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AFRICA EMERGENT

BY NADINE
GORDIMER
SOFFEATUL RAUNAQIAH BINTI MOHAMAD RAHIM
SALIHAH BINTI MOHD RUSDI
NURUL ATIQAH BINTI RAHMAT
NUR SYAMILA IZZATI BINTI AZHAR

PLOT
Nadine Gordimer explores the theme of defying
oppression through the use of characterization,
setting, and tone in the short story "Africa
Emergent".
Elias Nkomo, had quite a good life in Africa as a
sculptor, he had his works recognized, but he was
oppressed in by the laws.
So, went to America in the hope of getting himself
general education and freeing himself from the
oppression he had in Africa.
Unfortunately, he was still affected by the
oppression he had in Africa.

As his settings changed from the


oppressors in Africa to the oppressors
in America he found no escape from
oppression.
In fact, he realized that the oppressors
from Africa were still affecting him.
The apartheid in Africa prevented
black people from growing, and when
he evolved enough to know that he
had to see life out side of Africa; he
was not welcome to come back to
Africa.

According to the short story "It was the


South African government who killed him.
The only escape he found from that(the
oppression) was death.
His only freedom was to end his life in the
hope that the oppression would no longer
choke his life away or control him.
In short, when the realisation of the
oppressed allows them to evolve they
must not only free themselves from the
oppressor, but also from the oppression.

Characters
Characters
Narrator
Elias Nkomo
Nameless black man
Setting
Africa
America

Character : Narrator
White male
Architect
Began integrating with Blacks when he was a
student.
Met Blacks via the White Students Voluntary Service
organisation became disillusioned because he
believed the work they were doing should be done by
government for Black communities.
Met Blacks then out drinking with Black jazz
musicians.
Designed sets for mixed-race drama group, started by
White man.

Partly blames himself for death of Elias- didnt


respond to his letters and was too critical of the
fact that Elias work is not developing. I know
you dont think much of people who dont turn
out new stuff but some people here seem to
think this old thing of mine is good. P189
Helped Elias to continue his art by providing him
with workshop space even though he was
breaking the law in doing so.
He recognises the beauty of Elias work- But
youve never been lost, man. That very first goat
wrapped in newspaper was your goat. P187

Is very aware that he compromises his


own values and beliefs because he
doesnt fully believe in the nameless
Black man: Theres only one way for a
man like that to prove himself, so far as
were concerned: he must be in prison.
There is some irony in this statement
because he doesnt want to think like
this but we suspect that he does just
like all the other White liberals.

Shows self-awareness at the end.


Bitterness in his statement; We (his
white friends) can be pure again. We
are satisfied at last. Hes in prison.
Hes proved himself, hasnt he?
Narrator knows it should not be like
this to be real friends people of all
races must be equal and able to trust
each other.

Character : Elias
Black African - Zulu
Was a sculptor.
The goat-like creature he shows the narrator
reminds the white man of Picassos goats.
Used to live in the slums of Johannesburg an
urban slum kid.
Also been in the bush to undergo Zulu initiation
rites.
Likes company found it difficult to work in the
silence of the workshop Elias didnt like the
loneliness of work.

Has some success in South Africa is taken up


and hailed as the latest voice in African art but is
then dropped when the gallery-owner an the art
critic forgot him in the discovery of yet another
interpreter of the African soul
Gains scholarship to American university through
American woman.
Wants to go to get an education although the
narrator doesnt believe the art schools can teach
him anything of real value.
Cant get passport nobody knows why.
Takes exit permit which means he cannot return.

In USA is taken up by magazines and


Civil Rights movement of the 1960s.Stokely Carmichael.
Even they dont understand his
culture put him on stage in West
African dress.
Nameless Black man later tells
narrator that Elias began to act oddly
in USA. Wanted to find goat so he
could put on real African feast.
Found dead in river near Art school
presumed to have committed suicide.

