INTRODUCTION

This text is an extract from Imaginings of Sand and was published in 1996. It was written by André Brink. The story takes place in a South Africa family in 1994, before the general election. There are two characters: Casper and Kristien who is his sister in law ant the narrator of the story. Casper and Kristien speak about the conflict between the Whites and the Blacks. We wonder how the debate grows up. On the one hand we will see what happened in South Africa on the eve of the general election, and on the other hand we will study the position of the two characters.

Before the general election of 1995, the contest between the blacks and the whites was violent. Indeed, thanks to Casper, we can know what was the life in South Africa in 1994. Live in this country was very difficult for the Whites (“this is a bloody tough land to survive in” (l 12)). There were many aggressions from the Blacks against the Whites (notably elderly person)(“Haven’t you see what they did to your own grandmother ?” (l 4-5)), and some people were killed (“the others were not so lucky” (l7)). Despite the difficulties of them life, white people will never leave their land (“we have nowhere else to go” (l 19)). They didn’t let go black people ruling South Africa. So white people didn’t have choice, for keep on the power. They have to fight back (se defender) against the blacks (“we were driven to it” (l 15)). Most of white people thought their behavior was understandable even if they recognized they have gone too far. But white people were convinced that violence was the only way to stop violence(“What other language do they understand ?” (l 10)). Throughout (pendant) Apartheid, on both sides there were violence.

Casper is for fighting. Indeed, he uses offensive terms in front of Kristien(“He checks himself, somewhat to my surprise” (l 15)). He explains to her sister in law that he is not ready to make concession (“We won’t let them” (l27), “we’re prepared to die for