Once Upon a Time by Nadine Gordimer

Study Notes

"Once Upon a Time" Summary

"Once Upon a Time" is a 1989 short story by Nadine Gordimer.
The story employs elements of a fairy tale.
The story begins with Gordimer as a character, rejecting a request to write a children's book.
Gordimer believes artistic freedom is paramount, rejecting the idea of writing on demand.
Gordimer falls asleep and tells herself a story.
The central story follows a husband, wife, and son who live a comfortable life.
The family is surrounded by possessions and financial security.
They have hired help, indicating their wealth and status.
The mother, perceived as wise, advises the family to protect their wealth.
The family enrolls in various security measures.
They become increasingly paranoid about events outside their home.
The surrounding area experiences riots and burglaries, particularly impacting non-white communities.
The husband installs more security, including a wall and electronic gates.
Burglaries escalate, eventually affecting their maid.
The family further reinforces security with metal window bars and a sensitive burglar alarm.
The alarm's sensitivity causes discomfort for their neighbors.
Burglaries continue, exploiting the noise created by the alarm.
Other families fire their help, but the central family maintains their maid while limiting interactions.
The dismissed employees loiter, heightening the family's anxiety.
The family opts to further elevate their wall, creating a fortress against the outside world.
The family realizes the wall is ineffective when their cat escapes.
To prevent intruders, they install metal barbs at the top of the wall.
The mother reads Sleeping Beauty, a fairy tale about a trapped princess requiring a prince's rescue.