Social Alienation And Isolation In Gordimer's Novel

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This essay critically discusses the social alienation and isolation felt by the various characters in Gordimer's novel. The novel speaks of events that already occurred in South Africa in the 1950's. During the 1950's South Africa was under the laws of Apartheid, which had been governed by white people. These people were classified as superior and the white people benefitted the most from this unequal system, while non-whites were disadvantaged because of their skin color. The word Apartheid means "separate". Being socially alienated means that as a collective society people of a certain race group couldn't participate in certain events. It’s essential to socialize in life, life has meaning by doing this, and however people were robbed of this. …show more content…

White people noticed the involvement of Black people and their ability to lead. The Whites were scared that Black people would realize that they form the majority of the population and that they could diminish the ruling of the white people over their lives and overcome oppression. White people recognized their ambition to gain freedom through the various meetings that they hold to stand together united against the harshness of the system.Multi-racial groups were growing in society with the SAIC and the ANC intertwined with one another and standing against the Apartheid policies. One of the most incredible movements was when the Congress of the People, and also the freedom charter united and proposed that “South Africa belongs to all who live in her- Black and White”(Clingman, 1986:47). This showed how society has changed and the unity of associations coming together can overcome social differences and would be a way forward, moving toward liberation. The multi-racial body which also consisted of the accused came “from all races, but all of them hold one thing in common....and that is a belief in the brotherhood of man.” (Clingman,

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