Foreignness and the Other Quotes in Nation

Daphne's grandmother: an elegant portrait of cultural insensitivity. Watching Mau early on helps remove the preconceived notions Daphne had, thanks to her grandmother, about his people being bloodthirsty savages. Whoa, they have feelings too!

While communicating with stick figures, Mau doesn't see any need for the girl figure to be wearing a top, since island women let the girls roam free. By glaring at Mau to change his stick-person drawing in the sand, Daphne is unconsciously trying to "civilize" him—to turn him from an "other" into something that she sees as civilized.

Trousermen are the Other to the islanders, and priest Ataba shows that ignorance works both ways. Calling them "stupid" isn't a good start to getting to understand one another.