The Lemon Orchard
Themes
Structure
Personification
Inequality and racism
Violence and power
‘"All of the men but one wore thick clothes against the coolness of the night."
The black man is not given the same opportunities as white people. The white people and the black man are experiencing the same climate but only the white men are able to sort out the problem.
The white men feel confident they can get away with “teach(ing) him (the black man]) a lesson” by beating him, and even considering his assassination.
It is clearly shown how white people enjoy exploiting their privilege and are able to become violent in other to feel power over non-white people.
Context
- Author: South African 1925-1985. Most work is about race conflicts and the importance of caring for others.
- Scenery: South Africa
- Takes place during white supremacy regime: racial segregation, systematic oppression and discrimination.
“the moon was hidden behind long, high parallels of cloud”
Effect on the reader
Allows the reader to understand racial situation.
Symbolism
“hung like suspended streamers of dirty cotton wool in the sky."
Usually clouds are white which reflect pureness and innocence, however, in this case they are described as dirty, representing how the beauty of nature can get spoiled.
Effect on the reader
Unsettling because dirty clouds are not what is usually seen, creating an effect of not knowing what is happening next.
Poor context and lack of character description:
3rd person narrator:
Turns attention to the general situation rather than the characters
Leaves description open to the reader's imagination.
- Date: 1948 until early 1990’s
Show an unbiased perspective of the situation and characters, obligates the reader to create its own opinion.
The moon is personified as scared or unbothered by the scene. Symbolises how people would avoid paying attention to racial inequalities.