Discrimination and Racism in Country Lovers and The...

Discrimination and Racism in â€Å"Country Lovers† by Nadine Gordimer and â€Å"The Welcome Table† by Alice Walker Discrimination and racism is always an issue, but the hardship these women had to face and suffer is something that is still being discussed. Understanding the fear, struggle and hardship that women of color went through during this time period is very important. Both â€Å"Country Lovers† by Nadine Gordimer and â€Å"The Welcome Table† by Alice Walker discuss race and the struggle with trying to be accepted in society. The short story â€Å"Country Lovers† written by Nadine Gordimer, who in 1991 received the Nobel Prize for Literature, writes about forbidden love and racial politics between a black girl and a white boy on a South Africa†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"But he never felt the way he had with any other girl than the way he felt when Thebedi came up from the bank and sat beside him and the water beading off her dark legs the only points of light in the earth-smelling deep shade† (Clugston, 2010). Paulus returns to school and Thebedi becomes pregnant (at the age of eighteen) with Paulus baby. Since it was during the apartheid it was against the law for the two different races to be together. Therefore, Thebedi married a man named Njabulo and after only two months of being married, she had a baby. Never mentioning to Njabulo that she was pregnant, this causes speculation that it could be his. â€Å"During this time it was customary for the young man to make sure, that before marriage that the chosen girl is not barren. Which Njabulo made love to her then.† (Chopin, 1894). When Paulus returned home from veterinary school, he finds out that Thebedi had a baby (which was two weeks old). He was so angry he goes went straight over Thebedi’s hut and demands to see the baby. She brings the baby into the light and shows Paulus the fine straight hair and the grey and yellowish eyes that resembled his hazel eyes. He did not say a word. â€Å"He struggled for a moment with a grimace of tears, anger, and self-pity,† (Chopin, 1894). Then asked, â€Å"You haven’t been near the house with it?† (Chopin, 1894) They both were aware of the consequences if anyone saw the baby or foundShow MoreRelatedDiscrimination and Racism in Country Lovers and the Welcome Table2880 Words   |  12 Pages Discrimination and Racism in Country Lovers and the Welcome Table Donna Robertson ENG 125: Introduction to Literature Lyndsey Lefebvre November 18, 2012 Discrimination and Racism in Country Lovers and the Welcome Table Racial discrimination has affected black people of the United States as well as Africa for many years. Although racial discrimination is against the law in both countries today, many people believe that it still exists. This essay will compare and contrast theRead MoreEssay about Country Lovers vs. the Welcome Table1456 Words   |  6 PagesCountry Lovers Vs The Welcome Table There was a time where racism and discrimination was a huge issue. Back in those days, African Americans were treated unequal. There was no harmony between people unless they had the same skin color. Racism and discrimination still exists, but it is illegal to discriminate against anyone, including their race. In this paper, I will compare and contrast the theme of the short stories â€Å"Country Lovers† by Nadine Gordimer and â€Å"The Welcome Table† writtenRead MoreCountry Lovers By Nadine Gordimer And The Welcome Table Essay1473 Words   |  6 Pages Discrimination and Racism are very much a part the world’s history. You can open any history book and find a story or event that shows a dark cloud in almost any country’s past. Nadine Gordimer and Alice walker are two writers from different sides of the world. Both sharing their stories of racism and discrimination. Both were activist, Gordimer from South Africa and Walker in America. In this essay I will compare and contrast the racial theme between both short stories â€Å"Country Lovers† writtenRead MoreRacism in the Short Stories1837 Words   |  7 Pagesnot the same race, gender, creed, religion seems to be the way of the world for a long time. Racism is so prevalent in the two stories that I am choosing to write about. Country Lovers by Nadine Gordimer, and The Welcome Table by Alice Walker two very similar, but different stories that tell about the struggles individuals of different races and religions faced in their time period of living. Country Lovers is a story about love that grows between two people, but nonetheless is frowned upon becauseRead MoreThe Welcome Table By Alice Walker1471 Words   |  6 Pagesrelationship is often frowned upon† (Futrell, 2010). The short story â€Å"The Welcome Table† was composed in the United States during the post-civil rights era by the great novelist Alice Walker. Alice focused her writing on â€Å"exploring life situations through the eyes of African American women and advocating ways to approach challenges of sexism, racism, and poverty in American life† (Clugston, 2010, p. 40). The short story â€Å"Country Lovers† was written by Nadine Gordimer who is from South Africa. She basedRead MoreCompare and Contrast of Two Literary Works2676 Words   |  11 PagesThis paper compares and contrasts two different literary works, â€Å"Country Lovers† written by Nadine Gordimer and â€Å"The Welcome Table† by Alice Walker. Both stories follow the same theme, or hidden message or underlying idea in a story. They are about ethnicity and racism which ultimately results in the death of a person: the infant daughter in â€Å"Country Lovers† and the old lady in â€Å"The Welcome Table.† Racism has transcended generations, separated families and nations, and left heartache and griefRead MoreOpression and Inequality2595 Words   |  11 PagesRunning head: RACISM, OPPRESSION AND INEQUAL 1 Racism, Oppression, and Inequality within The Welcome Table and Country Lovers ENG 125 Introduction to Literature April 16, 2012 - 1 - [no notes on this page] RACISM, OPPRESSION AND INEQUAL 2 â€Å"Racism, Oppression, and Inequality within The Welcome Table and Country Lovers† In this paper I will analyze the similarities and differences between Country Lovers written in 1975 by Nadine Gordimer, and The Welcome Table written in 1970 by Alice WalkerRead MoreEssay on Apartheid Explored in Country Lovers and The Welcome Table2283 Words   |  10 Pagesis violating his or her rights. In essence, ethnic and racial discrimination, and superiority based on racial differences are morally and scientifically false, dangerous, as well as socially unjust. Further, there can be no justification either practically or theoretically concerning racial discrimination. The article by Nadine Gordimer (1975) in Country Lovers and Alice Walker (1970) in The Welcome Table explored the theme of racism and apartheid in different contexts. Gordimer depicts inRead MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 Pagesmy children, Joshua, 8, and Justine, 3, for comic relief during the months of writing. This book is dedicated to them. For the 2012 edition: This book is dedicated to my wife Hellan whose good advice has improved the book in many ways. vi Table of Contents Preface.........................................................................................................................................................iii Copyright ...........................................................