Accident Scene
Roelf describes the scene of the accident in vivid detail. He talks about how the woman and her child were "pulverized" under the train's wheels depicting the violence and horror of their deaths. He also mentions how he was "seriously traumatized" while tapping his head to demonstrate visually what being emotionally scarred feels like. Finally, there is an exchange between himself and Miss Conradie where Roelf speaks about "tramping down so hard on the brake so that the wheels were screeching on the tracks." This scene highlights his desperation as he tries to avoid hitting them but ultimately fails. All these details express both the horror of what occurred and sympathy toward Roelf's emotional distress.
Guilt
The imagery of the protagonist standing in his lounge surrounded by pieces of a Christmas tree is particularly striking. The protagonist has an overwhelming need to swear at the woman he hit with his train but cannot do so because he doesn't know her name. This image symbolizes the protagonist's guilt over not knowing the woman's identity and having caused her death. It also represents his inability to move forward or take any action until he knows who she was. Furthermore, it indicates how much this tragedy has impacted him personally and changed his life forever. Despite being surrounded by symbols of joy and celebration, there is still no escaping from the sadness and grief that accompanies such an event.
Darkness
The train driver lies in the dark of Simon’s shack and tries to imagine what it was like for Red Doek, whose darkness was “somehow inside her.” He realizes how truly dark it must have been for her—darker than the physical darkness he can experience lying in the shack—because she had no hope that anything good would happen to her. The image of this inner darkness evokes fear, sadness, and anger. The imagery is further reinforced by Roelf's invocation of God as a witness to what happened between Perseverance and Dispatch. This is an acknowledgment that despite the darkness there must be some kind of justice or redemption at play for things to be made right again. There may still be hope if we look beyond our despair and find comfort in those willing to take us into their lives with compassion and understanding.
Closing Scene
The depiction of blood spattered around the grave displays a disturbing image. It reminds Simon and the audience that violence has occurred in this place and Roelf was killed by his attackers. This gruesome image is enhanced by Simon's description of finding Roelf with no clothes showing how brutally he was killed. It also reflects his powerlessness since he could not even protect himself against those that sought to harm him. The presence of blood spattered around the grave contrast with the otherwise peaceful atmosphere surrounding it. Additionally, it highlights how justice is rarely served for victims like Roelf as they are left forgotten in shallow graves without any sense of proper closure.
