t in the novel, while Ben is alone in Stanleys car in Soweto, he describes the night as having a more ominous, malevolent aspect, and amorphous menacing presence (Brink 170). Much later in the story, he uses similar adjectives to describe the government and society: What is set up against me is not a man, not even a group of people, but a thing, a something, a vague amorphous something, and invisible ubiquitous power (Brink 237). These images are used to make Ben seem much less significant than he is portrayed as being in the film, which is important, of course, for the reader to be able to see himself in Bens character. Ben is scared of the dark, as anyone would be. He wants to see the light, but it is not easy. What the light uncovers is harsh- The simple secrets of the night exposed, intricate and indecent in the light (Brink 248). Ben says, when asked if he knew what he was doing getting involved in everything, I once thought I knew. I was convinced I was going into it with my eyes wide open. But I dont think I expected it to be quite so dark around me (Brink 221). Light and dark images help us to see that Ben is frail, he is scared, he is human- and not necessarily the one-sided hero that we are presented with in the film version.Along with images and internal monologue, Palcy omitted many of the minor characters in the novel. Although some of them possibly would not have had a huge impact on the film, others were quite significant. These characters added to the questions that Brink set up as to what our purpose here on earth really is. The characters involved the reader, causing one to ask the same sort of questions that Ben was asking himself. This is a noteworthy aspect of a work that encourages the reader to follow the main characters footsteps, to carry out his legacy. Although Palcy had her reasons for omitting these characters (and she was effective in getting her message across), her version is less compellin...
