Nadine Gordimer's short story "Africa Emergent" explores the theme of defying oppression through the characterization of Elias Nkomo. Elias was a sculptor in Africa who faced oppression under racist laws. He moved to America in hopes of getting an education and escaping oppression, but still faced it from both African and American oppressors. The story shows that true freedom requires not just escaping one's oppressors, but overcoming the effects of oppression itself.

1. NOR AZLAN
ROSEMINAH
KHAIRUNNISA

2.  Nadine Gordimer explores the theme of defying
oppression through the use of characterization,
setting, and tone in the short story "Africa
Emergent".
 Elias Nkomo, had quite a good life in Africa as a
sculptor, he had his works recognized, but he
was oppressed in by the laws.
 So, went to America in the hope of getting
himself general education and freeing himself
from the opression he had in Africa.
 Unfortunately, he was still affected by the
opression he had in Africa.

3.  As his settings changed from the oppressors in
Africa to the oppressors in America he found no
escape from oppression. In fact, he realized that
the oppressors from Africa were still affecting
him. The apartheid in Africa prevented black
people from growing, and when he evolved
enough to know that he had to see life out side
of Africa; he was not welcome to come back to
Africa.
 According to the short story "It was the South
African government who killed him.” The only
escape he found from that(the oppression) was
death. His only freedom was to end his life in the
hope that the oppression would no longer choke
his life away or control him. In short, when the
curiosity of the oppressed allows them to evolve
they must not only free themselves from the
oppressor, but also from the oppression.

5. 1. “Passes” have to be written out for the blacks
in order to keep them from being arrested
for being out after the curfew.
 This suggests political inequality because
there would be no “curfew” for the whites.
 TE : “We had to remember to write out
'passes' at night, so that our actors could get
home without being arrested for being out
after the curfew for blacks...”
2. There are even “the black people’s section” at
the train.

6. 3. According to the law, it is illegal for a black
man to live in a white suburb.
 The legislation of the 1950’s and 1960’s
proscribed any form of political or intimate
social liaison between white and black
people. (http://www.jstor.org)
 That is why, the narrator has to lie about
renovating his garage, while on the other
hand, he was actually building a place for
Elias.
 TE: “It was illiegal for him to live there in a
white suburb, of course, ...... the white
building inspector didn't turn a hair of
suspicion when I said that I was converting
the garage as a flat for my wife's mother. ”

7. 4. It is hard or even impossible for a black man
to get a passport. (Elias are not given any
reason as to why he can’t get a passport)
 This is because, the blacks are meant to stay
put in some parts of South Africa where the
“government” says they belong. It seems that
where they should be and where they
shouldn’t be are decided by the government.
They can’t have their says. They just have to
accept it.

8.  Even if they have their passports, they must
be considered a police spy (spying for their
country).
 The only way to prove that they are not spies
are by being imprisoned.
Assumptions : A black man with passport (free
to travel anywhere) must be very special (one
of high authority) that they will be suspected
as a spy.

9. 5. Once a black man are granted an exit-permit,
they are not to return back to South Africa or its
mandatory territory. (where you are now, is
where you will be.)
 The apartheid issue in Africa prevented black
people from growing and that’s what
motivated Elias of travelling out of Africa. But
then, he can’t get back to Africa after going
out.
6. A black man will not have his study grant
included with travel expenses.
7. A black man will be arrested if he is caught
attending a meeting of a banned political
organization.

10. 8. The two occupations, architect and artist
represent white & black differences in the
South African culture.
 The white man is an architect, with more
formal education. His position holds more
prestige and economic value in society.
 Elias, a black man, is a sculptor. Though both
architect and sculptor can be thought of as
artistic, the sculptor's creativity is more
innate but the architect holds more power.

11. 9. Under the Detention Act, one(the colored)
can be imprisoned without even being told
why and there are no charges on him.

12.  Why does Gordimer choose to not give the
other black man a name?
 Since the story is told in 1st person POV, for
the narrator to name "him" would put the
narrator at risk.
 A white man admitting friendship with a black
man is bad enough, but one who is in prison
is worse still.
 “He's in prison now, so I'm not going to
mention his name. It mightn't be a good
thing, you understand. ”

13.  The author of the short story is a woman.
 Then, why does she choose to view the story
from a man’s point of view?
 Why doesn’t she put the narrator as a
woman?

14.  Don’t just free yourself from the OPPRESSER,
but free yourself from the OPPRESSION as
well..AND NEVER RETURN!

15.  http://www.jstor.org
 http://www.paperary.org
 http://www.angelfire.com/pa/janipage/world
lit.html