Reader response of 'A Chip of Glass Ruby"

Wilkin - De La Rosa            

ESR 098

Prof. Maria - Jerskey

10/19/10

“A Chip of Glass Ruby”

Summary:           

It is a short story written by Nadine Gordimer in 1950’s. It took place in Union of South Africa, where the social political system is apartheid. The protagonist in this story is Mrs. Bemjee (Zanip), a woman dedicated to her family, also a political activist who throughout the story watched over the minorities of her country, and helped activists with a duplicating machine, which she used to make copies of leaflets against government. As a result of this she was arrested. At the beginning her husband was worried, and mad with her, but at the end he began to have a glimmer of understanding of the wonderful woman, who is his wife, when his stepdaughter explained to him what her Mon is.

Part most I liked:

When Girli said to her stepfather ‘Oh, but don’t you see?’ the girl said. ‘It is because she doesn’t want anybody to be left out. It is because she always remembers; remembers everything – people without somewhere to live, hungry kids, boys who cannot get educated – remembers all the time. That is how Ma is.’

Part I found confusing:

At the end of the story we didn’t know what happen with Mrs. Bamjee, and if she resolved the conflict or not.

Question:

What did happen with Mrs. Bamjee’s family and her, when she leaved the jail?

Interpretation:

Two points of this story are the same opportunities or right for everyone, also not being afraid of our beliefs.