Cultural Affects of South African Society in Nadine Gordimer’s A Sport of Nature

Abstract

In an African society, every African has to make a run even for their basic amenities. These basic amenities fall into the control of the Whites, especially in South Africa. It will not be made available to them because of the control that the Whites have imposed on the Africans. Though the scenario has slightly changed in the Twenty First century, situation is that the phenomenon is still prevalent. And the reason seems to be that the lives of the African slaves which were totally occupied by the Whites in the colonial period continued its effects on them and their plight was that of an animal. This leads to the fact that an African pays no regard to any value or people in the society even in the 21st century. Most of the Africans are not out of the shackles and hence lead a life lower than that of the animals and the White people show little regard to a fellow human’s life. The basic survival instinct makes him/her a selfish being. Hence there is an immediate requirement for a change to be created among the African people so that they are taught to take care of themselves. Education is a dire need of the African people, if their status has to be increased in par with other countries of the world. A literary work written, in this case in English, about an African society would definitely discuss about their way of living and the degraded status which their life bears. Nadine Gordimer is one such writer. She has lifted the mirror up to nature in trying to portray the life of people in African society.