Perspectives

Literary period

Published in 1990, the short story “Comrades” by Nadine Gordimer is a modernist work of fiction. Modernist fiction often uses a third-person narrator and sometimes tends to present events chronologically. Furthermore, modernist literature relies heavily on symbols. Modernist writers concern themselves with topics presenting relevant issues, such as race relations, class differences, or interactions between people of different economic backgrounds.

"Comrades" is told from the perspective of a third-person narrator, who mainly focuses on Hattie. At times, the other characters’ perspectives are presented as well. The events, which spread over the course of a few hours, are presented chronologically. The choice of words helps the author create an authentic atmosphere, and the symbols help readers discover important traits of the characters. Furthermore, the story explores the...