A/L English Literature 2015 R.C.

Fernando, Uranus Academy, Kandy Page |1

Final Seminar Notes (June 2015) Day 01 - The Novel Great Expectations

Julys People

Julys People Nadine Gordimer

Nadine Gordimer:
Art is on the side of the oppressed. Think before you shudder at the simplistic dictum and its heretical
definition of the freedom of art. For if art is freedom of the spirit, how can it exist within the oppressors?
writes a text about the implications of state racism on peoples lives
often difficult to forge new roles; blacks seem to accept segregation
writing style focuses on content of novel; feeling of being lost/frenzied
Novel of self-discovery
Maureen must lose herself in order to find herself; only realizes her position in segregation when
she is taken away from her home
Similar to Lord of the Flies
takes Smales family from their normal, middle-class, comprehensible world and throws them into a
boundary situation
forced to re-organize their approach to their entire lives
Analysis of the nature of privilege and how it can be confronted
Key Symbols of Power
Keys to Bakkie; conflict with who has possession of keys
Bams gun; uses it during his hunt; symbolizes colonial power; also a phallic symbol; eventually
stolen (likely by Daniel)
Water tank; Bam uses his knowledge to provide infrastructure for colony
indicates that they are primitive and need Bams technical experience to take them forward
Bam becomes a colonial entrepreneur
Characters:
July
real name: Mwawate; name adapted for cultural mainstream
Smales do not learn of this name for almost 20 years
servant
lives in Smales yard since they married (15 years)
turned out to be the chosen one; frog prince, saviour
wife: Martha
town woman: Ellen
Nora (Nomvula)
cook and nanny
runs away during riots
Smales family
 A/L English Literature 2015 R.C. Fernando, Uranus Academy, Kandy Page |2
Final Seminar Notes (June 2015) Day 01 - The Novel Great Expectations

naive about political situation and tension; did not move very quickly
liberal views; prefer greater equality between two groups; once they are put on the other side, a
change takes place where they seem to prefer the dominant position
do not use words boy or master-slave'; however July is a slave and it is accepted by society
disproportionate sharing in society
they still want to be in power
born white pariah dogs in a black continent
lived in Johannesburg
Parents: Maureen Hetherington Smales and Bamford Smales
Maureen becomes detached from her situation; lack of integration into new society
3 children: Victor, Royce, Gina
Gina integrates easily into society; close friends with black girl (Nyiko)
Our Jim
Maureens shift boss when she was a child
Daniel
ex-milk truck driver; teaches July how to drive

Plot
July is the male servant of the Smales familyBam, Maureen, Royce, Victor and Gina. The white family
has escaped the fighting in their village in the Smales bakkie under Julys direction. When fighting
overtakes the Smales hometown, they abandon their comfortable suburban life and find a savior in their
servant, July, who offers them a way to safety. After a three-day journey, they arrive in Julys village and
occupy his mothers hut, much to his mothers dismay.

The Smales struggle to adapt to rural life and to life without their former servant. They must learn to live
without the simplest of suburban accommodations such as hot water for a bath. Where they once enjoyed a
master suite, seats from the car now double as beds. They battle the heat, fleas, cockroaches, and mice,
constantly hoping for good news from home. July deals with the threat to his person, family, and community
that the presence of this white family brings. Over the course of several weeks, the Smales and July
struggle to redefine their relationship. What was once so clear and familiar to the Smalesmaster and
servantis now unclear and ill-defined. Maureen both offers to take on more responsibility, while
simultaneously trying to continue to control July and his choices.

The tension in his family and the unwanted attention from the community at-large strains July to his
breaking point. The village chief hears of their presence and summons them to speak with him.

The fighting inches closer to the remote village, and the local mine shuts down. The book ends without a
definitive conclusion. An aircraft lands in the village. No one is certain whether it is an ally or enemy plane.
 A/L English Literature 2015 R.C. Fernando, Uranus Academy, Kandy Page |3
Final Seminar Notes (June 2015) Day 01 - The Novel Great Expectations

For Maureen it does not seem to matter. She runs toward the plane without any thought for her husband
and three small children.