Family and Relationships
The entire book involves a family saga that occurs for four decades. Members of the Swart family pit against each other based on their interests. Manie is the head of the family but the relationship between him and his children is wanting. The relationship between Rachel and Tannie Marina deteriorates after Rachel converts to Judaism. After the death of Rachel, Manie and his children cannot agree on whether to give Salome ownership of a house.
Systemic Relationship
Salome is a black woman and is subjected to racial prejudice by her white boss. Manie promises his wife that he will give Rachel a title deed for one of the houses located on the farm. However, due to the abhorrence of black persons, he never honors his promise. Manie’s family treats Salome with contempt because she is a black person. Salome is given the house by Amor after waiting for more than forty years. All this happened due to the systemic racism subjected to black people.
The Theme of Death
In a span of forty years, four deaths occur mysteriously. The first person to die is Rachel, the matriarch of the family. Rachel dies in the 1980s after battling illness for a long time. Before her death, he requests her husband, Manie, to give their housemaid, Salome, the ownership of a house. Unfortunately, Manie reneges on his promise and dies ten years late. The deaths of Anton and Astrid are also featured in the book.
The Theme of Unfulfilled Promises
Most characters in this storybook renege on the promises they vow to honor. The whole book revolves around a promise which remains unfulfilled for forty years, hence, the title of the novel. Manie promises his wife that he will give Salome the title deed of the house located at the farm. The promise becomes a pipe dream because Manie dies before fulfilling the pledge. Manie also promises her daughter, Amor, that he will transfer her to a school of her choice. A few weeks later, Manie reneges on his promise.
Isolation and Alienation
The majority of the characters in the book feel isolated and alienated. After falling sick, Rachel is isolated by her close members of the family. She is left at the mercy of Salome. Salome nurses her until she passes on. Similarly, Salome is isolated and overlooked by the Swart family. Nobody, save for Amor, bothers to fulfill the promise of giving her the ownership of the house she lives in. Amor isolates herself in England to avoid the family saga.
