The Dream House
Characters
Patricia
- An old, bitter woman who is slowly fading.
- She is an apathetic woman.
- She lives on a farm with her husband Richard. The farm is not cared for and
she has no interest in making it a beautiful home.
- Her and Richard have a bad relationship and even her affair with John Ford
was mainly physical.
- She was pregnant when she married Richard and the baby, Rachel, died.
They had no other children
- Beauty and Bheki call her uMesis.
Looksmart
- Driven by resentment for Patricia and Richard.
- He has a bitterness within him that has controlled most of his actions and
choices throughout his life.
- Grew up on the farm during apartheid. However, Patricia cared for him and
thought of him as her child. She also sent him to a private school which was
unusual.
- Was in love with Grace, who worked on the farm and was killed by Rhichard’s
dog.
- He later became successful and returned to take over the farm and to
confront Patricia.
Richard
- Has dementia and is old and weak.
- He has done terrible things and has hurt/angered many people.
- Bheki and Beauty call him uBaas.
Grace
- She would sleep with Richard for money and became pregnant with his child.
- Richard set his dog on her when she said she wanted to keep the baby.
- Beauty’s sister.
Beauty
- Sad, lonely character.
- Looks after Richard despite her hatred for him.
, Bheki
- Works on the farm and drives Patricia to wherever she needs.
- A quiet character.
Themes
Apathy - (opposite of empathy - lack of interest, enthusiasm or concern)
❖ “But she had them shot a week ago” - pg 5
➢ Patricia is referring to her dogs who usually greet her but she had them
shot. Casual way to mention the dead dogs.
❖ The characters on the farm are merely existing, they are not living.
❖ “She has decided not to get the cooler fixed; she has rather been hoping the
whole house would go up in smoke with all of them inside is” - pg 6
➢ Patricia has no regard for life.
➢ Many things are broken and have not been replaced, does not take
care of her home.
❖ “Leaving the metal of the doorframes exposed, but she has long ceased to
notice this” - pg 8
➢ Referring to Paticia’s car.
➢ Desensitised to her surroundings.
❖ Patrica is lonely and doesn’t have good relationships with anyone around her.
❖ Patricia does not invest in her relationships. It is hard to believe that her and
John were lovers. Seems it was just physical.
➢ “Backward glances only crick the neck” - pg 18
➢ Sees no point in looking back once she leaves.
Hope
❖ Patricia hopes:
➢ Looksmart will return
➢ To live in the dream house in Durban. The house on the farm is
described as a horrible place she hopes will “go up in smoke.” It is
described as being “as dark and dank as a cave.” While the dream
house is described beautifully. - pg 38
➢ That Looksmart will turn the farm into something beautiful
❖ Patricia loses hope when she loses her baby - “with her womb went all her
hope”
❖ Richard hopes:
➢ “The bitch is dead” - referring to Patricia.
Characters
Patricia
- An old, bitter woman who is slowly fading.
- She is an apathetic woman.
- She lives on a farm with her husband Richard. The farm is not cared for and
she has no interest in making it a beautiful home.
- Her and Richard have a bad relationship and even her affair with John Ford
was mainly physical.
- She was pregnant when she married Richard and the baby, Rachel, died.
They had no other children
- Beauty and Bheki call her uMesis.
Looksmart
- Driven by resentment for Patricia and Richard.
- He has a bitterness within him that has controlled most of his actions and
choices throughout his life.
- Grew up on the farm during apartheid. However, Patricia cared for him and
thought of him as her child. She also sent him to a private school which was
unusual.
- Was in love with Grace, who worked on the farm and was killed by Rhichard’s
dog.
- He later became successful and returned to take over the farm and to
confront Patricia.
Richard
- Has dementia and is old and weak.
- He has done terrible things and has hurt/angered many people.
- Bheki and Beauty call him uBaas.
Grace
- She would sleep with Richard for money and became pregnant with his child.
- Richard set his dog on her when she said she wanted to keep the baby.
- Beauty’s sister.
Beauty
- Sad, lonely character.
- Looks after Richard despite her hatred for him.
, Bheki
- Works on the farm and drives Patricia to wherever she needs.
- A quiet character.
Themes
Apathy - (opposite of empathy - lack of interest, enthusiasm or concern)
❖ “But she had them shot a week ago” - pg 5
➢ Patricia is referring to her dogs who usually greet her but she had them
shot. Casual way to mention the dead dogs.
❖ The characters on the farm are merely existing, they are not living.
❖ “She has decided not to get the cooler fixed; she has rather been hoping the
whole house would go up in smoke with all of them inside is” - pg 6
➢ Patricia has no regard for life.
➢ Many things are broken and have not been replaced, does not take
care of her home.
❖ “Leaving the metal of the doorframes exposed, but she has long ceased to
notice this” - pg 8
➢ Referring to Paticia’s car.
➢ Desensitised to her surroundings.
❖ Patrica is lonely and doesn’t have good relationships with anyone around her.
❖ Patricia does not invest in her relationships. It is hard to believe that her and
John were lovers. Seems it was just physical.
➢ “Backward glances only crick the neck” - pg 18
➢ Sees no point in looking back once she leaves.
Hope
❖ Patricia hopes:
➢ Looksmart will return
➢ To live in the dream house in Durban. The house on the farm is
described as a horrible place she hopes will “go up in smoke.” It is
described as being “as dark and dank as a cave.” While the dream
house is described beautifully. - pg 38
➢ That Looksmart will turn the farm into something beautiful
❖ Patricia loses hope when she loses her baby - “with her womb went all her
hope”
❖ Richard hopes:
➢ “The bitch is dead” - referring to Patricia.
