THE DREAM HOUSE
Craig Higginson
Study Guide
The following document contains summaries of part 3 of the novel as
well as information regarding themes and essay questions related to
those themes that will assist in preparing you for the final examination.
A list of quotes categorized per character is also included with quotes
also integrated throughout the document.
,TABLE OF CONTENTS
Summaries ............................................................................................................................ 3
Part 3 ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Themes ................................................................................................................................ 10
Language and Power................................................................................................................ 10
Patricia .......................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Beauty............................................................................................................................................................................ 11
Looksmart ................................................................................................................................................................... 11
Bheki .............................................................................................................................................................................. 12
Essay Practice ............................................................................................................................................................ 13
The Past ........................................................................................................................................ 14
Looksmart ................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Patricia .......................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Both ................................................................................................................................................................................ 16
Essay Practice ............................................................................................................................................................ 17
Truth, Memory and Reconciliation .................................................................................... 18
Grace’s Death ............................................................................................................................................................. 18
Looksmart’s Fishing Trip ..................................................................................................................................... 18
Reconciliation ............................................................................................................................................................ 19
Essay Practice ............................................................................................................................................................ 20
Identity and Belonging............................................................................................................ 21
Symbolism: Dog ......................................................................................................................... 22
Essay Practice ............................................................................................................................................................ 23
Quotes .................................................................................................................................. 24
Patricia .......................................................................................................................................... 24
Looksmart .................................................................................................................................... 25
Bheki .............................................................................................................................................. 26
Beauty............................................................................................................................................ 27
Dog .................................................................................................................................................. 27
Richard.......................................................................................................................................... 27
Other essay questions ..................................................................................................... 28
2
, SUMMARIES
Part 3
Patricia (pg. 99-102)
• Patricia reminisces about the birth of Looksmart
• His birth was symbolic of life and new beginnings and was
“towards everything Richard was not – toward life”
• His birth gave her life meaning – especially after Rachel’s death
• Richard was not present during the birth and Patricia thinks he
was with the “latest stable girl from England”
• Patricia knew instantly that “there was nothing weak about this
baby” and “he was never going to apologize to anyone”
• Looksmart reveals that he was only given his name “to please
[Patricia]”
Richard (pg. 105-105)
• He feels like an outsider in his own home
• The house was Patricia’s, so he rebelled with “bad behavior”
o “Too much good behavior after a while feels like a lie that
needs to be broken”
• He was never sincere with her and evidently holds hatred for her
o “Old bitch”
• He feels lost and helpless
Beauty (pg. 106-108)
• She senses tension in the house – Looksmart’s arrival
o “This is not the occupation of two bored people trying to
argue their way back into feeling again: this is the sound of
two people who are feeling too much”
• Looksmart addresses her as Togo – her childhood name
o She sees it as an insult and demeaning
3
Craig Higginson
Study Guide
The following document contains summaries of part 3 of the novel as
well as information regarding themes and essay questions related to
those themes that will assist in preparing you for the final examination.
A list of quotes categorized per character is also included with quotes
also integrated throughout the document.
,TABLE OF CONTENTS
Summaries ............................................................................................................................ 3
Part 3 ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Themes ................................................................................................................................ 10
Language and Power................................................................................................................ 10
Patricia .......................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Beauty............................................................................................................................................................................ 11
Looksmart ................................................................................................................................................................... 11
Bheki .............................................................................................................................................................................. 12
Essay Practice ............................................................................................................................................................ 13
The Past ........................................................................................................................................ 14
Looksmart ................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Patricia .......................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Both ................................................................................................................................................................................ 16
Essay Practice ............................................................................................................................................................ 17
Truth, Memory and Reconciliation .................................................................................... 18
Grace’s Death ............................................................................................................................................................. 18
Looksmart’s Fishing Trip ..................................................................................................................................... 18
Reconciliation ............................................................................................................................................................ 19
Essay Practice ............................................................................................................................................................ 20
Identity and Belonging............................................................................................................ 21
Symbolism: Dog ......................................................................................................................... 22
Essay Practice ............................................................................................................................................................ 23
Quotes .................................................................................................................................. 24
Patricia .......................................................................................................................................... 24
Looksmart .................................................................................................................................... 25
Bheki .............................................................................................................................................. 26
Beauty............................................................................................................................................ 27
Dog .................................................................................................................................................. 27
Richard.......................................................................................................................................... 27
Other essay questions ..................................................................................................... 28
2
, SUMMARIES
Part 3
Patricia (pg. 99-102)
• Patricia reminisces about the birth of Looksmart
• His birth was symbolic of life and new beginnings and was
“towards everything Richard was not – toward life”
• His birth gave her life meaning – especially after Rachel’s death
• Richard was not present during the birth and Patricia thinks he
was with the “latest stable girl from England”
• Patricia knew instantly that “there was nothing weak about this
baby” and “he was never going to apologize to anyone”
• Looksmart reveals that he was only given his name “to please
[Patricia]”
Richard (pg. 105-105)
• He feels like an outsider in his own home
• The house was Patricia’s, so he rebelled with “bad behavior”
o “Too much good behavior after a while feels like a lie that
needs to be broken”
• He was never sincere with her and evidently holds hatred for her
o “Old bitch”
• He feels lost and helpless
Beauty (pg. 106-108)
• She senses tension in the house – Looksmart’s arrival
o “This is not the occupation of two bored people trying to
argue their way back into feeling again: this is the sound of
two people who are feeling too much”
• Looksmart addresses her as Togo – her childhood name
o She sees it as an insult and demeaning
3
