Once Upon a Time
By: Nadine Gordimer

This "fairy tale" was a perfect example of irony.  Gordimer gives a brief anecdote at the beginning to explain that the story readers are about to read was one that she told when asked to write a children's story.  When most people think of a children's story, they probably think of a cute story with a minor conflict.  The conflict is resolved in the end, and everyone lives "happily ever after."  Gordimer tells a story completely opposite of this.  Ironically, she tells a story about a wealthy family that is extremely insecure in their neighborhood.  Many of the surrounding houses had been broken into, and the family (especially the mother) was fearful of this happening to them.  They went to extreme measures to protect their house.  Some of these included burglar bars on all the windows, an alarm system, a tall wall around the house, and razor coils all around the walls of the house.  The family successfully kept out burglars, but they did not stay safe themselves.  One day, the young son decided to play outside.  "...He dragged a ladder to the wall, the shining coiled tunnel was just wide enough for his little body to creep in, and with the first fixing of its razor-teeth in his knees and hands and head he screamed and struggled deeper into its tangle" (236).  The family took such extreme measures to protect their family and house, but they did not consider the dangers it posed for their young son.  It is ironic that the things they did to ensure their safety actually hurt their only child.  Gordimer's version of a children's story is disturbing, and I do not think that this story would be appropriate to tell any young kids.