Blossoms of the Savannah

‘The end product justifies the means’ who uses these words and for what reason

'The end product justifies the means' who uses these words and for what reason

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This is from the character of Pasimei. He lies angrily reflecting that night, Parsimei’s feelings are not (as one might have thought) dominated by fury at the threat to their family and outraged protective feelings concerning his daughter. Instead, he resentfully, if cynically, reflects that “Success was attainment, fortune and prosperity; it was triumph and it gave one happiness … [no] matter how it was obtained … [since] the end product justified the means, however horrible” (109). In other words, he himself subscribes to, or at least accepts, a rotten system of values that at the moment has him in a weak position but from within which he can – if at his daughter’s expense – possibly attain a position of greater power if he plays along. This is how he rationalises it: “For him to save his business, to save his home and to save his daughter Tayio, he had agreed, she [Resian] had to go” (112). Although Milanoi is here described as “inconsolable”, she puts up no more than a feeble attempt at resistance (as Resian’s mother). She does seek the advice of her brother-in-law’s wives, only to be told that she and her husband cannot have it both ways: the two of them, in not having had their daughters initiated into the clan, cannot now expect the clan to protect their daughters.

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https://www.litnet.co.za/blossoms-of-the-savannah-by-hr-ole-kulet/