The story “The Guilt” is written by the author Rayda Jacobs and was published in 2001. Rayda is a South African writer and film-maker. She started writing at a very young age. Rayda grew up in South Africa herself, and she is a white person, which means it is possible to draw parallels between Lilian and her. It is clear that the things and the conditions she writes about and describes in the story are things and feelings she knows from herself.
The story “The Guilt” is about the life of Lilian Thurgood. She is an old lady, sixty-six years old, who lives alone, because her husband has passed by. She lives on a large estate with a large garden with plenty flowers, plants, fruits and trees. Her estate is surrounded by a gate. Everyday many poor people and black people steps by. They ask for food, old clothes, money, and work. Mostly she does not answer. One day a young man named William steps by. He asks for work and then a donation for some organization. Lilian feels guilt if she does not help him and gives him 5 rand. William seems different than the rest of the people, kinder and more thoughtful, because he does not want to take her money without doing something for her. So he cleans the garden for leaves. But he is a cheater and a fool, who requires more money for his work afterwards. Lilian does not want to give him the money. Her dogs attack him, while she finds an old revolver. She threatens William, and he hurries out of her property. Lilian has never experienced anything like this before.
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