Relation between South African Whites and Blacks during the Transitional Period: A Study of Nadine Gordimer's July's People
Date
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of English
Abstract
The objective of the present research is to analyze power relation between
South African whites and blacks during the interregnum in Nadine Gordimer'sJuly's
People.Gordimer, while writing about power relations between whites and blacks,
and between males and females, does not only grasp socio-economic and political
situations of apartheid South Africa in early 1980s but also mixes the historicity up
with her own imagination--her creative vision on power relations between whites
and blacks and between males and females in the would-be post-apartheid era--to
assert her belief on historicity of the text and textuality of history. There is a change in
the socio-economic and political situation of South Africa, where the white Smales
family--Maureen, Bamford, Victor, Royce and Gina--loses its power slowly and
gradually, and is destined to take help of theblack servant, July for their survival. The
blacks on the other hand including July create new discourses and validate them to get
power in their own hands. However, during the transitional period due to the role
reversal, the old discourses formed by whites gradually become ineffective, whereas
new discourses of blacks become effective. As a result, the powerful white masters
who lose their power are destined to obey the black servant July, who exercises power
strategically by forming new discourses for his own benefit.