ENG1501 Short Story Analysis
Themes Theme: Love Explore the protagonist's view of love and how it develops from childhood to adulthood. Is he consistent in how he understands love throughout his life? The protagonist’s view of love is not consistent with how he understands love throughout his life. During his childhood, he fell in love with Desiree and did everything he could to please her. “She appreciated the efforts, yet dismissed them as heart-warming but unnecessary”. (p7) Desiree never encouraged nor discouraged his pursuit of her. The fact that he kept on pursuing his love for her, shows that he did not understand the true meaning of love. He accepted the fact that his love for her was big enough for both of them. During his adulthood, he thinks that “there are many kinds of love” (p46). He perceives his love for Desiree as “an eloping kind, a love that constructs and abandons nests”. When Desiree ended up in the hospital with ruptured brain arteries, the protagonist reflects on his love for her. He says: “Maybe this is what love is – accepting the crudest possible treatment with the grace of a wise monk, the selflessness of a saint”. (p110) This confirms that he is still not sure what love is supposed to be. He also has a relationship with Mercedes and he admits that he “cannot tell which love, which beauty, is greater: Mercedes or Desiree”. (p78) He never confesses his love for Mercedes. “I am, when with Mercedes, incapable of any other emotion than gushes of tenderness, ticklish sensations that prompt giddy feelings beyond measure”. (p78) This statement suggests that he does not understand what love is. He is so fixated on his love for Desiree that he is misinterpreting his feelings for Mercedes. In the end, he still thinks that Desiree “is the only soul for whom my heart throbbed”. (p150)
Theme: Art and its place/ role in society The protagonist has a very conflicting understanding of art, and yet his artworks are appreciated by different people in the text. Explain how other characters view the protagonist's art, and what this might say about how they view the protagonist. The protagonist started writing poems to Desiree during his childhood. Desiree did not appreciate the poems in the way he hoped she would. She did not respond to his poems and “would be moody and aloof”. (p6) She did not encourage, nor discourage his pursuit of her. Mercedes is touched by the protagonist’s tears after watching a trumpeter perform at The Hugh student performance. She told him that his tears “are not to be taken lightly – for anyone who is so affected by art is a priceless gift to the universe”. (p63) This is probably what prompted her to buy him a trumpet for his birthday. She saw the potential in him to be an artist, because he is a sensitive soul. She refers to him as “My Poet”. The protagonist plays his trumpet on street corners and relies on donations in order to survive. Sometimes he hears peoples’ remarks while playing and on one occasion he heard The Hugh night-watchman say that he is a “Lazy shit, he thinks money grows on trees”. (p91) The nightwatchman made his own assumptions about the protagonist’s situation, not realizing that he truly relies on donations to make a living.
Theme: Inequality and Class
The protagonist can be said to move through different social classes. He encounters those who are wealthy and he encounters those who are poor. Explain how the protagonist views these different characters, and how their social class impacts on his understanding of them. The protagonist encounters beggars whilst he is homeless and jobless, sleeping on park benches. He does not engage in conversation with them, because “they are too involved in their unknown thoughts”. When he gets a job as a waiter at Café Mesopotamia, he observes affluent patrons. He says: “There is this aura of self-importance about them, an arrogant expectation that disregards the wishes of others.” (p136). He finds it hard to serve them, “feigning interest in their self-indulgent stories”. The protagonist is of the opinion that the demands of the wealthy people are worse than the rude remarks he endured while playing his trumpet. He thinks that their nights out at Café Mesopotamia have little to do with eating, but more about showing off their “expensive cars and promiscuous lovers”. (p132)
Theme: Friendship In many ways, the closest bond that the protagonist forms in the text is with a dog. Do you agree with this assessment? Explain your answer and link this to how the protagonist views his friendships and relationships, and why his relationship with the dog is so different. I do agree that in many ways, the closest bond that the protagonist forms in the text, is with a dog he named Benito. When he finds the puppy on his doorstep, he does not hesitate to take care of it. He talks to the puppy as though it can understand him. The puppy follows him everywhere and their relationship is built on trust, unlike his relationship with Desiree which is strained because of her bad temper. Desiree is the abusive one in the relationship whilst the protagonist is the one trying to take care of her. The protagonist’s relationship with Mercedes is based on his artistic talents. Even though he says that “I, in her company, feel bliss without form or limits” (p69), his feelings for Desiree prevents him from making a commitment towards Mercedes. The protagonist forms a close friendship with Gabriel Sanchez who is the father of Mercedes. He says: “I am, to him, a son brutalized by life, who finds solace in the folds of his daughter’s heart”. (p70) The friendship turns sour because the protagonist is unable to make his intentions clear with Mercedes. Gabriel returns to Cuba and takes Mercedes with him. The protagonist feels betrayed. From the above, we can see that his relationship with the dog was special. He committed himself to take care of the puppy under difficult circumstances such as being homeless and struggling to earn money to buy food for himself and the puppy. The dog was his companion and suffered some of the same hardships as the protagonist, namely being out on the street feeling cold and hungry. The dog stayed by the protagonist’s side until the day he was taken away by a biker, whereas Desiree, Mercedes, and Gabriel walked out of his life.
