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The Dream House (Summary, Themes, Quotes)
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This document covers a summary of the Novel, as well as a list of themes and quotes for each character.
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Written By Greg Basslian 2019The Dream House – By Craig Higginson
These notes aim to provide a summary of the Novel. Please note, however, that there are
numerous interpretations of each character and event and this summary is only one
interpretation of the novel and therefore should only be used to guide you in your
studies.
Introduction
The introduction to the novel is highly important as it sets the scene for the events which
take place throughout the storyline. From the outset it is evident that the dilapidated
farmhouse on Dwaleni (The Wiley’s family farm) is a central concern for the characters and
each character views the house in a different way:
! Although at this point the reason is unclear, Patricia seems to be happy to leave it
behind and move on to her future that lies ahead as she moves away from the farm.
! Richard clings to his demented memories of the house and what the farm means to
him.
! Bheki and Beauty are quiet about their feelings regarding the house, we are unable
to draw any conclusions about their feelings at this point.
! Looksmart is obsessed with the house – for him it is a symbol of what he desired as a
young boy but could not have; and finally, a significant symbol of his triumph and
revenge as an adult man.
The house acts as the physical embodiment of the characters’ main concerns, dreams,
memories, and interpretations of the past as will become more evident throughout the
novel.
The novel tackles several extremely relevant post-apartheid themes, and it is evident that
each of the characters are used as symbols of the different cultural classes of people in post-
apartheid South Africa:
! Racist resentful old white man who has no intention of changing his ways for the
better (Richard)
! Colonialist and paternalistic old white woman who feels the burden and guilt of
educating and uplifting black South Africans. This is evident in her actions
throughout the novel but two things that highlight this point are the fact that she
feels the need to help Beauty save money, tech her English and ther way in which
she feels she needs to educate Looksmart. (Patricia)
! Black female worker who is aware of her powerlessness and inadequacy. She is
constantly made to feel powerless in comparison to both Richard and Patricia and
this is representative of the fact that although South Africa is 25 years into
democracy there is still a striking inequality in the country. This inequality is driven
by the privilege that white South Africans still enjoy as a result of the atrocities of
Apartheid (Beauty)
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! Black male worker who is equally aware of his powerlessness but keeps his silence
looking for a way out. We constantly get the feeling that Bheki is planning to leave
the Wiley’s in the hope of improving his situation (Bheki)
! Black, newly affluent working-class man who is still not comfortable with his own
power. We notice when he returns to the farm as a grown man he still feels as
though the land is not his, he does not feel comfortable with the power he now has
(Looksmart)
There are five parts to the novel which can be broken down into the following:
Part 1 – Exposition
Introduction of the characters as well as the house. The reader is introduced to the central
themes of the book as well as the main characters.
Part 2 – Rising Action
Looksmart’s arrival causes a sense of tension; the subject of past events which have led up
to the rising action are referred to and we start to gain insight as to how each of the
characters has arrived at the point at which we are introduced to them find them.
Part 3 – Climax
Grace’s murder/death.
Part 4 – Falling Action
Revisiting the past (This is the point at which there is an attempt to explore the past and
reflect on the events that have hurt each character so badly. We see an attempt to explain
and understand from some of the characters. However, it is evident that some characters
are unwilling to discuss the past (This will be explored in greater detail).
Part 5 – Resolution
Death and departure; making space for Looksmart’s new beginning. Although we are never
explicitly told what happens once the Wiley’s have left the farm there is a sense that the
handing over of the farm to Looksmart will allow for a far more positive future and gives a
sense of hope.
Part One
• The novel begins with an introduction to the farmhouse and the mist, which gives
the reader a sense of gloominess
• The farm has been sold and parts of it will be destroyed. At this point it is unclear to
what use the farm will be put once it has been handed over. There is a giving up of
personal history and ownership as the Wiley’s will give up the farm that they have
called home for so many years and experienced so many memories on. There is a
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desire to start afresh and begin with a new slate as it is also evident that Patricia is in
a way looking forward to her move to the coast.
• Patricia does not feel connected to her reality – It seems that everything which gave
her life meaning is gone. Looksmart has left the farm, John, her lover, has since
passed away, the dogs which once roamed the farm have been killed, and the ponies
that once formed a central feature on the farm are no longer there)
• Patricia’s relationship with Beauty is given a seriously dehumanizing quality. The
reader is alerted to the fact that Patricia calls beauty as if she is a dog.
• Patricia feels the burden of having to uplift Beauty (Some may interpret this as
generosity, however I struggle to accept that it is generosity as Patricia’s attitude
towards Beauty throughout the novel is very degrading)– she will send beauty for
driving and English lessons. It almost seems as if Patricia is trying to uplift Beauty,
however, she does not make any meaningful effort to create a better life for Beauty.
• Patricia is deeply connected with the house; we are made aware of her many
memories of the place. She is also a prideful woman and she is embarrassed by her
weakness as she relies of Beauty a lot due to her frail state.
• Richard is introduced as a speaking character with dementia. When we are first
introduced to Richard, he is digging up a grave that we later learn is the grave of his
unborn child who was buried on the farm. From the outset Richard is painted as a
character who is very difficult to connect with and extremely difficult to sympathize
with.
• The killing of the dogs is symbolic of the end of an era (The dogs in many ways are
symbolic of the security that Apartheid afforded white people, thus their death
signifies the end of an era, the end of Apartheid and white supremacy)
• Bheki and Beauty have taken over the care of Patricia as she is no longer
independent – They refer to Patricia and Richard as “Mesis/Madam & Ubaas” – titles
of authority and racial superiority
• Patricia is represented as efficient and in charge – she runs the farm and scolds Bheki
for several his actions. It is also very interesting that Patricia is made out to be far
more productive and successful than Richard.
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