The Diamond Mine

Growing up is a very influential, powerful experience. New experiences, new feelings and new desires are discovered every day. The short story “The Diamond Mine” is strongly influenced by this theme and the reader follows the girl Tilla as she grows from girl to woman.

When the reader starts reading the story, a very intimate mood is immediately established as the author, Nadine Gordimer, begins it with the words “I’ll call her Tilla, you may call her by another name. You might think you knew her” (“The Diamond Mine”, p. 1, l. 1); the narrator speaks directly to the reader and this helps the reader to accept the very intimate moments that are portrayed later in the text. The intimate mood also accentuates Tilla’s experiences in the story. As it is set “during the war, your war, the Forties” (p. 1, l. 4) the relationship between Tilla and the soldier boy may seem quite tame compared to what is shown and written today but this atmosphere helps by giving the actions and experiences more impact. This relatively modest period in time also helps emphasize Tilla’s innocence as a girl. The quote above also uses the words “your war” and thereby seems to create a connection to the girl Tilla more than the soldier boy; it is her thoughts, feelings and experiences that the reader shares during the story – in fact, we are not even given the soldier boy’s name. He himself does not seem to be important – it’s the act of “growing up” and discovering these new things that is significant. [Læs mere…]