Theme: History and the Transition There are many social changes that take place from the start of the novel to the point where the protagonist is released from prison. How do these social changes link to the history of South Africa? Are all of these changes positive? Why or why not? As you continue to consider this question, try and think about how the tone and mood at different points in the novel might indicate to you the change in the outlook of the protagonist. How does his thinking about South Africa become more cynical and disillusioned? How is he able to
reconcile his feelings about being "free" with the immediate violence he is met with as he walks the streets of Johannesburg. The novel overall can be seen as quite negative about the changes in South Africa, and sees the gap between the haves and have-nots as just as strong as ever in postapartheid South Africa,
You might also consider the question of race in relation to this quesiton. How does the protagonist see race relations? How many white characters does he encounter, and what are the roles of these characters in his life and how he navigates postapartheid South Africa? There might still be racial tensions in the text, and the narrator thus might be questioning what "freedom" has meant in terms of race in South Africa. Consider these questions in relation to the overall theme of history and the transition.
Theme: The meaning of life The protagonist wonders about various ideas that might make up what he sees as the meaning of life. Discuss one of these ideas that the protagonist thinks might give his life meaning. Do you think that the protagonist suffers from disillusionment in the text? This question can take many forms. The protagonist might feel that freedom and creativity are important in the meaning of life, and he tries to practice this by not being constrained by the types of requirements of functioning well in the post apartheid setting he finds himself in. For example, he does not want to take the job from his politically connected acquaintance. Why not? He might feel like this does not give him the type of freedom and creativity that he has as a heritage guide in Johannesburg, where he is able to tell the story of the history of South Africa in his own way and not become part of the wealthy class in the city. He also feels great resentment to those who try to curtail his freedom and creativity, and in the end of the novel he seems to find quite a lot of meaning from just being on his own away from other people. Do you agree that he achieves a sense of freedom towards the end? Why or why not?
Characters Desiree, the girl at school - chapter 1 pg 5: The narrator falls in love with her at a young age. Father Goebels - chapter 1 pg 8: He is a monk who picked on the narrator, he is a teacher. Father Ben: pg 9: he hears a confession that the narrator makes. Bra Todd - chapter 1 pg 11: He is Desiree's uncle. He becomes a father figure, carer and employer to the narrator. Major Joubert - chapter 2 pg 17: A police detective, captor and interrogator of the narrator. The Dark Figure - chapter 3 pg 28: He attempts to murder the narrator. Dr Moodley - chapter 3 pg 31: The narrator's physician Inspector Matros, Detective Govender - chapter 3 pg 31,32: Shows pictures of fugitives / murderers and asks about The Dark Figure. Ordette/Bernadette - chapter 4 pg 37: His boss at the Tourism Information Centre in Newtown. Gideon Bemba - chapter 4 pg 38: The owner of the furnished townhouse that the narrator rents. (Here the letting agent is not given a name).
