Why does Oupas refuse to go to the old-age home? A: Not because he loves poverty, but because the home would separate him from Ouma. For him, marriage is sacred. He prefers death together than life apart.

How does the setting influence the story? A: The Karoo’s heat, dust, and emptiness reflect the couple’s hopelessness. There is no help nearby. The harsh land makes digging impossible, forcing Oupas’s creative but tragic solution.