Country Lovers Vs Welcome Table

Country Lovers Vs. The Welcome Table
Andrea Williams
Ashford University

People are always looking to compare Race / Ethnicity in literary works. I have chosen to compare and contrast the literary works, “Country Lovers” by Nadine Gordimer and “The Welcome Table” by Alice Walker, the theme being race / ethnicity.
Both of these pieces have the same theme involving racial discrimination.
Racial and ethical dilemma is a feeling that we may sometimes witness or experience in today’s society whether it is at work, taking a stroll in the park, or on television. It has existed throughout the human race and can still be experienced visually, sometimes we may feel it, but are most likely to hear it, and sometimes it can actually be experienced
firsthand. It is a very sensitive diverse subject that is difficult to discuss because the outcomes are normally filled with anger and depression, just like in the short story “Country Lovers “. This short story “Country Lovers” was written by Nadine Gordimer in 1975” (Clugston, 2010). This short story is about a being young and interracial; it is the blue eyes verses brown eyes dilemma. The forbidden love between a young black farm girl named Thebedi and a young white boy, the son of the farm owner named Paulus Eysendyck. This story took place on a South African farm. The story deals with the consequences of a forbidden love between a young black girl and a young white boy in South Africa. It is clear from the beginning of this short story that the theme is centered on inter-racial dilemma relationships. In the story “Country Lovers”, Paulus, a Caucasian boy, had an ongoing relationship with his African American childhood friend by the name of Thebedi.
Thebedi’s father worked on Paulus’s father’s farm. They were very careful not to disclose their relationship out of fear of being discovered. For instance, in the story “Country Lovers”, Gordimer writes, “There was a risk someone would discover her or traces of her presence if he took her to his own bedroom”, (cited in Clugston, 2010, “Country lovers”, para. # 8) this shows that it was forbidden for them to be together. During their adolescent years, they were no longer allowed to spend time together due to segregation. They continued their sexual relationship secretly because interracial relationships were illegal and they did not want anyone to find out. It was through secret dates that their forbidden sexual encounters took place. There was a time where racism and discrimination was a huge issue. Back in those days, African Americans were treated unequal. There can be segregation found in both stories, racism and discrimination still exists, but it is illegal to discriminate against anyone, including their race. The story Thebedi experienced two types of discrimination first for being black and second for being a woman. To truly have a clear understanding of this historic theme you have to understand the context in which it is written (Clugston, 2010). Some literary elements in the short story that contribute to the theme are setting, characters and point of view. In this short story it was set in the 1970’s in South Africa, this was a historic period due to apartheid. By understanding the apartheid situation in South Africa at that time the actions of Paulus become more apparent. It was unacceptable for these two young people to ever have a relationship since Thebedi was an African and she was considered to be the lowest class. Having any type of relationship between Thebedi and Paulus was prohibited. As terrible as it was that Paulus killed his own child it is now understandable based on the laws of that time and what would have taken place if others found out. Discrimination and Racism in Country Lovers and the Welcome Table Racial discrimination has affected black people of the United States as well as Africa for many years. Although racial discrimination is against the law in both countries today, many people believe that it still exists. This has been an ongoing issue since the beginning of American History. Racism is an issue that continues to persist in our country because after centuries of slavery and oppression amongst the African-American population, it is deeply ingrained in American history.
For example in “The Welcome Table”, the old woman trying to visit the white church and experienced racism from the start of her journey as she brushed passed the reverend of the church stopped her pleasantly as she stepped into the vestibule.
Did he say, as they thought he did, kindly, “Auntie, you know this is not your church?” As if one could choose the wrong one. This proved he was against this woman entering his church for any reason. In the 1970’s this was a forbidden process. The author Alice Walker; had issues of race and gender that were the center of her literary work and her social activism. This short story has the same theme of race found in the story Country Lovers. These two women have experience a type of injustice do to the color of their skin. These women both have a feeling of heartache Thebedi when she lost her child from the issues that plagued her life; and the old woman in the church just trying to find a place to worship and being discriminated against for the color of her
skin. The plot is describing how the people in the church treated her when she was alive and as it describes her by using symbolism.

There was a time where racism and discrimination was a huge issue.
Back in those days, African Americans were treated unequal. There was no harmony between people unless they had the same skin color. Racism and discrimination still exists, but it is illegal to discriminate against anyone, including their race. In this paper, “Country Lovers” by Nadine Gordimer and The Welcome Table have many similarities as well as differences that I will discuss. These literary works can cause one to gain a better understanding of what many people have experienced in the days when discrimination caused so much adversity.
Both stories demonstrated discrimination and racism; in Country Lovers and the Welcome Table Racial discrimination has affected black people of the United States as well as Africa for many years. Although racial discrimination is against the law in both countries today, many people believe that it still exists. This has been an ongoing issue since the beginning of American History. Racism is an issue that continues to persist in our country because after centuries of slavery and oppression amongst the African-American population, it is deeply ingrained in American
history.
Alice Walker 's story "The Welcome Table" is also about racial strife, and this is something that concerned Alice Walker deeply, as you have learned in the story is set in the South at the time when the Civil Rights movement was beginning to gain momentum. Churches, like other public places in the South, were segregated. Whites and Blacks had separate churches as well as separate restrooms and places to eat. When the Federal Government began to enforce new U. S. Government Civil Rights Legislation that took away the right of the states to keep African Americans out of public places, many White Southerners were angry, bitter, and fearful about the changes they were being forced to accept. All this comes to a head when a poor old, sick, forgetful Black woman wanders into a White church. We can see the bitter feelings she stirs up with the narrator’s words as he discussed the church scene. In their eyes, this poor old woman signifies a jungle invasion, rioting in the streets, and the loss of control and maybe even angry retribution they fear the new laws will bring. "Privacy" didn 't really mean privacy. They wanted to maintain their unequal social system and their own privileges at all costs. The "hesitant creeping up on them of the law" refers to the Civil Rights laws they will eventually have to accept. In the story county lovers they would not have had the chance to witness this change of equal rights in there near future. Both of these stories had death and racial content that prevented some type of life to move forward. Had we been able live equally so many of the issues we see in both stories would not have taken place and such tragedy would not have been displayed. We would not have witnessed the death of Thebedi and Paulus child; we would not have witnessed the issues of this woman just trying to die in peace in Gods house and being removed with such hatred from these people who think that she wasn’t deserving because of her skin color.

References:
Clugston, R. W. (2010). Journey into literature. San Diego, California: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.