What is the message of the prisoner who wore glasses?
Idealism, Politics, and Resisting Oppression “The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses” describes what life was like for a group of incarcerated South African political prisoners and narrates their small-scale subversion of the prison system.
What is the significance of Brille glasses?
Initially, Brille’s glasses symbolize his weakness and vulnerability as a prisoner. He is described as “a thin little fellow with a hollowed-out chest and comic knobbly knees,” and having poor eyesight adds another layer of physical debility to his character.
What is ironic about Brille wearing glasses?
In the story, it is ironic that Brille has poor eyesight, which typically signifies a weakness. However, Brille is not weak at all. In the end, he becomes the one who is in control.
What is the conflict in the prisoner who wore glasses?
The conflict in this story is Man vs. Man because both Hannetjie and Brille catch each other stealing and that brings conflict between them.
What does prisoners statement what happens to one of us happens to all mean after Brille was punished?
Brille apologizes to the Span, and his fellows reply, “What happens to one of us, happens to all of us.” This statement expresses group solidarity, but also demonstrates their resignation to the harsh punishments inflicted.
Who is the protagonist in the prisoner who wore glasses?
Brille
Brille Character Analysis. The story’s protagonist and a member of Span One. Though a physically weak, bespectacled black prisoner, he ends up winning a limited victory over the repressive prison system.
Who are the main characters in the prisoner who wore glasses?
The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses Characters
- Brille. The story’s protagonist and a member of Span One.
- Warder Hannetjie. Brought in to subdue the “out of control” inmates of Span One, Warder Hannetjie is the antagonist of the story who undergoes a profound moral transformation.
- Span One.
What was the deal that Brille and Hannetjie make?
When he observes the guard stealing fertilizer, Brille accepts a bribe of tobacco to keep his mouth shut—but then promptly gets Hannetjie in trouble for the theft, and then later for handing out tobacco. Over time, Hannetjie guard crumbles under Brille’s cunning machinations, and offers to give him anything he wants.
How was Brille physically described?
Brille is not physically intimidating. He wears glasses and has “a hollowed-out chest and comic knobbly knees” (Head 427). Brille wanted Warder Hannetjie to feel the grim reality of a life crumbling right before his eyes.
Why were the warders intimidated by the political prisoners?
what deal do the prisoners of Span One strike with Warder Hannetjie? why are the warders intimidated by the political prisoners? they are assertive and don’t let the warders walk all over them. what is ironic about Brilles eyesight?
What makes the span one special not like any other prisoners?
They have a strong sense of group identity and solidarity: “they moved, thought, and acted as one.” Because of their assertiveness and unity, they are not beaten like the inmates in other spans, warders cannot control them, and they are able to steal food and tobacco with ease.
Is the prisoner who wore glasses a short story?
Bessie Head, author of the short story “The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses” builds her characters through the use of description and diction.
What happens to the prisoners in the prisoner who wore glasses?
They live in fear and suffer under Hannetjie’s harsh treatment until the bespectacled prisoner, Brille, concocts a plan to subdue the guard. Get the entire The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses LitChart as a printable PDF. “My students can’t get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof.”
What was brille’s life like before prison?
-Graham S. Before Brille puts his plan into action, the story describes his life before prison. He had been a teacher with a large family of 12 unruly children who fought with each other all day long.
Why does brille betray the guard and then betray him?
Ironically, given his poor sight, Brille is the one to see Hannetjie stealing and subsequently blackmail him. However, Brille then betrays the guard, going back on the deal.
How are the prisoners of span one able to resist harsh treatment?
Through unity and deception that they feel is justified, the prisoners of Span One have been able to resist the prison authorities’ harsh treatment and obtain small comforts to make their incarceration more tolerable.