Waiting for the Barbarians

A detailed Summary of Waiting for the Barbarians

The relationship between the Magistrate and the "barbarian" girl in "Waiting for the Barbarians" is not at any point in the novel, a typical relationship. The Magistrate's guilt for having been involved in a government that has for so long mistrusted and mistreated the "barbarians" manifests itself in his attraction to the "barbarian" girl. The affair begins on his part, as an innocent infatuation with the "barbarian" girl. Throughout the novel, he becomes more and more aware of the subconscious reasons he has for having such an attraction to the girl. From the time when he first begins the relationship with her to the time he leaves with her people is a progression of the clarity with which he views the relationship.

The Magistrate begins to be intrigued by the girl in a fairly natural way. As he sees her, a blind "barbarian" girl begging on the streets, left behind by her people, he feels an attraction for her. They begin their relationship (if such a one-sided relationship can actually be labeled one at all) in a completely physical way. The Magistrate is content with only dealing with her body. He massages her, bathes her, and sleeps next to her. He is completely satisfied with this seemingly normal relationship.

order to find excuses not to deal with her.

He states in his frustration, "These bodies of hers and mine are diffuse, gaseous, centreless, at one moment spinning about a vortex here, at another curdling, thickening elsewhere; but often also flat, blank. I know what to do with her no more than one cloud in the sky knows what to do with another". (34) These thoughts from the Magistrate illustrate very clearly two feelings of his: one he is aware of, and one he may not be. His most obvious frustration is the fact that he feels uncomfortable and does not know what to do with the girl. Revealed also by his words, however, is how he views her. He uses the word "blank" to refer to himself, the girl, or both of them. The Magistrate repeatedly refers to the girl in this way. Later, that blankness escalates to a point of reflection.

The more he strives to find pure love between himself and the "barbarian" girl, the more he sees himself as Colonel Joll, using her for his own whims as the Colonel used all the "barbarians". Instead of seeing them for who they truly are, Colonel Joll turns the entire scenario into what it would be in his fantasy world. The evil "barbarians" are threatening the way of life of the peaceful white man, and Colonel Joll must make sure they are stopped, no matter the cost to them. In the same way, the Magistrate puts himself in a fantasy world where he, the only white man sympathetic to the "barbarians'" plea, makes his best effort to right the wrongs of the white men by caring for the barbarian girl. In his fantasy, the girl is grateful and looks to him as a hero. Not able to understand why she does not make her gratitude known to him, the Magistrate looks into her eyes. "...and with a shift of horror I behold the answer that has been waiting all the time offer itself to me i!

Upon his realization of the truth about his infatuation with the "barbarian" girl, he is upset to the point where he is even longing to be in denial. He wants so much just to be a Magistrate with an undisturbing attraction to a girl, that he makes up excuses for himself, about why he suddenly feels less attracted to the girl (when, in truth, it is because he knows what has drawn him to her). In one instance, however, he faces the truth in a frustrated outcry, "Is it then the case that it is the whole woman I want that my pleasure in her is spoiled until these marks on her are erased and she is restored to herself; or is it the case (I am not stupid, let me say these things) that it is the marks on her whic

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1707
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English