. The narrator's account is specific and particular, yet applicable to any white many living in South Africa during the time of apartheid. Disinterested in seeing himself as one of the "white men" who "have everything" and "can do anything" yet refuse to use their power for the benefit of others, the narrator constantly asserts that he and his wife hold the same beliefs and convictions (13). His first person narration frequently exposes the truth of his hypocrisy. For example, on the story's second page, he says of his marriage and their life...