The Dream House
Authored by Craig Higginson
Summary by Caitlin Olivier
,Contents
Background and Themes to focus on: ............................................................................................... 3
THE FIRST DREAM HOUSE ....................................................................................................................... 5
PART ONE ................................................................................................................................................ 7
PART TWO ............................................................................................................................................. 10
PART THREE........................................................................................................................................... 13
PART FOUR ............................................................................................................................................ 16
PART FIVE .............................................................................................................................................. 20
, Background and Themes to focus on:
Background
• Set in modern South Africa (after Apartheid)
• Story is told in multiple perspectives (Patricia, Beauty, Looksmart,
Richard)
• Patricia and Richard are a married couple that live on a farm in the
midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, Beauty is their domestic worker and
Looksmart is a man that Patricia takes under her wing and allows him
the opportunity to go to an affluent, traditionally white, private school
Themes
• Perspectives and interpretation
• Intention versus action
• Revenge/ justice
• Self-destruction
Characters
Patricia Old woman who is married to
Richard, lives on a farm in mid-
KwaZulu Natal. Used to breed Welsh
ponies and sell to younger children.
Richard Old man married to Patricia, lives on
a farm in Mid-KwaZulu Natal and
suffers from dementia. He is 44.
Objectively the worst human being
alive.
Beauty (Togo) In-house domestic worker for Patricia
and Richard for many years, also is a
caretaker for Richard. Is in love with
Bheki. She is 38.
Looksmart Patricia’s “child prodigy”, was sent to
affluent boarding school by Patricia.
Age 19 he left, became successful in
his career and started a family (wife
Authored by Craig Higginson
Summary by Caitlin Olivier
,Contents
Background and Themes to focus on: ............................................................................................... 3
THE FIRST DREAM HOUSE ....................................................................................................................... 5
PART ONE ................................................................................................................................................ 7
PART TWO ............................................................................................................................................. 10
PART THREE........................................................................................................................................... 13
PART FOUR ............................................................................................................................................ 16
PART FIVE .............................................................................................................................................. 20
, Background and Themes to focus on:
Background
• Set in modern South Africa (after Apartheid)
• Story is told in multiple perspectives (Patricia, Beauty, Looksmart,
Richard)
• Patricia and Richard are a married couple that live on a farm in the
midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, Beauty is their domestic worker and
Looksmart is a man that Patricia takes under her wing and allows him
the opportunity to go to an affluent, traditionally white, private school
Themes
• Perspectives and interpretation
• Intention versus action
• Revenge/ justice
• Self-destruction
Characters
Patricia Old woman who is married to
Richard, lives on a farm in mid-
KwaZulu Natal. Used to breed Welsh
ponies and sell to younger children.
Richard Old man married to Patricia, lives on
a farm in Mid-KwaZulu Natal and
suffers from dementia. He is 44.
Objectively the worst human being
alive.
Beauty (Togo) In-house domestic worker for Patricia
and Richard for many years, also is a
caretaker for Richard. Is in love with
Bheki. She is 38.
Looksmart Patricia’s “child prodigy”, was sent to
affluent boarding school by Patricia.
Age 19 he left, became successful in
his career and started a family (wife
