Six Feet Of The Country By Nadine Gordimer Summary » [ LATEST ]

The title refers to the "six feet" of earth every human is supposedly entitled to for burial. Gordimer illustrates that under Apartheid, even this basic dignity is denied to Black individuals.

To further explore the story, consider these questions: six feet of the country by nadine gordimer summary

The narrative is quiet and domestic, which makes the underlying horror of the situation more impactful. The title refers to the "six feet" of

Desperate to help his employee—or perhaps to absolve his own guilt—the narrator makes one final attempt. He writes a letter to the Secretary for Native Affairs, the highest authority, appealing the decision. Weeks pass. Finally, a reply arrives. It is a formal, typed letter, signed by a faceless official. The letter states that after careful consideration, the application for exhumation and transfer of the remains of “Native Johannes” is denied. The reason: the body has already been interred in a grave set aside for natives, and to exhume it would be “contrary to public health regulations and the principles of native administration.” Desperate to help his employee—or perhaps to absolve

The story begins with the narrator describing his suburban-style life on the farm. The conflict arises when Petrus , one of the workers, informs the narrator that his brother—who had walked all the way from Rhodesia (modern-day Zimbabwe) to find work—has died in one of the farm huts.