Themes: Fear of the Other
The family in “Once Upon a Time” is depicted as having an overwhelming fear of the outside world. Gordimer is pointed about the fact that the suburb in which the family lives is white, wealthy, and predicated on exclusion. Gordimer ironically implies that the family itself is not overtly or consciously racist, because the plaque that hangs over their gates features a silhouetted, race-neutral intruder who is masked: “it could not be said if he was black or white, and therefore proved the property owner was no racist.” However, the fear the husband and wife have is centered on the supposed criminal element that resides in the neighborhood “outside the city, where people of another color are quartered.”
The family takes incremental steps to protect themselves from crime, a representation of the unknown other. The measures begin with the desire for security, but throughout the story, they progressively become initiatives taken out of an unreasonable and excessive fear that creates a vortex around the family. The husband and wife become more afraid of the burglaries that affect their neighbors; they regulate the hours of their domestic staff, and they withdraw from the world. As their fear increases, the measures they take reflect their consuming isolation, an isolation that also affects their entire community:
When the man and wife and little boy took the pet dog for its walk round the neighborhood streets they no longer paused to admire this show of roses or that perfect lawn; they were hidden behind an array of different varieties of security fences, walls, and devices.
Gordimer makes the point that in the modern world, continued fear of the unknown is not sustainable. To underscore that point, Gordimer is fond of using the following quote from philosopher Antonio Gramsci:
The old is dying and the new cannot be born; in this interregnum there arises a great diversity of morbid symptoms.
Such an idea gains greater significance within the South African setting of “Once Upon a Time.” Gordimer is explicit in her belief that apartheid and its accompanying social stratification are representative of “the old [that] is dying.” What will replace it is unknown, and the family’s fear is that precise hesitancy toward a new that “cannot be born.” The experiences of the family’s preoccupation with safety can be seen in a larger sense in how white South Africa will address and understand a post-apartheid world, a setting in which “the other” cannot be pushed aside with walls, electronic gates, or placards that read “YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.”
In the frame story that opens "Once Upon a Time," Gordimer herself is confronted with the fear of crime, her own fear of the unknown. She experiences the same anxiety as the family in the main story. However, the primary difference is that she is able to explain through logic and reasoning the strange sound she heard and the worries she experienced. Through the theme of the other, Gordimer might be arguing that the discipline of shedding fears and preconceptions will be the best way to allow the “new” to be born while avoiding “the great diversity of morbid symptoms.”
Expert Q&A
What is the effect of the author not clearly stating the family's race in "Once Upon a Time"?
By not specifying the family's race in "Once Upon a Time," Nadine Gordimer creates a universal allegory about fear and paranoia. This omission highlights that the issue of racial intolerance and its destructive effects transcends specific contexts like apartheid-era South Africa. The story suggests that fear and exclusion can unravel social fabric anywhere, emphasizing the importance of addressing the root causes of conflict over racial identities. The narrative's fairy tale structure further universalizes its message.
In "Once Upon A Time," what actions does the family take for protection and what are the consequences?
In "Once Upon A Time," a family takes extreme measures for protection, including installing electronically-controlled gates, burglar bars, alarms, and razor wire. These actions are driven by fear of external threats in a South African context. However, the razor wire, intended for security, leads to tragedy when their son, inspired by fairy tales, becomes entangled in it, resulting in severe injury. This highlights the unintended consequences of focusing solely on perceived external dangers.
In Once Upon A Time by Nadine Gordimer, why is the narrator initially afraid?
The narrator in Nadine Gordimer's story is initially afraid due to a combination of professional anxiety and fear of intruders. She is disturbed by a colleague's suggestion that she ought to write children's stories, which affects her sleep. This anxiety is compounded by a noise she hears at night, which she fears might be burglars. Living in a politically volatile South Africa heightens her concern about safety, although she eventually finds a logical explanation for the noise.
What repeated actions in "Once Upon a Time" reveal the theme of fear of outsiders?
The repeated actions of barricading property in "Once Upon a Time" highlight the theme of fear of outsiders. The husband and wife install gates, burglar bars, alarms, and barbed wire, reflecting their fear of "the other." Despite having no concrete reason for fear, they imagine outsiders as dangerous, influenced by neighborhood robberies and unemployment. These actions demonstrate their irrational fear of people unlike themselves, even as their own staff are trusted outsiders.
In "Once Upon a Time," what do the changes and "prison architecture" suggest about residents' feelings?
The changes and "prison architecture" in "Once Upon a Time" suggest that the residents are increasingly driven by fear and insecurity. Initially, their security measures are practical, but as crime rises, their responses become excessive and irrational, reflecting deep-seated anxiety. The shift from aesthetic neighborhood features to aggressive security installations indicates a growing sense of threat and a misguided belief that physical barriers can protect them from societal issues they fail to comprehend.
What are three quotes from "Once Upon a Time" that illustrate fear of the "other"?
What commentary does Gordimer make about racism and fear in "Once Upon a Time"?
Gordimer's "Once Upon a Time" critiques racism and fear by highlighting how the white couple's actions, driven by fear of people of color, ironically imprison and harm themselves. The couple fortifies their home against perceived threats rather than addressing underlying social and economic injustices. Their racism and fear lead to tragic consequences when their son is injured by the very security measures intended to protect them, illustrating the destructive cycle of fear and prejudice.
In "Once Upon a Time," why is the narrator afraid and how does she compare to others in her community?
The narrator in "Once Upon a Time" is afraid due to the prevalent crime around her, sharing the same fears as her community. However, unlike others, she does not let this fear define her. While aware of the crime, she rationalizes her fears and chooses not to be consumed by paranoia. Instead, she channels her anxiety into creativity, crafting a "bedtime story" to illustrate the dangers of living in constant fear, setting her apart from her fearful neighbors.
How does Gordimer's description of the miners explain fear in South African society?
Gordimer's description of the miners in her story highlights the pervasive fear in South African society during the apartheid era. The protagonist's fear of an intruder symbolizes the broader societal fear of crime and violence as apartheid neared its end. When she realizes the noise is from a creaky house built on a mine, it suggests misplaced racial fears and reflects hope and reason, implying that societal fears of "the other" are unfounded.
How can fear be dangerous in "Once Upon a Time"?
In "Once Upon a Time," fear becomes dangerous as it drives a family to extreme security measures that ultimately lead to tragedy. Living in fear of crime, they install alarms and fences, isolating themselves further. This fear escalates when they add sharp wire to their fence, which their imaginative son sees as a fairy tale thicket. Tragically, he is fatally injured trying to climb through it, showing how their disproportionate fear led to his death.
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