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48 pages 1 hour read

James Baldwin

Another Country

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1962

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Essay Topics

1.

Another Country begins with Rufus’s death by suicide. How does his death bring the characters together? How does it drive them further apart?

2.

The novel describes many forms of discrimination and prejudice. How do prejudices, such as racism, homophobia, and misogyny, intersect to affect the characters’ lives?

3.

Rufus is alienated from the world, but his friends believe they understand him and his suffering. Which other character best understands Rufus? Which character is mistaken?

4.

How does the novel use media, such as films, books, and television, to symbolize the struggles and aspirations of the characters?

5.

Ellis is a rich and powerful television producer. To what extent can he be considered the antagonist of the novel?

6.

Eric and Yves have one of the most robust, balanced relationships portrayed in the novel. How does their relationship hint at the struggles of the outsiders in the society?

7.

In what ways was the marriage between Richard and Cass doomed from the beginning?

8.

Domestic abuse occurs in several of the relationships depicted in Another Country. How do these outbursts of violence stem from social alienation?

9.

After the death of her brother, Ida sought revenge against the world she believed wronged Rufus. To what extent does she succeed in gaining revenge?

10.

Vivaldo considers himself to be a progressive, antiracist person. How does Ida show him the hollowness of his political beliefs?

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