Topic 1

Discuss power and how it is displayed in the novel. Who had it? How did they keep it? How was the presence or absence of power tied to geography, race and/or gender? What attempts were made to divorce power from these elements and by whom?

Topic 2

What did the main characters understand about race? Who held power? Who obeyed whom? Who had access to privilege because of race? How did the access change over time? What events shifted the balance of power associated with race? How did the Smales and July interpret these events differently?

Topic 3

Describe July’s understanding of his relationship with the Smales while he worked as their servant in town and after he returned with the Smales to his village. Describe the master-servant aspects of their relationship and how these remained the same and changed over time.

Topic 4

Discuss the idea...