In-depth notes on the referring themes explored in Craig Higginson's novel, The Dream House. Notes include: themes, notes on the relationship between characters and short questions and answers.
The Dream House
The land explores renewal versus decay links with idea of renewal of the truth (a new
truth or a different version) versus the truth being lost
PLAAS ROMAN: farm romance/farm novel
White owners and black workers
Dogs protect whites
Plaas Roman ideas distorted in novel:
Novel is post-apartheid
Dog doesn’t play typical plaas roman role
MAIN/RECURRING THEMES
Truth
Memory
Memory of Truth (unreliable nature of memory)
Shadows of the past (so much to be uncovered from the past – is it possible for it to be
resolved?)
Hope
CRAIG HIGGINSON describes South Africa as, “half new, half ruins.”
Explores hopelessness versus redemption and hope
Middle space
Dialogue sense in the novel (as it is adapted from the play)
Craig Higginson wanted to write a novel about hope
LANGUAGE
Language can summon and command (Patricia shows power over Beauty just by the
way she speaks)
Higginson writing in Zulu without translation emphasizes the idea of alienation/a
language barrier
Beauty speaks English to Patricia; Zulu to Richard as she regards him as less due to
his dementia; Zulu when she is alone
Language can:
construct identity
create distance and status
can carry truth (sometimes more powerful when it doesn’t carry the truth
contradicts the idea of the truth setting us free)
Silence causes more harm than it does good
NAMES
Cebo Mtshemla | DSG
, Looksmart refers to beauty as Togo
Patricia calls her workers by their first name whilst they call her “mesis”.
Richard referring to his child with Grace as “it” and “that” shows that he wanted
nothing to do with that black child. – Richard wanted no relationship or attachment to
Grace, just the sex.
OMNISIENT CHARACTER
the characters aren’t narrating but the chapters switch between the characters. Much
like rooms in a house, we get a sneak peek into each character through the structure of
the novel.
SEX
“Grace was the last one (prostitute) on the farm.” this implies that Richard was
paying others
Patricia’s affair with John Ford shows that Patricia desires other
Looksmart doesn’t know the truth about Grace and her sex work. Knowing the truth
will make everything he believed a lie.
No intimacy between Patricia and Richard (as their relationship has withered) Both
Patricia and Richards are involved in other sexual activities
Their marriage was based on Patricia’s pregnancy. They only thing that could “save”
their relationship was born dead. Their dead daughter represents their failed marriage.
RELATIONSHIPS
Relationships are central in this novel. The failed relationship between Richard and Patricia,
her secret relationship with John Ford, the lack of relationships between Patricia and her
workers, the relationship Patricia thought she had developed with Looksmart in contrast to
what Looksmart reveals about it when he returns, as well as the relationship with the land and
all that is on it. The two graves and the third one waiting, the dairy and the house.
PATRICIA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER CHARACTERS
PATRICIA’S Has power over Beauty. Condescending in her call to her
RELATIONSH “Beau-ty”
IP WITH Patricia reflects apartheid as she degrades Beauty
BEAUTY refers to beauty as a girl.
PATRICIA’S BHEKI IS JUST A WORKER AND THEIR
RELATIONSH RELATIONSHIP DOESN’T GO BEYOND THAT
IP WITH PATRICIA DOESN’T TALK TO BHEKI BUT TALKS
BHEKI AT HIM. THERE IS NO EXPECTATION OF A
Cebo Mtshemla | DSG
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