Similarly, Salome is isolated and overlooked by the Swart family. After falling sick, Rachel is isolated by her close members of the family. The majority of the characters in the book feel isolated and alienated. A few weeks later, Manie reneges on his promise.

Manie also promises her daughter, Amor, that he will transfer her to a school of her choice. The promise becomes a pipe dream because Manie dies before fulfilling the pledge. Manie promises his wife that he will give Salome the title deed of the house located at the farm. The whole book revolves around a promise which remains unfulfilled for forty years, hence, the title of the novel. Most characters in this storybook renege on the promises they vow to honor. The deaths of Anton and Astrid are also featured in the book. Unfortunately, Manie reneges on his promise and dies ten years late. Before her death, he requests her husband, Manie, to give their housemaid, Salome, the ownership of a house. Rachel dies in the 1980s after battling illness for a long time. The first person to die is Rachel, the matriarch of the family. In a span of forty years, four deaths occur mysteriously. All this happened due to the systemic racism subjected to black people. Salome is given the house by Amor after waiting for more than forty years. Manie’s family treats Salome with contempt because she is a black person. However, due to the abhorrence of black persons, he never honors his promise. Manie promises his wife that he will give Rachel a title deed for one of the houses located on the farm. Salome is a black woman and is subjected to racial prejudice by her white boss. After the death of Rachel, Manie and his children cannot agree on whether to give Salome ownership of a house. The relationship between Rachel and Tannie Marina deteriorates after Rachel converts to Judaism.

Manie is the head of the family but the relationship between him and his children is wanting. Members of the Swart family pit against each other based on their interests. The entire book involves a family saga that occurs for four decades. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community.

The promise by galgut