Themes and message

Power relations

The theme of power relations is explored by David Evans in his short story “The Silver Bell” from several points of view. The action takes place shortly after the first democratic elections in South Africa, which meant the end of apartheid. While the story does not mention the apartheid system explicitly, many other details allude to it, such as the existence of racially segregated areas (p.113, l. 17) and non-white South Africans having to submit to a curfew (p. 113, l. 33). This illustrates the unequal power relationship between the white and non-white citizens of South Africa, with the latter being socially, politically, and economically discriminated against by South Africa’s white minority.

The story also illustrates how non-white South Africans are eventually able to begin taking back power by organizing into political groups such as the African National Congress (ANC) and gathering support around them through various types of manifestations (p. 113, ll. 27-31). Other small ways in which the non-white majority had begun to take back power are referenced, such as individuals ignoring certain social norms and laws imposed by apartheid: “she had no way of knowing how orderly things used to be with Blacks getting off the pavements for Whites and respecting the curfew at nightfall.” (p. 113, ll. 32-33)

The author explores the theme of power relations more specifically in connection with Mrs Mackenzie. She is a...