The use and function of topography in ‘Is There Nowhere Else We Can Meet?’ and ‘Burger’s Daughter’

Both ‘Is There Nowhere Else We Can Meet?’ and ‘Burger’s Daughter’ contain topography. ‘Is There Nowhere Else We Can Meet?’ portrays the antithesis between a forest and a town, whilst ‘Burger’s Daughter’ addresses the antithesis between the small public square and the big strands. These topographical limits may or may not change the character’s circumstances when crossed.

Topography is the whole of reciprocal spatial elements which are possible to place on a map. In ‘Is There Nowhere Else We Can Meet?’ a white female protagonist encounters ‘a figure with something red on its head’ (p. 29, 13) in a pine forest. The forest stands in sharp antithesis to the town. Hence, the dangerous forest and the safe town. When ‘the native’ (p. 29, 21) suddenly approaches her, the female protagonist is paralyzed by fear for ‘every vestige of control, of sense, of thought’ (p. 29, 49). Yet, she does not fear the man himself since it is ‘Fear itself that [has] her by the arms, the legs, the throat’ (p. 29, 52). This Fear is an existential fear which holds her in a chokehold. Concerning the topography, the forest represents the epitome of danger.

Next, he ‘[grabs] out at her […] and his hand [clutches] her shoulder’ (p. 29, 63). Whilst the man and woman entangle in a fight, the woman finally senses the urge to break away. The female protagonist runs until she is out of the forest, crossing