Which two of the following novels deal with the theme of apartheid?

(a) Purple Hibiscus
(b) July's People
(c) Cry, The Beloved Country
(d) The Mimic Men

Choose the correct option:

Correct option is C

Explanation:

The correct answer is July's People and Cry, The Beloved Country.

July's People by Nadine Gordimer (1981) is a novel that deals with the theme of apartheid in South Africa. The story imagines a scenario where the white minority is overthrown, and the black majority takes control, leading to a dramatic shift in social power dynamics. The novel is a powerful critique of apartheid and explores themes of racial inequality, fear, and the fragility of privilege in a post-apartheid world.

Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton (1948) is a seminal novel set in South Africa that addresses the social and racial injustices of apartheid. Through the story of Stephen Kumalo, a black priest, and his journey to find his son in a world torn apart by racial inequality, the novel vividly portrays the emotional and psychological toll of apartheid. It remains one of the most important literary works on South Africa's racial struggle.

Information Booster:

July's People by Nadine Gordimer:

- The novel is set in a post-apartheid world and explores the repercussions of a reversed racial hierarchy in which the black South Africans hold the power.

- The theme of apartheid is explored through the experiences of a white family who had once been privileged under apartheid but now find themselves in a world where the power dynamics have shifted.

- This work gives a harsh critique of the effects of apartheid on both white and black South Africans.

Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton:

- Published in 1948, just before the formal implementation of apartheid in South Africa, this novel deals with themes of racial inequality, injustice, and social division.

- Stephen Kumalo represents the plight of the black South Africans who are caught between traditional ways and the modern world brought about by colonization and apartheid policies.

- The novel calls for social harmony and a peaceful end to the racial oppression that defines the period.

Apartheid was a systematic policy of racial segregation in South Africa that lasted from 1948 to the early 1990s. Under apartheid, the white minority controlled the nation’s political, economic, and social systems, while the black majority was subjected to oppressive laws, segregation, and forced relocation. Literature like Cry, The Beloved Country and July's People reflects the deep-seated racial tensions and the human cost of this brutal system.

Additional Knowledge:

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie :

Although Purple Hibiscus deals with social issues such as family dynamics and the political climate in Nigeria, it does not focus on the theme of apartheid.

The novel deals more with the abuses of power within a family and the struggles for personal and political freedom in a post-colonial society.

The Mimic Men by V.S. Naipaul:

The Mimic Men is a post-colonial novel that explores themes of identity, cultural dislocation, and political upheaval in the Caribbean.

While it deals with the effects of colonization and identity crises in a former colonial society, it does not specifically address the theme of apartheid in South Africa.