Essay Questions

Why does Mehring feel that he can treat his workers like slaves?

Why do the workers not leave? Mehring has a sense of superiority over his black workers because of the Apartheid in South Africa. He feels because he is wealthy he can treat his workers like slaves. These men do not have any rights in society and Mehring takes advantage of that situation. The workers cannot leave because they do not have the money to do so.

Why does Terry, Mehring’s son, leave South Africa to live with his mother in America?

Terry is part of the anti-Apartheid movement, so he is against the government. If he stays in South Africa he will have to join the military and he refuses to uphold the rights of the government. It is important to him to honor his beliefs even if that means leaving his country and his father.

How does Antonia differ from Mehring? Do these differences end their relationship?

Mehring is a racist who believes that the government is correct in its oppression of the black citizens of South Africa. He has thrived under this government and does not see the immorality of their actions. Antonia is a liberal activist who has no interest in wealth. She finds Mehring’s interest in money to be bewildering. She believes in the fair treatment of everyone in the society. These differences lead to Antonia leaving Mehring. She finds his treatment of his workers to be incomprehensible and she cannot make him understand that no one should be treated this way.