Perspectives

Historical perspective

The events presented by Rayda Jacobs in the short story “The Guilt” take place post-apartheid, in South Africa. Apartheid – which began in the 1950s and ended at the beginning of the 1990s – was a political system based on racial segregation. This meant that the white minority received social and economic advantages – better jobs, better housing, and more money. On the opposite, the black majority was discriminated against – they lived in miserable conditions, did low-paying jobs, and lacked access to education. 

After the end of apartheid, in 1994, the black majority hoped for a change. However, black South Africans continued to suffer because of racial segregation and discrimination long after the end of apartheid, like Jacobs’ story shows. The white minority continued to enjoy their advantages, while black South Africans still depended on white people when it came to earning a living.

Literary perspective

The short story “The Guilt” is a modernist work of fiction. First, the story is told by using the perspective of the main character, Lilian, and by focusing on her inner struggles. Except for a flashback, the events are presented chronologically, which makes the plot easier to follow. The language used by the author is authentic and illustrates the relationship between white and black South Africans post-apartheid. The authenticity of the language is also created by the dialogue, which mimics the natural way of speaking.

Furthermore, modernist stories tend to focus on symbols, which highlight the characters’ features or their feelings. Jacobs mainly focuses on the wall, the house, and the gun, which show the social dynamics between whites and blacks post-apartheid. 

Works with the same theme or by the same author

The short story “We gotta number there” by Rayda Jacobs tells the story of a black South African couple who try to make a life for themselves in their native village with the help of their white employers. The story presents life in post-apartheid South Africa and the still-existing inequality between whites and blacks.

“Once Upon a Time” by Nadine Gordimer is a short story that deals with the tensions between white and black people in South Africa. The events take place during apartheid. When analyzing the story, it would be useful to look at the symbolism of the wall, which is also present in “The Guilt” by Rayda Jacobs. 

The short story “The Park” by James Matthews presents events that take place in South Africa during apartheid. The focus is on a black South African boy, who becomes obsessed with playing in a park where only white children are allowed to play. The story also focuses on the inequality between white and black South Africans, as well as the issue of racial segregation.