Thebe & the "lanky one" - chapter 4 pg 39: The narrator eavesdrops on their conversation. Inspector Slabbert - chapter 4 pg 42: She questions the narrators about his reason for going to apartment 307. Mabel - chapter 5 pg 45: She is Desiree's cousin and arranges a meeting between them. Desiree, the professional - chapter 5 pg 45: She is is a criminal defense lawyer and she is married. Amazu Ogbedo - chapter 5 pg 45: He is a Nigerian mathematician and married to Desiree. Gabriel Sanchez - chapter 6 pg 53: He is the narrator's friend, confidante and father figure. He is the father of Mercedes. Mercedes - chapter 6 pg 55: She becomes the narrators lover / girlfriend. Benito - chapter 9 pg 73: A former boyfriend of Mercedes looking to rekindle the relationship. Zacharia - chapter 9 pg 77: He heads the Ministry of Tourism and was a former fellow prisoner with the narrator. He offers the narrator numerous plush jobs. Mr Moolman - chapter 10 pg 89: He lost his laundry business, thus the narrator lost his job there. Mrs Tobin - chapter 10 pg 89: She has contact with G Bemba and is the letting agent who threatens to evict the narrator. Benito, the puppy - chapter 10 pg 96: The narrator's only companion for a while. The Indian couple, Sajiv & Ranjeni Naidoo- chapter 11 pg 99: The new tenants (of the townhouse that the narrator can't afford to rent). The taxi drivers - chapter 12 pg 106: They give the narrator food and ask him questions. Bradley Jones - chapter 13 pg 120: He manages or is part of a band "the Lightning Bolts" and is looking for a musician. The employment prospect did not materialise. Francois de Wet - chapter 13 pg 128: He is the manager-owner of Cafe Mesopotamia who offers the narrator a job as a waiter. Tony - chapter 13 pg 129: He trains waiters at Cafe Mesopotamia. The biker - chapter 13 pg 130: He accuses the narrator of stealing his dog and yanks Benito away from him. Brutal Kate - chapter 13 pg 131: She tries to make money by offering her questionable services to the narrator. Chapter Summaries Option One Chapter 3: The Narrator is released from prison and he is now homeless. He is shot by the “Dark Figure”. He is taken to Milpark Hospital in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, where two police officers visit him, to gather information about the shooting. He refuses to press charges, but they come again after another shooting, he tells them the reason he was shot. Chapter 4: He gets a job at a tourist information centre in Newtown. He has a second job at a laundry service place. And eventually he can afford to rent a townhouse, he fills the house with books, of all genres. He comes across the Dark Figure and follows him to his apartment.
When the shooter leaves, he gets back at the man by trashing his house. The police find the narrator the next day, to get more information, he tells them where the Dark Figure lives, in return to be left alone. Chapter 5: He founds out Desiree is in Alexandra Township; Desiree is married to Amazu and works for a criminal law firm. A few months later, she leaves Amazu, and agrees to move in with the Narrator. Chapter 6: During the bus rides, he meets Gabriel Sanchez, who moved from Cuba, after murdering his wife’s lover. Through him he meets Mercedes, his daughter. Chapter 7: He visits Mercedes at the Hugh Masekela Music Academy, where she works, often. They go see a jazz quartet play, together. They have an affair together. Chapter 8: They celebrate his birthday together and go to Cape Town for a music workshop. He learns to play the trumpet. Gabriel approves of their relationship. Gabriel wants to know the Narrator’s intension with his daughter. Chapter 9: Mercedes receives a letter from Benito, asking for her back. The letters are seemly endless. The Narrator is unhappy with this. He ponders Gabriel’s question. Chapter 10: His contract with the Tourism Information Centre ends. Gabriel wants to move back to Cuba, to live out his remaining days. Mercedes asks him to come with them. He refuses. The laundry service shop was burnt down, he loses his job. He plays trumpet to earn some money, not much. He cannot afford rent. He is given an eviction notice. Desiree is hospitalised. He find a puppy outside his house, in the rain and adopts him. Chapter 11: His townhouse is shown to new potential tenants, they take it. Chapter 12: He sleeps on park benches in winter. He pawns his books for money. He visits Desiree in the hospital again. He bumps into Amazu there. Chapter 13: Amazu offers for him to stay with him. They discuss Desiree. Amazu finds an ad for trumpeter wanted. It is a bust. He plays the trumpet, giving his earning to Amazu, a small contribution. The hospital calls, saying Desiree died. They fight, he gets kicked out the house. The hospital called again to say Desiree was still alive. He and the dog head towards Melrose, in the summer heat. He meets Francois de Wet, the manager of