Research the life of Nadine Gordimer and relate her thoughts and views to the theme of "Once Upon a Time."

Unfortunately, your question had to be edited as it
actually contained more than one question. Please do not ask multiple questions. I will
respond to how theme is influenced by biographical details by refering to "Once Upon a
Time" by Nadine Gordimer.

Quite clearly, if we look at the
story, one of the major themes is that of fear and how it can dominate our lives. As
shown by the frenzied efforts of the parents to gain the best in security for their home
and the ever higher walls that divide them from others, fear is the dominant theme. Of
course, tragically and shockingly, the attempt of the family to protect themselves is
ironically turned against them as the latest measure, the famed Dragon's Teeth fence, is
turned against them as their son becomes caught in it. We are told that the efforts of
the parents to protect themselves result in them having to hack out "the bleeding mass
of the little boy." Gordimer thus strongly suggests that when fear is allowed to rule
our lives it is our own lives that are stunted and
impacted.

It is important to be aware of the social
background of this excellent, shocking story. Until the 1990s, apartheid ruled in South
Africa, which was the legal separation of races. Nonwhites, as a result of this policy,
experienced sanctioned racism and discrimination, and were forced to live away from
whites that bordered white cities. This of course resulted in massive social problems,
especially crime, as blacks robbed their white fellow
citizens.

I hope this helps to answer your question. You
could successfully compare this story to "The Rocking-Horse Winner," looking at the way
that in that story greed is the emotion that rules the mother, only to end in tragedy.
In both stories, whether through fear or greed, the son dies as a result of the parents'
obsession.