Hattie Telford

Outer characterization

Hattie Telford is the main character of the short story “Comrades” by Nadine Gordimer. Hattie’s outer appearance is only vaguely given, suggesting she may be representative of a wider group of white political activists in South Africa fighting for the end of apartheid.

Readers know that she is white, that she has blue eyes (p. 98, l. 14) and freckles (p. 98, l.15), and that she is called “Mrs.” (p. 98, l. 1), which reveals that she is most likely married. There is no clear indication regarding Hattie’s age. However, she frequently refers to the boys as “young” (p. 99, l. 13) and describes herself as “older” (p. 99, l. 1) than them.

Hattie belongs to the “committee of white and black activists” (p. 98, l. 9) and speaks for black people’s education. She lives in a big house, which proves that she has economic advantages. This is also illustrated through the fact that she can afford a maid. She also has a large dog with a “fancy collar” (p. 99, l. 35).

Inner characterization

Hattie seems to have a fear of black South Africans, which she tries to control because of her circumstances. Although she is in a university campus, which she claims is “a non-racial enclave of learning” (p. 98, ll. 4-5), when the boys approach her, Hattie’s first thought is that there is “no need to be afraid; this was not a city street” (p. 98, l. 3). This hints that her first instinct is to be afraid when approached by b...