The suit Flashcards
what is the narrator
Third person - omniscient
who is the protagonist
Philemon
who is the antagonist
The suit
how does phils character change
stops saying grace before meals, he starts drinking, the treatment of his wife becomes wholly directed towards hurting and humiliating her.
What is the setting and how does it add to the story
Sophiatown South Africa (phils hometown), The oppressive nature of Apartheid and its effect of the people are reflected in the short story. We see this in the oppressive way in which Philemon treats Tilly.
How do we see the oppressive Apartheid existence in the short story
still use candles (which means no electricity), H e has to share a toilet (which is built outside for the whole community), need to cook water for their bath
what is the subject of the story
Personal relationships, a man’s treatment of his wife after discovering her infidelity, disintegration of marriage
what is the theme of this story
Marriage, Infidelity, Forgiveness and emotional abuse
what is the style
Factual, formal, objective and detached
how does the pace of the story increase
type of narrator and the fact that we are given insight into what the characters do and think increases the pace
what is the tone, in the start an end of the story
loving and happy, antagonistic and hostile
how does the tone in the beginning of the story create irony
the story starts off with a happy and loving tone which turns into hostility with the irony being phils satisfaction and happiness of his home environment contradicting the tone in the end
what is the suit a symbol of
the wife’s infidelity and humiliation (symbol of Philemon’s inability to forgive her and perhaps even his own agony)
what is the expostion
Philemon prepares for the day while his wife is still sleeping.
A warm and loving atmosphere is created as he admires his wife
what is the rising action
Mr Maphikela tells Philemon that it appears that his wife is having an affair, Philemon rushes home and finds his wife in bed with her lover, The young man runs leaving his suit, Philemon’s character changes he becomes consumed with his wife’s infidelity, The suit becomes part of their daily lives and serves as a means to humiliate Tilly
