Charity

The story questions the effectiveness of various forms of charity through the Minister's actions in the wake of the natural disaster that has ravaged his country. The first of these charitable acts comes when the Minister speaks with Elena, his housekeeper. The two of them have known each other since their youth and are from the same ancestral village, and they had an affair together during the Minister's wife's first pregnancy. The Minister is affectionate toward Elena, calling her "Lele" and assuring her that he will send for her once his family is safely in Paris. He even acts charitably toward her and gives her "an inch and a half's worth of currency" before he leaves for the airport (3). By all accounts, the Minister cares deeply for Elena and worries about her safety. But other details within their interaction suggest that this care is largely performative...