Describe one challenge faced by a character or individual in the texts. Explain why this challenge helped you understand the character or individual.

In the short story of "The Lemon Orchard" displays a character who has been taken by a gang of white men who wish to punish this black man for his actions against another man of the gangs colour. the captive/victim only ever says two words through-out the short story. This silence tells the reader of his dignity and refusal to be ridiculed by his superiors. It is a challenge for him to obtain this dignity and to remain brave-faced for it is all that he is left with.

As they walk through the lemon orchard he given questions (often indirectly), but will never answer. His silence represents his determination to remain dignified in front of these cruel, jeering men. Although, they soon get frustrated with him not answering and begin saying things such as '"Listen you hotnot bastard," he said loudly. "Why don't you answer?"' His refusal to speak soon provokes one of the men to strike him on the cheek and he is forced to relent his guard and say "Yes, baas." Yet amazingly, as he speaks "he straightens up" and speaks with "contempt that was missed by those who surrounded him." All that is left for this man is to fight for his dignity that he so strongly possesses, despite all else and the situation he is in.

The Lemon Orchard-Character Representation

The group of men that walk through the lemon orchard are described as harsh men who have a deep hatred for the black man they are escorting to a place unknown. There is a certain status within the group, most noticeably a leader. The leader is a large man who wears clothes that give a threatening message and an obvious, violent personality. The men who accompany this figure of authority don't seem to be as 'tough' as him but are still menacing enough to make the small black man absolutely terrified and unable to speak. Although, together these men have the same views on this 'kaffir' and all wish to give him what he deserves for what he has supposedly done. the poor black who was taken refuses to speak from fear of sounding scared. he tries very hard to stop his teeth from chattering incase it may be mistaken for cowardice. He is portrayed as a proud man who will not undermine his dignity even in a situation as hostile as this. His determination to remain brave-faced is somewhat destroyed by the mens jeering manner and cruel actions against him. Also his stubbornness got him into more trouble when he refused to speak and therefore was punished with a blow to the face, again the white men continue to be disrespectful and inhumane.

The Lemon Orchard-passage:pg126

"This man wore trousers and a raincoat which they had allowed to pull on over his pyjamas when they had taken him from his lodgings, and he shivered now with chill, clenching his teeth to prevent them from chattering. He had not been given time to tie his shoes and the metal-covered ends of the laces clicked as he moved."

This small passage gives a little explanation of how the man was taken "from his lodgings" and out into the cold of the night. The reader is given a small idea of the happenings before this moment in time as they walk through the lemon orchard. The man was clearly taken by force away from his previous location (we aren't given information as to what or where this place was) and the fact that he had no time to tie his laces tell us that he was taken quite quickly also. 'They' had "allowed" him to put on trousers and a raincoat over his pyjamas which portrays that 'they' are in charge and that the man would have to do whatever 'they' demand of him.

His shoe laces have metal-covered ends that click as he move which depicts the silence in their procession towards their destination for the clicks to be heard. The clicks give the idea of terrifying mystery as, silently, the time goes by and he his unable to fathom the extent of what they are to do to him. With each click taking him a step closer to his now inevitable fate in the orchard with these menacing figures of authority who have brought this upon him. His teeth are clenched with the cold and not wanting to break the silence that seems to be compulsory as he is lead through the darkness.

Sian Anstis