Shades

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Walter's work at Mbokothwe is successful but he cannot get Frances out of his mind. On a trip to Stutterheim to buy fresh provisions, he meets Klaus Otto who informs him that Frances is not yet married but that the marriage will take place in but a few weeks.

Walter decides to write to Frances to wish her well in her marriage but also to tell her that he can no longer remain a missionary with the memory to haunt him of the magical times they had shared.

The classical love letter is used in a novel for a specific purpose.

We are used to thinking that a love letter must be filled with sweet nothings: "How beautiful your feet, your graceful legs the work of a craftsman's hands, your breasts like twins of a gazelle." (Song of Solomon, 7:1-3)

If one contrasts this to the classic letter that appears in Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice, one is presented with a remarkable contrast.

That letter was written because Fitzwilliam Darcy had been rudely rebuffed by Elizabeth Bennet upon his asking for her hand in marriage. He wrote for no other purpose than to rebut Elizabeth's accusations.

The letter, however, proved a turning point in their relationship. Elizabeth saw the error of her judgements while Darcy realised he had been an arrogant prig. From then on, Elizabeth and Darcy became friends — and eventually married.

It is in this sense that we must view Walter Brownley's letter to Frances. He writes solely to wish her well in her marriage to Victor. He also tells her of his decision to return to England. In doing so, however, he speaks of the magical times that he had shared with Frances at Nolovini.

Frances, on the other hand, never realised that Walter had these strong feelings of affection for her. His letter therefore makes her examine her own feelings towards both Walter and Victor — and ultimately it causes her to break off her engagement with Victor.

Reference is sometimes made in Shades to a "letter book". This was a book with detachable pages upon which the letters were written.

Between each page was a thin sheet of translucent paper which blotted up the excess ink. Once the letter had been posted, therefore, a copy was automatically retained in the letter book.

It was much like an old-fashioned carbon copy that we used not so long ago before the advent of computers.

Have you looked at the questions
in the right column?

Read the notes in the left column before answering the questions below:

To what would you ascribe Pusey's very changed character now that Walter has taken charge of Mbokothwe Mission? (4)

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Walter is more accepting than Hubert Brompton had been. Whereas Brompton had seen evil in all Xhosa customs and therefore rejected Pusey's divination, Walter is willing to accept the diviner for what he is. Walter is prepared to recognise that local religious tradition is not necessarily evil. As a result, Pusey is able to work with him on the mission and not undermine all Walter's actions.

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When Walter meets up with Klaus Otto, what is the purpose of his long discourse with him? (3)

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Walter has been isolated at Mbokhothwe. He has received little news from St Matthias, and knows nothing about what is currently happening with Frances. Indeed, she has been in Grahamstown for some eighteen months, and so it is understandable that Walter should think she is already married. It is Klaus Otto who fills him in with all the news — and more importantly, he finds that Frances is not yet married but soon will be. Since she is not yet married, however, it does provide Walter with the opportunity to write just one last letter to her, a letter which he would certainly not have contemplated had he heard that she was already married.

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Walter has written many letters to Frances but none have actually been posted.

• Why does he now write yet another letter, and why does he decide to post this one. (5)

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Walter has discovered from Klaus Otto that Frances is not yet married but that she soon will be. He makes the decision at that moment that his life on the mission is too intricately entwined with memories of Frances for him to be able to exist without her. He decides therefore that he must leave South Africa and go into voluntary exile in England. He wishes, however, to write one last letter — a note of farewell — in which he will explain to Frances exactly how much she affected him, his attachment to her, his wonderful memories of her, and his reasons for leaving. Of course, he has no idea whatever that she too has wonderful memories of him and is in doubt of her own actions in marrying Victor. Indeed, the fact that she is still going ahead with the marriage must tell Walter that she has little feelings towards him but must love Victor.

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"Walter's letter to Frances is ostensibly a letter of farewell. In reality, however, it is a classical love letter."

• Comment carefully and at length. (10)

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It is certainly not a straight forward love-letter, is it? Walter writes this letter purely to inform Frances of his decision to give up the priesthood and return to England. In doing so, he admits that Frances is so precious to him than he can think of little else. Once Frances receives the letter, she finds out for the first time how very much Walter loves her. That realisation will in turn reinforce the idea that she loves him and does not love Victor — and that marriage to Victor would be a travesty.

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