Café Mesopotamia, who offers him a job as a waiter. Afterwards a biker grabs the dog, claiming it was his lost dog. He is a terrible waiter. Chapter 14: The Dark Figure is arrested. He dislikes being a waiter. Mercedes writes to him, informing him Gabriel has died, she asks him to please write back. He does not. Chapter 15: He quits his job, leaves the city. He finds an abandoned old caravan in the mountains. He lives there until he dies. Option Two Chapter 3: The narrator finds Johannesburg unfamiliar after eighteen years. (He is set free in 1993/1994 ?) He sleeps on the streets and is drawn to the Nelson Mandela Bridge. He is intimidated and shot by a thug (because he did not conform in that context). This can be seen as tension. He survives and is questioned by police in hospital but they find him
uncooperative. They are befuddled by his lack of anger. The narrator is rather philosophical. He wonders how the Dark Figure can be self-absorbed and without conscience. Chapter 4: He is exposed to tourists and is employed as an authentic former oppressed new South African. This creates tension in him but he needs the income. He secures a second job as a laundryman. He can afford to rent a furnished apartment. He follows the Dark Figure and rummage through his apartment. He sees through the façade. Chapter 5: He sees Desiree again. She is a criminal defence lawyer and married to a mathematician. Desiree moves in with the narrator on her terms. He becomes suicidal. Tension. She is domineering and unsparing. The tension is created by the narrator accepting this treatment. Desiree is temporarily suspended. Amazu does not pursue her. Chapter 6: The narrator plays the role of lover and carer to Desiree to his emotional detriment. The narrator meets Gabriel Sanchez on bus rides between Rosebank and Newtown and they become good friends. Chapter 7: The narrator needs to mend his soul. He meets Gabriel’s daughter Mercedes who works at The Hugh. He reeds poetry in a second hand bookshop and is overcome by the beauty of Quiet Storm’s performance. He begins an affair with Mercedes. Chapter 8: Desiree forgets the narrator’s birthday. Mercedes gives him a huge birthday gift: a trumpet, 12 red roses and a trip to Cape town. She teachers him to play the trumpet. Mercedes wants a baby – probably a commitment? Gabriel offers the narrator advice on love, obsession and Desiree. The narrator has to consider his intentions (relationship) with Mercedes. Chapter 9: Benito’s letters cause tension between the narrator and Mercedes. The narrator is not interested in plush jobs offered by a former prisoner, now an influential person. He is honest with Gabriel about his feelings towards Desiree. Tension. Gabriel sobs. Chapter 10: His contract at the tourism information centre is not renewed. Mercedes is heart-broken when she tells the narrator that she and her father will leave SA for Cuba in a week’s time. The narrator will not accompany them. Gabriel’s manner and attitude has changed. He is disappointed. The Moolman Laundry Service burns down and the narrator now has no job (to earn a living). The narrator is under increasing pressure to pay rent. He plays trumpet on the streets for donations. He suffers extortion. Tension. Desiree tries to lure him back. He does not respond. Amazu informs him that Desiree is in hospital. He takes care of a stray puppy. Chapter 11: The letting agent shows the apartment to an Indian couple. They are oblivious to his dire reality. He future looks bleak: winter on the streets. Chapter 12: The narrator thinks about his 18 year punishment: anger in search of meaning. He sleeps on park benches and sells some prized books. He picks up money at a taxi rank and uses it to visit Desiree in hospital where he sees Amazu. Chapter 13: The narrator moves in with Amazu. The house is chaotic. They regularly visit the brain dead Desiree. The narrator has a low self-esteem. Tension. He cannot contribute to food & rent. He continues his walks to Nelson Mandela Bridge. They are informed that Desiree died. Amazu asks the narrator to leave his home. They are then informed that
Desiree is not dead. The narrator leaves to live on the streets again. He is offered a job as a waiter. He doesn’t fit the profile and is not good at it. He goes back to Amazu’s home. Chapter 14: The Dark Figure is captured and sentenced after which he commits suicide. The narrator sees the letting agent again at the restaurant and she hands him (Mercedes’ letters) and informs him that his precious books where damaged by water and thrown away. From Mercedes’s letter he learns of Gabriel’s deteriorating health and death. She has changed. He does not reply to her letters. Amazu enjoys food parcels brought home from café Mesopotamia. The narrator contemplates suicide. Chapter 15: He walks away from Café Mesopotamia, Amazu and Desiree. He finds an abandoned caravan. He lives out his days as a recluse.
