Further Insight on "Waiting for the Barbarians"

The thing I have found to be most interesting thus far in reading Waiting for the Barbarians is the relationship between the narrator and the Barbarian woman that stays with him in his room and accompanies him on the road. This relationship seems to be the center of the novel, which means that it serves many purposes. Although one would think that it would be the woman prisoner who would want the most out of the relationship, it is in fact, the other way around. The magistrate always seems as though he is going out of his way to please his guest by healing her wounds, massaging her body, and keeping her well fed. At one point, in order to simply make conversation it seems, the magistrate declares to the woman, "People will say I keep two wild animals in my room, a fox and a girl." Then, realizing his mistake by her facial expressions, he is quick to correct himself: "'I am sorry.' 'Of course it is not the same.'" The magistrate seems to get himself into trouble by being the only one who feels the need to continually talk. It is as though the woman places some sort of spell over the narrator, without even having to speak. He is also willing to trudge for weeks through snow and storms in order to bring her back to her people. In addition, when they finally do reach their destination, he pleads with her not to go: "Only, now that I have brought you back, as far as I can, I wish to ask you very clearly to return to the town with me." Although the woman decides to leave the magistrate, she has left with him not only the memories of the times they had shared but also the knowledge of how unfairly the Barbarians are being treated. Although the narrator has clearly changed the woman's life by treating her so well, it is apparent that she is the one who has really made an impact on him.