Setting

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Social setting

The social setting of “Once Upon a Time” explores the outcomes of prejudice and racism and social differences in South Africa during apartheid.

Outcomes of prejudice and racism

The social setting deals with the prejudice against black people during the apartheid system in South Africa. The prejudice, which originates in racism, instills fear in white people and makes them take extreme measures to protect themselves from possible attacks by the black population. Through the mention of the “wise old witch, the husband’s mother” (p. 1, l. 42), who warns them not to accept anyone from the streets, the social setting illustrates how prejudice and racist attitudes are learned and passed on by previous generations.

Although the social context of the outer story is not explicit, the writer in the story might have also lived during the time of apartheid. Consequently, the feeling of fear and the idea that the writer is a “victim” (p. 1, l. 19) may also be connected to prejudice and to being a white woman living alone i…