Plot Who narrates the story in the novel? The narrator narrates the story from a first person perspective. The narrator, who remains unnamed, is simultaneously the main character in the story. Who is the main character, where is he from and what does he do? The main character is a young black boy, who upon being orphaned, was schooled around monks. He lives at a place called the Benevolence House, where he attends school classes and completes chores. He was expelled from Benevolence House because he used to sneak out of the campus at night. He found himself performing multiple, different, odd jobs in order to make a living, but eventually found himself spending many nights in newsrooms, learning about the job of a newsman. He developed a deep admiration and infatuation with a girl called Desiree. He would collect debt from one of Desiree's relatives, on behalf of the newsman. Although Desiree never seemed to reciprocate his admiration, his adoration for her never ceased. Where and when does the first chapter in the novel take place? While the exact age of the narrator was never stated, Benevolence House was established in 1945, so the story takes place sometime after 1945. The narrator, when expelled, was 15 years old, however, it is not explicitly stated how long the narrator lived in Benevolence House before being expelled. After being expelled, the narrator finds residence and random forms of employment in Sophiatown. Sophiatown was destroyed on the 9th of February 1955, meaning that the first chapter of the novel takes place between 1945, when Benevolence House was established, and 1955, when Sophiatown was destroyed. Which other characters are we introduced to? In the first chapter, we are introduced to Father Goebels and Father Ben, the two monks that run Benevolence House. These two monks make the narrator uncomfortable by pressuring the narrator into confessing the alleged sins they thought that he was guilty of having. We are also introduced to Desiree, the girl that the narrator holds great admiration and infatuation for. Desiree was the postmaster's daughter. We are, lastly, introduced to Bra Todd, a highly respected newsman that the narrator respected greatly.
Tensions in the Plot What sources of tension (both internal and external) can you identify in the main character in the first and second chapters of the novel? The first source of tension that is identifiable in the main character is his internal conflict about his love for Desiree. He holds a lot of love for Desiree, and despite his great acts of affection, she never seems to reciprocate his love. Despite the fact that he knows that Desiree does not feel the same way that he does, he cannot seem to dissolve his feelings for her. Another form of conflict that takes place in the story is the narrators struggle with the intensity of his articles. The narrator ends up working for a newsman called Bra Todd. Upon writing articles for the paper, the narrator's work is deemed "too much" and he is repeatedly told to "tone it down". Lastly, another source of tension is seen in the narrator's arrest. Why has the character been arrested? The narrator has been arrested due to his "explicit" newspaper columns. The narrator's columns make reference to the apartheid regime, in which we can assume he criticises the government and the powers that be for institutionalising such a terrible regime. We can tell that the narrator does not sugar-coat his feelings in his columns, which is why Bra Todd constantly tells him to "tone it down or [he] is as good as a corpse" referencing the fact that the government does not appreciate the raw and real information that he writes about. Would the character’s arrest qualify as internal or external conflict? I believe that the character's arrest was both an internal and external source of conflict for the character. It was external, as it was obviously a struggle between him and the police force, however, it was also a form of internal conflict, as the character believes that his arrest was unwarranted. He was arrested for speaking out about the reality of the South African political state at the time, because the government did not want the general public to be able to access information like that, as it would possibly result in a political uprising.
Themes of Love 1. Consider the names Desiree and Mercedes. Which English words do these names bring to mind? The name Desiree brings to mind desire, yearning and want. The name Mercedes brings to mind mercy, charity and pity. 2. Write a paragraph in which you explain the associations with the names of Desiree and Mercedes and what these might suggest about the ways in which these two women are seen by the main character. Desiree is the one that he desires. He pursues her because he wants her. She is a beautiful Xhosa girl with a lovely singing voice. The narrator places Desire (his desire) on a pedestal and cannot accept her rejection or opposing views of love thus he suffers for what he wants. In contrast Mercedes’ kindness, generosity and encouragement soothes his soul. Mercedes is a beautiful Cuban girl with musical talents. She refers to him as “my poet”. These are the aspects that makes the narrator fall in love with her. It is noteworthy that he cherishes their (Desire and Mercedes) gifts / talents of art [musical abilities/ that they are refined].
