Compare and Contrast of Two Literary Works - 2676 Words

This paper compares and contrasts two different literary works, â€Å"Country Lovers† written by Nadine Gordimer and â€Å"The Welcome Table† by Alice Walker. Both stories follow the same theme, or hidden message or underlying idea in a story. They are about ethnicity and racism which ultimately results in the death of a person: the infant daughter in â€Å"Country Lovers† and the old lady in â€Å"The Welcome Table.† Racism has transcended generations, separated families and nations, and left heartache and grief in its wake. Synopsis of Both Stories The first story, â€Å"Country Lovers† is about Paulus, the spoiled, rich son of a white farmer and Thebedi, the daughter of a poor black worker. The story tells how Paulus and Thebedi grew up together on a†¦show more content†¦The preacher who she apparently has had a â€Å"familial† relationship with throughout many years lovingly refers to her as â€Å"Auntie† and tells her that she does not belong here and this is not her church. The usher, too, similarly called her â€Å"Grandma†. In â€Å"Country Lovers† the poor black laborers worked for the rich white people in harsh conditions. Conditional and Unconditional Love As mentioned, both stories tell of tough racial and discrimination issues that plagued the times they were written, although any separation of color was illegal. During those days, love was very much conditional, not unconditional (Bauer, 1992). Both stories are filled with the symbolism of love and hatred, life and death, good and evil. Despite the obvious love and affection in both stories for Thebedi and the old lady, the white men are still racist. For Paulus and Thebedi, there is obviously a childhood attraction between the two although they kept it secret because interracial relationships in this era were illegal. Even though they know it is wrong to love each other, they still do. Their childhood love and attraction they felt for each other resulted in them growing up to be more than friends. The crime is represented in the birth of their daughter; therefore, Paulus must make her go away. Being the racist that Paulus’s father has raised him to be and his need to cover up their crime, Paulus makes the decision to murder his own child.Show MoreRelatedWriting and Compare-and-contrast Essays1384 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Compare and Contrast This type of writing assignment is common. On a standardized test, you may be asked to analyze literature, evaluate ideas, or make a judgment and explain your reasons. In responding to these types of prompts, you often will compare and contrast characters, concepts, or choices. You will be asked to identify similarities and differences, which are the key to compare-and-contrast essays. 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