Essay Questions

What is the most predominant theme in the Pickup by Nadine Gordimer?

The economics of illegitimate immigration is the most predominant theme in Nadine Gordimer's novel. The relationship between the illegal Muslim refugee and the South African lady brings out the economics of unlawful immigration. In the novel, an immigrant is a hardworking person who is trying to earn a better living but in the process gets involved in transporting the couple illegally to make money. Illegal immigration is ill-informed because it goes against the set rules of the land.

Is the use of Ramadan by the author of the novel Pickup metaphorical? Briefly explain.

Conventional spiritual rituals remain an inscrutable metaphor, which exemplifies the cultural clash in most parts of the globe. Ramadan is one of the religious practices that has been conducted over the years by the Muslim faithful to observe the teachings of the Holy Quran. Ramadan is metaphorical to represent religious observance. The author writes, “Reaction to the span of the Ramadan day was exactly like the reaction of jet lag upon the mind and body.”

What does July mean when she says, “We were playing at reality; it was a doll’s house, the cottage; a game, the EL-AY Café”?

Throughout the novel, there are cultural conflicts, which seem too heavy to solve. Before she meets the Muslim guy who transforms her life, she regularly visits the EL-AY Café to meet with multinational, democratic and liberal allies. The Café’s name is suggestive of gaming because there are playful commingles using the Arabic Language and Western cultures. It seems that the Café has been playing these commingling games for a while. To provide a deeper meaning for this quote, she implies that people in governance have played with democracy like a game for a long time.