Petrus's Point of View

Story Re-write: From Petrus’s Point of View: Laying Pipes (Pages 136 – 139)

David had said he would help Petrus build his house. That morning, Petrus knocks on the back door, and asks David to help him lay PVC pipe, and to lend him tools so the two of them can fit the regulators. David shows no interest in helping with this task, and idiotically replies that he does not know anything about regulators. Petrus insists David will be able to complete the task, and they head toward the dam.

Petrus has a strong knowledge of pipefitting and plumbing, and hardly asks anything of David, only requiring him to hand the tools to Petrus. As Petrus works, David begins to interrogate him about the boy from the party. “Petrus,” he demands, “that young man who was at your house last night – what is his name and where is he now (137)?” Petrus frowns, caught off guard by the verbal attack. While Petrus knows David is upset over Lucy’s safety, he does not wish to engage in confrontation, so he focuses on the material possessions. “The boy is very angry you call him a thief. And you will not get your car back from this boy. He cannot give you your car. Your car is gone (137-138).” Much to Petrus’s dislike, David will not drop the subject. Continually, David cross-examines him, butchering him for information. Petrus does not like this treatment from David. People like David were always the ones putting people like Petrus down. Not anymore. What proof could he provide that Petrus was connected? Petrus may know the truth, but David was medaling in country matters; things did not concern him.

Petrus, abandoning his defenses, addresses Lucy’s situation. “Lucy is safe here. I will protect her (138-139)” Yet, David will not hear of it. It is not in David’s nature to trust, let alone to trust a colored, country man. As David continues to press the issue, demanding the boy is turned over to the police, Petrus is finished. He has done all he can to reassure David that he will protect Lucy and does not continue to answer to David. “Do you need me here any longer (139?)” snaps David. “No, now it is easy, now I must just dig the pipe in (139),” Petrus concludes the argument, satisfied that David has given in.



Analysis

From David’s point of view, Petrus is an uncaring, self-centered man. He only cares about his property and bettering himself. When David asks him to look after the farm while Lucy is away, Petrus says it would be too much work. David takes this to mean that Petrus does not care what happens to Lucy, and that land and status or the only important things to a black man in this society. However, David is used to the white superiority granted under apartheid, and has always seen himself as a greater man than a colored man. Thus, he is quick to judge Petrus, and quick to blame him for the attack on Lucy, despite the fact that he has no proof.

People who are more regularly around Petrus seem to disagree with David. One such person is Bev Shaw, who says “You can depend on [Petrus] (140).” Bev tries to reassure David that Petrus is a good person and will protect Lucy. She points out that it was Petrus who helped Lucy get started at the market, and that Lucy owes Petrus a lot because of the help he has given her by working on the land. Lucy also trusts Petrus. She is grateful of him when he offers to make her his third wife. This will grant Lucy protection, which she admits to needing because she lives alone in a dangerous place. Lucy says she is “a woman alone. I have no brothers. I have a father, but he is far away and anyhow powerless in the terms that matter here. To whom can I turn for protection (204)?” Lucy sees the proposal as a kind and protective action, which highlights the good in Petrus. By contrast, David is furious by this proposal, saying Petrus only wants to take advantage of his daughter and take away her land. He ignores how much help Petrus is offering to Lucy, and ignores the fact that Lucy will be much safer if she formally has a man to protect her. David is set on his beliefs, but those around him seem to have different, more positive views of Petrus.

The excerpt above, which is rewritten from Petrus’s point of view, helps depict David’s bias. When David confronts Petrus about the young man from the party, David thinks Petrus is playing with him because he is not giving direct answers. However, given the way other people view Petrus, it can be assumed that Petrus is defending himself. David questions Petrus as though he is of lower class. He talks down to Petrus and does not accept that Petrus is his equal. When attacked with the accusation, Petrus raises his defenses, and does not yield to David. There is a sense of black pride involved in Petrus’s behavior because he does not allow the white man to take charge. Petrus shows that times have changed, and wants to be seen as an equal. However, this does not mean that Petrus is unconcerned with the incident. Petrus even admits that the incident was bad (201) and that he would help protect Lucy. By removing David’s bias, it appears as though Petrus is a good, helpful, and caring man.