July's People

July’s mother scolds him for killing a hen that was still laying eggs instead of the “white one with the broken foot” (21). He responds defensively, saying that the white hen will be more useful in the future. How does this quarrel serve as a parable for the dispute between July and his mother regarding the Smaleses?

In their new, close quarters, Maureen and Bam find that “lack of privacy kill[s] desire” (79). Citing evidence from the text, discuss how them being relocated to July’s tiny hut, which disrupts all their customary routines, affects their physical attraction to each other, contributing to their estrangement.

As the Smaleses’ relationship begins to deteriorate, Bam reflects that “there [i]s no undersurface of recognition; only moments of finding each other out” (105). What are some instances in which Maureen or Bam “[find] each other out”? What does this say about the underpinnings of their long, successful marriage in Johannesburg?

Gordimer’s novel repeatedly juxtaposes the realities of South African life with “picturesque” or moralistic photo essays circulated by the media. How does the media’s simplistic, carefully curated version of South Africa enhance Gordimer’s satire about the exploitation of apartheid, whether by the white status quo or by progressives?

The chief of July’s territory turns out to be a reactionary who plans to side with the white government against his own people. How does this unexpected development complicate the Smaleses’ lives and their political allegiances?

After standing in the rain following a fight with Bam, Maureen becomes “aware of being able to see” (48). Cite examples of her new insights into her life and surroundings. In what ways does she begin to see things more clearly than Bam (for example, about their situation in July’s village and their shared past in Johannesburg)?

In school, July learned a neutered, “mission-classroom” English, a pidgin version customized for the completion of menial tasks rather than for expressing feelings or engaging in debate. How does this affect his communication with the Smaleses in their new dynamic of dependency on him? Why does he so often cling to the nomenclature of the past (“boy,” “master”) in his dealings with them?

The Smales children, after some friction with the villagers, adapt readily to their new life and surroundings, gradually abandoning most of the vestiges of city life (habits, possessions, and values) and mingling happily with the local children. Describe this process and examine what drives it. What does this suggest about the future of the country? Why does assimilation come more easily to the children than to their parents?