3. On page 6, the main character refers to Desiree as ‘My Desiree’. Considering how early in the novel this occurs, what do you think this implies about Desiree’s importance in the rest of the narrative? Write a paragraph in which you explain this. You should also make some references to the final chapter of the novel, where Desiree is mentioned again. The narrator clings to a childhood dream of Desiree for his entire life. It becomes more than an infatuation – in a sense her heart (love) belongs to him. She was also part of the Sophiatown-life he loved. That representation was lost after the destruction of Sophiatown thus it can be argued he remained somewhat naïve in his perception of their relationship. We can deduce that it propels him to political writings and carelessness about selfpreservation. After his 18-year imprisonment he is surprised that she moved on (married) and carved a life for herself in the new SA. To the reader this might reinforce his naïve obsession. He becomes a proverbial punch bag while trying to convince her to see love as he does whilst she is married to another man. Here the reader might gather how altered his judgment is. When she is brain dead he wonders, hopes even, that she might have come to her senses before she could tell him so. It paints quite a sad picture of the narrator. Finally, at the end of his story the narrator still thinks about Desiree (his desire) as the soul for whom his heart throbbed. In conclusion we can say that she is a part of his character or personality that he will never part with. 4. On page 6, refer to the section that starts with ‘My love is deeper than…’ until the end of the paragraph. Now compare this to the paragraphs on page 92 that start with ‘In other matters…’ and ‘From behind the curtain’. What are the differences and similarities between the earlier and later descriptions of Desiree? Set your answer out in a paragraph. In his childhood years the narrator had the confidence to write excessive love poems to Desiree. The reader is reminded that the orphaned narrator probably yearns for acceptance and love that Desiree personified at that stage of his life. Later on and after much rejection and other hardships he decides to ignore her. However, the circumstances in which he garners the courage makes it easy to do so. The reader can deduce that his current state (unemployed and gaunt) makes him feel ashamed and unworthy. Furthermore, Desiree arrives with Amazu (seated in the car waiting for her), which places a question mark on his perception of her reason for attempted fortnightly visits and notes. Was it to declare her love to the narrator or perhaps a more practical reason – e.g. to help him, or to speak to him about certain matters? In conclusion the young Desiree in the same school as him, is described as moody and aloof and the later description where she is an accomplished professional (page 92) shows her reaching out to the narrator. 5. Write a paragraph about how the changing descriptions of Desiree reflects both aspects of the plot and the development of the characters. (You might also want to think about how these descriptions are informed by the way in which narrative time is presented in the different sections of the novel.) The reader is introduced to the character Desiree, who is described as the most important person in the narrator’s life. She is the person he looks for and who gives meaning, purpose and hope to his life – his inspiration. From onset the protagonist reads his desires into her actions. Desiree moves between the school setting and the Odin Cinema. She sings for the “Fleeting Birds” - this is an [apt] indication / description of the rising action between her and the narrator in this section of the novel. In the next section, (Nausea) the action towards Desiree continues in his [the protagonist’s] search for her. After the climactic moment of her moving in with him she is described as his successful,
calculating, moody, out of control and binge drinking lover. He describes her actions in historical present tense to give the reader a sense that he is experiencing it all over again. Thereafter there is falling action, an almost resolution as the protagonist avoids Desiree’s attempts of contact but it makes an unexpected turn towards another climactic moment where she is hospitalized (due to a (her) bad heart) and brain dead, silenced, distasteful and decaying. In conclusion we can say that [the only resolution is ] she will never understand his “nagging heartbreak of being separated from her”. 6. On page 78, read the sentence that starts with ‘I have, in all my days…’. Then, read the last paragraph on page 84. Write a paragraph in which you compare the two descriptions of Mercedes. Mercedes has a wonderful effect on the narrator. She is described as beautiful both outwardly and inwardly. She is talented, delicate and stable. After she received heart breaking news she is described as the one who is in need of consolation. She is overwhelmed and overcome by emotion. 7. Write a paragraph about how the events relevant to each of the descriptions of Mercedes reflect something about the plot. In other words, how does the characterisation in each of the abovementioned descriptions of Mercedes reflect what is happening to the main character? I am not sure how to answer this. The narrator has to choose between Mercedes and life in Johannesburg, South Africa. He might be confronted by the prospect of commitment and ultimately his decision can be perceived as betrayal towards Mercedes. There is tension in this part of the plot. A climactic moment is reached when Mercedes shares the devastating news (departing from him within a week). The narrator internalises and blames himself for his perceived shortcomings. His self-esteem takes another blow. He visits Gabriel Sanchez in an attempt to “dismantle” his [Gabriel’s] reasoning, but instead the conversation ultimately makes him feel “sick.”
