MEMORANDUM: Explore the role of the suit in Can Themba’s “The Suit”
Aim:To develop close reading skills by examining the role of the suit in the story
(See book: p. 85)
Type: Group or pair discussion; individual written workGradelevel:11, 12
Time: 25–30 minutesFilesection:Short stories
Instruction: Read all three extracts carefully before discussing and writing responses to the questions that follow.
Extract 1
Philemon lifted it gingerly under his arm and looked at the stark horror in Matilda’s eyes. She was not sitting up in bed. Her mouth twitched, but her throat raised no words.
“Ha”,he said, “I see we have a visitor,” indicating the blue suit. “We really must show some of our hospitality. But first, I must phone my boss that I can’t come to work today…”
Extract 2
“Now seat our friend at the table… no, no, not like that. Put him in front of the chair, and place him on the seat so that he becomes indeed the third person.”
Philemon went on relentlessly: “Dish up for him. Generously. I imagine he hasn’t had a morsel all day, the poor devil.”
Extract 3
She went ash-grey; but there was nothing for it but to fetch her albatross. She came back and squeezed a chair into some corner, and placed the suit on it. Then she slowly placed a plate of food before it. For a while the guests were dumbfounded. Then curiosity flooded in. They talked at the same time. “What’s the idea, Philemon?”… “Why must she serve a suit?”… “What’s happening?” Some just giggled in a silly way. Philemon carelessly swung his head towards Matilda. “You better ask my wife. She knows the fellow best.”
Questions
The suggested answers below are extensive and learners’ answers are unlikely to be so broad. For written answers, teachers can decide how much detail they expect and adjust the memorandum accordingly. In discussion, depending on the class’s grade and ability, teachers can add to learners’ answers by sharing more wide ranging information to enrich learners’ understanding.
1How does Philemon bring the suit alive? Look at the use of personification and other techniques.
If you look at the selected extracts from the story, you will see that Philemon brings the suit to life by referring to it as a “visitor” (extract 1), “our friend”, “the third person” and “poor devil” (extract 2), and “the fellow” (extract 3). Philemon forces Tilly to seat the suit at the table and “[d]ish up for him. Generously. I imagine he hasn’t had a morsel all day, the poor devil”. He insists that Tilly treat the suit hospitably, like a guest invited for a meal. In this way, Philemon personifies the suit, giving it human characteristics.
2Why does Philemon do this?
Philemon’s intention is to punish Tilly for her affair with the owner of the suit, by humiliating her. The final humiliation is when he forces her to serve the “guest” in front of party guests, who are dumbfounded (stunned/shocked/amazed) when she places a plate of food in front of the suit (extract 3).
3How does Philemon feel about the suit? What does the suit represent and symbolise to him?
In the absence of the man who owns the suit, Philemon comes to see the suit as a symbolic representation of his wife’s lover. The suit begins to embody and represent the lover, and is an object of jealousy and rage for Philemon, but also a weapon of punishment and humiliation against Tilly.
4How does Tilly feel about the suit? What does it represent and symbolise to her?
In extract 3 we are told that the suit is Tilly’s “albatross”: it has become an inescapable and relentless punishment and humiliation. It is a source of profound shame, a constant reminder of her extramarital affair and a means for Philemon’s unforgiving vengeance.
5Is the suit a third character in the story? Explain your answer carefully.
Most readers would agree that the suit is indeed a third characterin the story. We never meet Tilly’s lover and know nothing about him, but the suit he leaves behind is used to represent or symbolise the lover and act as a constant reminder of how Tilly betrayed Philemon’s trust and love. As we see in all three extracts, Philemon insists on giving the suit human qualities. In this way the suit is brought to life: Philemon forces Tilly to treat the suit as if it is an actual person and in this sense the suit becomes a third character in the love triangle.
© Oxford University Press Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd 2013. From Oxford Practical Teaching English Literature: How to teach Grades 8–12. You may modify, print and photocopy this document solely for use in your classes. © Passages from “The Suit” by Can Themba from The World of Can Themba (Staffrider Series), Johannesburg, Ravan Press, 1985. Reprinted by permission of DALRO.