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How does Nadine Gordimer’s July’s People examine unequal relationships created by apartheid?
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African literature
South African dramatist Athol Fugard sitting between actors John Kani (left) and Winston Ntshona, 1973.
In July’s People, Nadine Gordimer examines the unequal power dynamics of apartheid by reversing the traditional roles of master and servant. When the white liberal couple, Bam and Maureen Smales, are forced to flee to the village of their servant, July, the shift in environment exposes the fragility and inherent condescension of their previous "kindness."1
The novel highlights the following aspects of these unequal relationships:
- Liberal Obliviousness: Despite their opposition to apartheid, the Smales family struggles to recognize their own privilege. Maureen is disturbed by villagers using her belongings, failing to acknowledge that July’s own family sacrificed their living space to accommodate them.1
- Loss of Control: As the power structure shifts, Bam and Maureen face a profound sense of powerlessness. When the village chief requests Bam’s rifle and it is later taken by a villager to join the revolution, the couple is forced to confront their loss of authority.1
- Reevaluation of the Past: Maureen eventually realizes that her past actions toward July, which she perceived as benevolent, were viewed by him as controlling and condescending.1
Ultimately, the novel serves as a dissection of white liberal vulnerability, illustrating that the systemic inequalities of apartheid created relationships built on dependency rather than genuine equality.1