Thematic Concerns

Question 1

Abuse

Answer 1

Child abuse
Women abuse
Sarah- pimped out by brother
Alfred raping siesie 
Margaret who abuses Alfred

Question 2

Existential barrenness

Answer 2

Nothing ever happens here, nothing at all
Loss o religious, social and family values
Wake, wipe, eat, sleep, drink, naai
Heat, barrenness,minds numbed by personal tragedy and social ills
Lack of empathy for Ruth
Sensationalization of rape

Question 3

Poverty

Answer 3

Unemployment
Underdeveloped town
Poverty of spirit and morality
Leads to social ills and abuse

Question 4

Sex and gender roles

Answer 4

Sex viewed as alleviating boredom
Self-gratifying for the males
Economic necessity for females

Question 5

Love

Answer 5

Love is comfort in our human journey which for many people is one through hell but which becomes tolerable through another’s empathy

Question 6

Injustice

Answer 6

Six men falsely accused
Alfred’s abuser went unpunished
Ruth’s rejection from her community even though she is a victim herself to some degree is questioned

Question 7

Hope

Answer 7

The capacity to hope requires the capacity to experience pain
Hopefully the next generation is better than the previous one if the previous one sacrifices their own goes for their children