Out of Africa Scene 9 Summary

Syphilis: The Gift That Keeps on Giving

  • Karen's absence is told in narration and montage. We watch the farm change through construction of the factory, Farah changing the flowers in her room, Karen's dog waiting for her return at the window, and Farah waiting at the crest of the hill.
  • (It took a long time to treat syphilis back in the day. Mostly, it was about poisoning the patient with arsenic and mercury.)
  • Bror meets Karen at the train station with her dog when she returns.
  • Bror and Karen discuss their situation.
  • Karen will never be able to have children because of the syphilis and treatment.
  • She wants to open a school for the Kikuyu, but Bror dissuades her, as usual. Because Bror is a weasel.