Question

the third day in the valley of the cataclysm began with a pale light filtering through storm clouds. the president of the republic visited the area in his tailored safari jacket to confirm that this was the worst catastrophe of the century; the country was in mourning; sister nations had offered aid; he had ordered a state of siege; the armed forces would be merciless; anyone caught stealing or committing other offenses would be shot on sight. he added that it was impossible to remove all the corpses or count the thousands who had disappeared; the entire valley would be declared holy ground, and bishops would come to celebrate a solemn mass for the souls of the victims. he went to the army field tents to offer relief in the form of vague promises to crowds of the rescued, then to the improvised hospital to offer a word of encouragement to doctors and nurses worn down from so many hours of tribulations. then he asked to be taken to see azucena, the little girl the whole world had seen. he waved to her with a limp statesman’s hand, and microphones recorded his emotional voice and paternal tone as he told her that her courage had served as an example to the nation. rolf carlé interrupted to ask for a pump, and the president assured him that he personally would attend to the matter. i caught a glimpse of rolf for a few seconds kneeling beside the mud pit. on the evening news broadcast, he was still in the same position; and i, glued to the screen like a fortune teller to her crystal ball, could tell that something fundamental had changed in him. i knew somehow that during the night his defenses had crumbled and he had given in to grief; finally he was vulnerable. the girl had touched a part of him that he himself had no access to, a part he had never shared with me. rolf had wanted to console her, but it was azucena who had given him consolation. the town of armero, colombia, submerged by floods after the nevado del ruiz volcano erupted (november 18, 1985). 12. infer (guess) how the narrator feels about the president’s visit. use specific textual examples of descriptive language to support your answer.

Explanation:

The narrator views the president's visit as performative rather than sincere. First, the narrator notes the president wears a "tailored safari jacket" to a catastrophe zone, framing this as a polished, calculated appearance for the moment rather than practical attire for a disaster. Second, the president offers "vague promises" to the rescued, which the narrator implies are empty gestures instead of concrete aid. Finally, when speaking to Azucena, the president uses an "emotional voice and paternal tone" that is recorded by microphones, suggesting the moment is staged for public perception, not genuine care. In contrast, the narrator focuses on Rolf's quiet, sustained action, highlighting the gap between the president's performative presence and meaningful, compassionate engagement.

Answer:

The narrator feels the president's visit is insincere and performative. Evidence includes:

1. The president wears a "tailored safari jacket" to a disaster site, a polished, impractical choice that reads as a calculated public appearance rather than a humble response to crisis.
2. He offers "vague promises" to the rescued, which are empty, unsubstantiated gestures instead of tangible relief.
3. His "emotional voice and paternal tone" to Azucena is captured by microphones, framing the interaction as a staged moment for public consumption, not genuine empathy.