The Dreamhouse
By Craig Higginson
, SUMMARY
● Patricia and her husband, Richard, are supposed to pack their belongings to move to Durban, South Africa. She peeps
through the window of their house and notices a thick smog on the valley. Their farm has been bought by property
developers. As a result, they are supposed to leave with immediate effect. The couple has employed a housemaid named
Beauty and a driver named Bheki. Richard has dementia and needs special care. He is directed to the dining room by
Beauty to take breakfast. In the dining room, Richard appears disorderly and unsettled. Here, he explains about a weird
dream he has had the previous night.
● Patricia is driven by Bheki to visit John Ford. Ford called Patricia and instructed her to visit him before moving out of their
farmhouse. On their way to Ford’s house, Patricia tells Bheki how lately she has been thinking about her father. She
remembers him as a good man who died young. Patricia has had a secret affair with Ford. When they reach Ford’s house,
they are welcomed warmly. Ford serves Patricia tea and biscuits to bid her goodbye. He also promises to be calling her
regularly.
● Ford is used to taunting Richard. Patricia wonders why such behaviour has never changed since ever. After a long
conversation, Ford hands Patricia a letter. Patricia promises to open it after getting into Durban. She doesn’t realize why
Ford contacted her because he hasn’t communicated anything meaningful. After getting back to the farmhouse, they are
astonished to find the whole valley engulfed in a thick mist. The couple’s belongings remain unpacked.
● Looksmart visits the farm and has memories for Grace. Most of the time, he thinks about her. He has done everything to
forget about her but in vain. Grace was killed violently. Looksmart believes that she was murdered by Richard. Patricia
and Looksmart have emotional resentments about their past. Eventually, Looksmart leaves the farm. After leaving,
Patricia confronts her husband about Grace’s death. Before long, Patricia is informed that Ford has shot himself. She
feels sorry for him. As they move out of the farm, they see Looksmart going back to his childhood farmhouse.
, TABLE OF CONTENTS
01 02 03
CHARACTERS THEMES ESSAY EXAMPLES
• Patricia
• Talk of the Past
• Beauty
• Identity and Belonging
• Bheki,
• Truth and Memory
• Looksmart,
• Richard,
• John
By Craig Higginson
, SUMMARY
● Patricia and her husband, Richard, are supposed to pack their belongings to move to Durban, South Africa. She peeps
through the window of their house and notices a thick smog on the valley. Their farm has been bought by property
developers. As a result, they are supposed to leave with immediate effect. The couple has employed a housemaid named
Beauty and a driver named Bheki. Richard has dementia and needs special care. He is directed to the dining room by
Beauty to take breakfast. In the dining room, Richard appears disorderly and unsettled. Here, he explains about a weird
dream he has had the previous night.
● Patricia is driven by Bheki to visit John Ford. Ford called Patricia and instructed her to visit him before moving out of their
farmhouse. On their way to Ford’s house, Patricia tells Bheki how lately she has been thinking about her father. She
remembers him as a good man who died young. Patricia has had a secret affair with Ford. When they reach Ford’s house,
they are welcomed warmly. Ford serves Patricia tea and biscuits to bid her goodbye. He also promises to be calling her
regularly.
● Ford is used to taunting Richard. Patricia wonders why such behaviour has never changed since ever. After a long
conversation, Ford hands Patricia a letter. Patricia promises to open it after getting into Durban. She doesn’t realize why
Ford contacted her because he hasn’t communicated anything meaningful. After getting back to the farmhouse, they are
astonished to find the whole valley engulfed in a thick mist. The couple’s belongings remain unpacked.
● Looksmart visits the farm and has memories for Grace. Most of the time, he thinks about her. He has done everything to
forget about her but in vain. Grace was killed violently. Looksmart believes that she was murdered by Richard. Patricia
and Looksmart have emotional resentments about their past. Eventually, Looksmart leaves the farm. After leaving,
Patricia confronts her husband about Grace’s death. Before long, Patricia is informed that Ford has shot himself. She
feels sorry for him. As they move out of the farm, they see Looksmart going back to his childhood farmhouse.
, TABLE OF CONTENTS
01 02 03
CHARACTERS THEMES ESSAY EXAMPLES
• Patricia
• Talk of the Past
• Beauty
• Identity and Belonging
• Bheki,
• Truth and Memory
• Looksmart,
• Richard,
• John
