Unit 3 Prompt 1

Through reading Richard Rive’s No Room at Solitaire, it is pretty clear the story can be considered a political story just by reading the circumstances as to why Fanie van der Merwe is having a difficult business day on Christmas Eve. For the beginning of the story, Richard Rive provides background information as to why Fanie van der Merwe and Oom Sarel are having issues between themselves and the financial consequences for Fanie. When Fanie argued that a black can be educated beyond the standard six through using Witbooi’s cousin educational success as an counterargument for Oom’s belief it is not possible, Oom responded in anger by proclaiming, “he would not drink in a bar owned by a man who had sold his people to the communists” (Rive 39). This proclamation was not the only act of retaliation; Oom held a braaivleis with free boerewors and brandy on Christmas Eve. Add on to the fact that Oom is a wealthy and powerful man in their district, Fanie fears his influence will spread the word of his “communist” beliefs and possibly extend the financial misfortune. The situation that Fanie is going through is very similar to what many in the United States had gone through in the McCarthy Era. Many people in that era were accused of communism through little evidence and face severe consequences through imprisonment and financial punishments. For Fanie, this is a replication of what occurred during the McCarthy Era through Oom isolating Fanie’s business. This view of retaliation because of an accusation of communism can make this story a political story.