The differing male and female perspectives on Comradeship

Today's social conventions are similar to those found in South Africa during the Apartheid. Women are not nearly as fond as men towards the killing of innocent human beings because they want to show loyalty and faithfulness to their fellow comrades. Bhecki's friend desires to kill for a reason the narrator as a woman does not understand. Mr. Thabane attempts to explain the concept to Mrs. Curren. After telling her she doesn't understand enough about comradeship, Mr. Thabane explains why the youth have violent tendencies. He writes, "When you are the body and soul in the struggle as these young people are, when you are prepared to lay down your lives for each other without quest, then a bond grows up that is stronger than any bond. That is comradeship." (149) Although Mr. Thabane doesn't agree with comradeship, he does acknowledgement that it is a part of the new, younger generation. Mrs. Curren still sees comradeship as "nothing but a mystique of death, of killing and dying, masquerading as what you call a bond" (150). Mrs. Curren even goes as far as blaming Mrs. Curren for not discouraging this comradeship. Even though Mrs. Curren is aware that her opinion counts for little or nothing she still expresses disdain for comradeship. Unlike her male counterpart who has the ability to recognize and live with comradeship, Mrs. Curren feels obligated to change ideals to what they once were.