Engelsk 24 timers eksamen, mangler analyse model!

I think the Indian culture is a subject in the text, because we are told, how the Indians live in the camp. We get to know, that they live very uncivilised in small shanties. Although it seems to me, as is they have a very good solidarity in the camp, which can be seen from the fact, that they are all gathered around the woman in labour. The woman is not alone, and we can guess, that she has all of her family and friends around her. It also seems, as if it is a pretty big event to have a baby. It is different from our society, where you usually give birth at a hospital, the husband can take part, and the family may visit afterwards.
The life/death theme certainly is an important subject in the text, and it gives Nick opportunity to talk with his father and think about death. The same day a new life begins in the camp, another life ends. The husband kills himself, while the woman is giving birth.
Many different interpretations of his motive can be found. The most obvious motive is, that he is not the baby’s father. From the text I presume, that the baby’s father is “Uncle George”. I figure that, because George hands out cigars, and this is an old tradition from America, which are used, when a man becomes a father, and his presence indicates, that there must be a connection, because else he has no reason being there.
On the other side, his feelings are understandable, because the betray indicates, that his woman doesn’t love him, and therefore he finds no reason to live. But we don’t know the history behind the woman’s pregnancy. To this question we can also find several answers. One answer could be, that the woman was working for George, and that he has taken advantage of her. The husband may even has known what was going on but he was unable to stop it because of the suppression of his people. His guilt and powerlessness could have led him to suicide.
Another subject in the text is the father/son relationship. It seems, as if Nick and his father are deeply attached to each other, and the father takes care of Nick both physical and psychical. Nick looks up to his father, and it seems, as if they share many experiences. I get the impression that Nick feels very safe with his father, and it seems that they have a very warm, loving and respectful relationship. This can be seen by the way the father explains to Nick what is going on, and he doesn’t hide from Nick, that it is a rough world, we live in, and that it isn’t all peaches and cream.
In my interpretation I have chosen to focus on four subjects in the text, because I found them ob-vious and interesting, but you could just as well have focused on other subjects. I am also sure, you could interpret the story in many different ways, because the text gives very few answers, which forces the reader to relate to the text. Therefore my view is, that it is very individual how to under-stand the text. In your choice of subjects and your attitude to, for an example relationship between people with different culture, you have already made an interpretation, which is right for you, but not necessarily for others.
Vh.
Fassos