Story Analysis Country Lovers - 781 Words

Country Lovers In the story Country Lovers, author Nadine Gordimer uses the tragic love story between a black woman and the son of her white master to explore the inhumanity that thrives in societies where racial prejudices are ingrained into the law. According to the archetypal approach to literary criticism, what is written in a story is not confined to the characters or the plot within the one narrative. Rather a story serves to show the archetypes of humanity which are based upon social expectations and norms. Gordimers story is therefore not really about a young woman, her half-white baby, and the conflict between her slave husband and free former lover, but is in fact about the dynamic of interracial love in the face of a prejudicial and racially biased regime. Each of the three characters in the story represents a different archetype of society. Literary scholar Northrop Frye wrote that archetypes play an essential role in refashioning the material universe into an alternative verbal universe that is humanly intelligible and viable, because it is adapted to essential human needs and concerns (Abrams 1993, page 224-225). Within the context of Gordimers story, there are three distinct archetypes being discussed: Thebedi represents all oppressed black women who were not only dominated by their slave masters but also by all members of the male gender, Paulus who represents the feeling of shame that some white people have about the situation of black oppressionShow MoreRelatedEssay about Country Lovers versus The Necklace886 Words   |  4 PagesIt is amazing how two short stories can be so similar but yet so different even when it comes to marriage and gender roles. These particular literary works involve creative writing between the two stories that are being referred to would be The Necklace and Country Lovers. Both these sto ries are set in different places and keep the readers wondering throughout the story what the ending result is. And to even consider writing a literature that centers on this topic is truly fascinating and attention-grabbingRead MoreThe Theme of Symbolism in Country Lovers927 Words   |  4 PagesSymbolism in Country Lovers In this story, symbolism is a key element that contributes to the theme of the story. A popular symbol throughout the story is the gilt hoop earrings. These earrings initially belonged to Paulus who later gave them to Thebedi during their childhood. The main reason why Paulus gave Thebedi the earrings, it was because he loved her. In this case, the earrings symbolized the love they shared. 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