Themes+-+The+Second+Hut

The main theme in the story is the dissonance between reality and thinking and the inability to judge oneself, the social code and the surrounding. From the beginning of the story (“he had thought things could get no worse” [80; 1-2]) the outcome is clear: Things will get worse! Major Carruthers misjudges his new country; through being kindly and helpfully (gentleman-like) he conjures up misfortune to himself and his foreman Van Heerden. He thinks and acts in a (actually positive) British way: Major Carruthers proceeds from the assumption that the natives will build the “Second Hut” for Van Heerden. He doesn’t realize how impossible it is to ask them for help, because the relationship between Van Heerden and them is fragile (look “Conflicts”). In contrast to Carruthers, the Dutchman acts realistically. He knows about the fragile peace between himself and the native Africans. He knows, that M. Carruthers is making a big mistake by telling the natives to build V. H`s hut. He is used to live in bad conditions in the African wilderness and does not expect or want Carruthers "help".