Burger's Daughter: Analysis of Major Characters
"Burger's Daughter" is a profound exploration of identity, belonging, and the legacy of political activism through the life of Rosa Burger, the daughter of prominent anti-apartheid activists in South Africa. As she grapples with the weight of her parents' revolutionary legacy—her father, Lionel Burger, a revered Communist hero, and her mother, Cathy, a dedicated activist—Rosa embarks on a journey toward self-discovery and acceptance. The narrative intricately weaves together her relationships, including her love affairs with Conrad, a dreamer who offers her a respite from her burdens, and Bernard, a married teacher in France with whom she shares a deep connection.
The characters surrounding Rosa also reflect the complexities of the anti-apartheid struggle, including Zwelinzima "Baasie" Vulindlela, a childhood companion whose bitterness toward their shared past represents the divergent paths of privilege and struggle. Other significant figures include Marisa Kgosana, a strong presence within the movement, and Flora Donaldson, a wealthy supporter whose commitment contrasts with Rosa's more active involvement. Through these interactions, "Burger's Daughter" highlights the personal conflicts arising from political legacies and the search for individual identity within a charged historical context. Readers seeking to understand the intricacies of these characters and their relationships will find a rich tapestry of emotional and ideological struggle in this narrative.
Burger's Daughter: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Nadine Gordimer
First published: 1979
Genre: Novel
Locale: Johannesburg, South Africa, and Nice, France
Plot: Psychological realism
Time: 1962–1977
Rosemarie (Rosa) Burger, the daughter of white South African Communists, now seeking her own identity. Rosa is a complex, serious young woman who was reared in a household dedicated to the struggle against apartheid. Both of her parents were imprisoned at various times throughout her childhood, and their deaths have now left her emotionally at sea, uncertain whether her identity as “Lionel Burger's daughter” is one she wants or is able to live up to. The book's story is that of her slow journey toward self-knowledge and self-acceptance.
Lionel Burger, Rosa's father, a committed Communist activist. He is a hero of the antiapartheid struggle, a well-known figure in whose home blacks and whites are equally welcome. His final imprisonment ruins his health, and he dies in jail. A kind and intelligent man, he leaves a legacy of idealism that is both stifling and overwhelming for his daughter.
Cathy Jansen Burger, Rosa's mother and Lionel's second wife, also a committed activist. Cathy Jansen was a young union organizer when she met and married Lionel Burger. The couple had two children, Rosa and a son, Tony, who drowned as a boy. Like her husband, Cathy had a life dedicated to the fight against apartheid. She, too, was imprisoned several times before her death after a long illness.
Colette “Katya” Swan Burger Bagnelli, Lionel Burger's first wife, a former dancer. Katya leaves South Africa and the Communist Party after her divorce from Lionel and is a plump older woman living comfortably in the South of France when Rosa meets her. Warm and sunny by nature, she represents for Rosa the possibilities beyond her life in South Africa.
Conrad, a young student who becomes Rosa's lover. Conrad, a dreamer with an unstructured lifestyle, provides Rosa with a refuge, after her father's death, from her responsibilities as Lionel Burger's daughter. Their conversations force her to reexamine and analyze her childhood.
Bernard Chabalier, a married teacher, Rosa's lover in France. Rosa meets Bernard while she is staying with Katya and falls deeply in love. Although he is married and a father, the two make plans to continue their relationship in Paris, until Rosa decides that she must return to her own country.
Zwelinzima “Baasie” Vulindlela (zway-leen-ZEE-mah bah-see vew-lee-ihn-DLAY-la), a young African boy taken in by the Burgers when Rosa was a child. Although the two were reared for a time as brother and sister, Baasie is an angry and bitter young man. He rejects what Rosa has become when the two meet years later in England.
Marisa Kgosana (koh-SAH-nah), the wife of an imprisoned black leader. A proud and beautiful woman, Marisa has long been a friend of the Burgers.
Fats Mxenge (ihm-KAY-ngay), Marisa's cousin, a boxing promoter. Fats opposes a total boycott of white society, hoping to arrange fights for his black boxers with white opponents.
Richard (Dick) Terblanche and Ivy Terblanche, friends of the Burgers, also dedicated Communists and antiapartheid activists.
Clare Terblanche, Dick and Ivy's daughter. A plain, awkward girl, she has taken the path of commitment avoided by Rosa.
Flora Donaldson, a wealthy white liberal. Generous in her financial support of the antiapartheid cause and a close friend of the Burgers, she herself is not on the front lines of the struggle.
Brandt Vermeulen, an influential Afrikaner and apartheid supporter. He helps Rosa obtain a passport for her trip aboard.