Character: Nameless Black Man


At the start we learn that he is in jail under the
Detention Act.
Good friend of Elias.
He was part of the drama group with the Narrator
and Elias.
He was a tubby man.
A cheerful, smooth talker.
Offered drama scholarship in USA.
Gained passport seen as suspicious by whites but
Black friends celebrated his success: when
someone black got a passport, then, there was a
collective sense of pleasure---

Came back on money from Elias


scholarship after Elias died.
Offered a job in Chicago but didnt have
the money to go.
Borrows money from the narrator to buy
a car. This gets in the way of their
friendship. Money is not paid back
though there are rumours that he is
doing very well as a salesman. Narrator
does well, too, and doesnt need the
money but feels faintly resentful about
it anyway

His wife leaves him.


Was thought to be a police spy he
was the only person not arrested at a
meeting.
In jail for two hundred and seventyseven days and expected to be tried
for treason.

What is political
criticism?
Political criticism(also referred to
aspolitical
commentaryorpolitical
discussion) iscriticismthat is specific
of or relevant
topolitics,includingpolicies,politicians
,political parties, and types
ofgovernment.

EVIDENCES OF POLITICAL
ISSUES AND POLITICAL
INEQUALITIES IN THE SHORT
STORY.

POLITICAL LITERARY
CRITICISM

1. Passes have to be written out for the


blacks in order to keep them from being
arrested for being out after the curfew.
This suggests political inequality because
there would be no curfew for the whites.
TE : We had to remember to write out
'passes' at night, so that our actors could
get home without being arrested for being
out after the curfew for blacks...
2. There are even the black peoples
section at the train.

3. According to the law, it is illegal for a black


man to live in a white suburb.
The legislation of the 1950s and 1960s
prescribed any form of political or intimate
social liaison between white and black people.
That is why, the narrator has to lie about
renovating his garage, while on the other
hand, he was actually building a place for
Elias.
TE: It was illegal for him to live there in a
white suburb, of course, ...... the white
building inspector didn't turn a hair of
suspicion when I said that I was converting
the garage as a flat for my wife's mother.

4. It is hard or even impossible for a


black man to get a passport. (Elias is
not given any reason as to why he
cant get a passport)
This is because, the blacks are
meant to stay put in some parts of
South Africa where the government
says they belong. It seems that
where they should be and where they
shouldnt be are decided by the
government. They cant have their
say. They just have to accept it.

Even if they have their passports, they must


be considered a police spy (spying for their
country).
The only way to prove that they are not spies
are by being imprisoned.
Assumptions : A black man with passport (free to
travel anywhere) must be very special (one of
high authority) that they will be suspected as a
spy.

5. Once a black man are granted an exit-permit, they


are not to return back to South Africa or its mandatory
territory. (where you are now, is where you will be.)
The apartheid issue in Africa prevented black
people from growing and thats what
motivated Elias of travelling out of Africa. But
then, he cant get back to Africa after going
out.
6. A black man will not have his study grant included
with travel expenses.
7. A black man will be arrested if he is caught
attending a meeting of a banned political
organization.

8. The two occupations, architect and


artist represent white & black
differences in the South African culture.
The white man is an architect, with
more formal education. His position
holds more prestige and economic
value in society.
Elias, a black man, is a sculptor. Though
both architect and sculptor can be
thought of as artistic, the sculptor's
creativity is more innate but the
architect holds more power.

9. Under the Detention Act,


one(the colored) can be
imprisoned without even being
told why and there are no
charges on him.

WHY HE? (the other man)


Why does Gordimer choose to not give the
other black man a name?
Since the story is told in 1st person POV, for
the narrator to name "him" would put the
narrator at risk.
A white man admitting friendship with a black
man is bad enough, but one who is in prison
is worse still.
He's in prison now, so I'm not going to
mention his name. It mightn't be a good
thing, you understand.

We can now deduce the themes


are..

MAJOR THEMES
Racial injustice
- The inability to see that even someone who looks, and talks, and
acts very different from oneself is fundamentally the same as every
other human being.
- Regardless of race, everybody have their own rights and feelings
that must be considered.
Political injustice (Law)
- Implementation of law is unfair, executing laws according to ones
race.
Social snobbery
- Not being friends with someone due to their race.
MINOR THEMES
Sympathy (or lack of it) for the misfits of society

THE
END

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