Theme of Art & It’s Place in Society 1. Make a short list of all the different forms of art mentioned by the main character between pages 58 and 60. Also take note of the ways in which he describes all of these. (Hint: Some are more positive than others.) The narrator mentions MC rappers (spitting out gut wrenching insults), Rhyme and Reason sessions, Masai bead embroidery, Yoruba masks, sculptures, a jazz quartet (Quiet Storm from Mercedes’ music class), Russian and Latin American literature (poetry that thaws his soul), string instruments: violins (that wail), a double bass (the playing of the instrument is likened to intimate pleasure / intercourse) and a trumpeter (who stirs his emotions, touching this soul). 2. Of all the things he sees, what has the greatest impact on him? Can you link this to anything else we know about his life and the other characters? The trumpet has the greatest impact on him. He hears this at The Hugh, named after Hugh Masekela, a famous black South African trumpeter, who was part of the Sophiatown jazz scene before he self-exiled in 1960. He also wrote “Soweto Blues”. We can deduce that the narrator is reminded of what was taken from him.
3. Read from the last paragraph of page 63 to the end of page 64 and from the last paragraph on page 118 to the end of the first paragraph on page 119. Write a paragraph in which you discuss how music as a form of art influences the main character. Quote from the novel to support your answer. The narrator is a sensitive soul and appreciates art, in particular trumpet melodies brings him to tears. He remembers how he “listened to records” (pg.11) with Bra Todd and “spent most Sundays at the Odin Cinema, enthralled by competing ensembles: dancers, jazz bands and choral music” (pg.12) in Sophiatown. Through Mercedes he realises that he has a musical “gift” (pg.64). After he learns how to play he continues to practise regularly, the trumpet becoming a way of expressing himself. Later by his own admission he “resolved to play [his] trumpet, not for money, but as an honouring of [his] fledgling gift” (pg.119). His “trumpet playing, touched the furthest nerve that holds what remains of [his] soul in place.”
Theme of Inequality & Class 1. In both of the sections mentioned above, sudden changes to the main character’s life results in him being homeless. What are these changes? After his release in 1994 he discovers that his home is now legally owned by a “deaf Mozambican cobbler” thus he is homeless and has no choice but to live on the streets of Johannesburg. Years later he is homeless again because he is unemployed and eventually evicted. He decides to practise his free will, in other words he chooses to face the “surety of Johannesburg winters” on the streets and not ask for help from “Comrade Q.” 2. Write a paragraph about the ways in which the narrator describes his experiences of being homeless. You should focus particularly on his descriptions of his surroundings. (Hint: Are there differences and similarities in this regard between his earlier and later periods of homelessness?) After his imprisonment, he familiarises himself with what Johannesburg is now. He is drawn to the Nelson Mandela bridge, “dignified under its white and blue lights”. There is a difference between him and the beggars covered in plastic and grime as he looks down on them [from the bridge]. He sees the elaborate highways, the skyscrapers and horizons and he ponders life and its limits. Later on, he has responsibility in the form of Benito the dog who he now wraps in plastic and discarded garments. Now Johannesburg is like a cold grey mortuary. He is drawn to the taxi drivers fire and withstands their questions and comments, humbly accepting a handout meal. 3. Write a paragraph where you discuss how these experiences are filtered through the character’s feelings about art and music. Quote from pages 104-110 of the novel to substantiate your answer. The narrator feels obliged to make a plan [to buy food] while on the streets and pawns some of his treasured literature, “Wordsworth and Aristotle for bread and sour milk”. Here his appreciation of art makes way for survival. He hears “kwasa-kwasa” Congolese music and sees the taxi drivers dancing. He endures some mocking as one calls him a “boy scout” because he carries a trumpet. The taxi driver might be insinuating the narrator to be idealistic, naïve and unworldly – and the fact that he has a small dog with him probably confirms this perception. A little while later the narrator calls himself a “trumpeter” when questioned by police. These actions and scenes might portray the narrator as a struggling artist. Can we say that even when he is destitute he still finds solace in art and music because appreciation of art is part of his character.
