Dream House Notes
CHARACTERS
Patricia
Female protagonist
Elderly and has difficulty walking
Filled with resentment and very cynical
Her life is a disappointment to her and not what she thought it would be
- She wanted a full happy house of kids, but had a miscarriage and is barren
- Trapped in bad marriage
Forms a bond with John Ford, but it is one sided and he lets her down
Forms a bond with L but he leaves
Leaves for Durban, thinks it is a new start
Subtly racist
Tends to shy away from the truth – when L comes, she is forced to face the past and
the truth
She develops and, in the end, realises she has to take responsibility for having a part
in Grace’s death – She didn’t want her blood on her new car seats and may have
delayed getting her to hospital
Looksmart
Also has a life filled with regret and resentment
Feels that something is “missing” in him
Has never gotten over Grace’s death, he loved her
Goes to the farm to:
- “To feel extravagantly” and break through the numbness he feels
- Face his complicated feelings about Patricia, she was once a motherly figure and
now he hates her, she made him feel displaced
- Wants to frighten and intimidate Patricia
The whole farm visit, he is acting – “like a performer for the stage”
Beauty
Product of her upbringing
Simple farm girl who didn’t get an opportunity for education
Only one who knows full truth about Grace (her sister)
Frightened of “Ubaas” (Richard), and is trapped looking after him
CHARACTERS
Patricia
Female protagonist
Elderly and has difficulty walking
Filled with resentment and very cynical
Her life is a disappointment to her and not what she thought it would be
- She wanted a full happy house of kids, but had a miscarriage and is barren
- Trapped in bad marriage
Forms a bond with John Ford, but it is one sided and he lets her down
Forms a bond with L but he leaves
Leaves for Durban, thinks it is a new start
Subtly racist
Tends to shy away from the truth – when L comes, she is forced to face the past and
the truth
She develops and, in the end, realises she has to take responsibility for having a part
in Grace’s death – She didn’t want her blood on her new car seats and may have
delayed getting her to hospital
Looksmart
Also has a life filled with regret and resentment
Feels that something is “missing” in him
Has never gotten over Grace’s death, he loved her
Goes to the farm to:
- “To feel extravagantly” and break through the numbness he feels
- Face his complicated feelings about Patricia, she was once a motherly figure and
now he hates her, she made him feel displaced
- Wants to frighten and intimidate Patricia
The whole farm visit, he is acting – “like a performer for the stage”
Beauty
Product of her upbringing
Simple farm girl who didn’t get an opportunity for education
Only one who knows full truth about Grace (her sister)
Frightened of “Ubaas” (Richard), and is trapped looking after him