Theme: History & Its Transition 1. Who do you think Comrade Q refers to? Comrade Q is epitomised by “Zacharia, a former fellow prisoner, a radical poet, now heads the Ministry of Tourism – and is, by implication, ‘The Big Chief’” (pg. 77) who “offers him numerous plush jobs, ‘to advance [their] revolution’”. The protagonist’s sentiment is that “everyone servers at the pleasure of Comrade Q” (pg. 105). In addition, the reader can deduce the he [the protagonist] is one of the many “walking dead, bruised by the revolution. A revolution which, by the look of things, has lost its way – in the Animal Farm and Kafkaesque sense” (pg.104). Lastly, "Comrade Q's" are the influential officials, wealthy citizens and well-connected individuals in post-apartheid SA. 2. What does Café Mesopotamia symbolise? The name Mesopotamia means “between two rivers” therefore the reader can deduce that it symbolises the narrator feeling (i) trapped between choosing “that cushy job” (pg.105) and (ii) “the certainty of Johannesburg winters” [as a homeless person]. Furthermore, the Café might symbolise [Babylonian] “idol worship” as the patrons spend [money] frivolously while displaying “this aura of self-importance…an arrogant expectation that disregards the wishes of others” (pg. 136), as the narrator serves [them like a slave to] their every whim. In conclusion, it symbolises a big divide in society / socio economic status. https://www.ancient.eu/Mesopotamia/ https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-middle-east/babylonia https://www.ancient.eu/babylon/ 3. What kind of social commentary is the narrator making about post-apartheid South Africa? The reader’s attention is drawn to the narrator’s mention of (pg.104) Animal Farm (Orwell : 1945), thus he alludes that a society’s dreams of equality and freedom is thwarted by “Comrade Q’s” who are corrupted by power and tyrannizing the very same society because of it. His social commentary is evident in the questions “is eighteen years that long, that existence seems to be turned on its head?” (pg. 130); and “who are these catastrophically stupid, soul-deprived people dining in hordes?” (pg.131).
Theme: Friendship The main character’s friendship with Gabriel Sanchez Revise the sections on ‘Plot’ and ‘Narrative Perspective’ and ‘Character’ in Tutorial Letter 501. Then, read pages 53-55, 69-72, 80-81 and 84-89 of the novel. 1. How does the relationship between Gabriel and the main character change as the plot develops? 2. What is the source of tension or conflict between the main character and Gabriel? 3. Look closely at the section on pages 69-71, starting with ‘We refrain from…’ and ending with ‘…of his ‘Summer Breeze’. Write a paragraph in which you reflect on how the style of narration in the novel should influence the way in which the reader interprets this extract. 4. Look closely at the section on pages 84-85, starting with ‘I return home…’ and ending with ‘…prefers to die on Cuban soil.’ Write a paragraph in which you consider how the theme of friendship is developed in this extract.
The main character’s friendship with Benito the dog Pages 96-98, 104-110 and 130-132 trace the main character’s relationship with Benito the dog. Reread these pages. 1. What kind of meaning do you think the main character finds in his friendship with Benito? Write a paragraph in which you support your answer with textual evidence. 2. Read the section on pages 130-131, starting with ‘Francois bid me…’ and ending with ‘… Offended’. Write a paragraph in which you reflect on how this incident intersects with the theme of ‘inequality and class’ in the novel.
The main character’s friendship with Amazu Pages 45-46, 111-126 and 135 trace the main character’s relationship with Amazu. Look closely at the section on pages 116-118, starting with ‘But I, even when seething…’ and ending with ‘…really matter?’. 1. Write a paragraph in which you reflect on the sources of tension in the relationship between the main character and Amazu. 2. Write a paragraph in which you reflect on how this passage contributes to the characterisation of the main character. ANSWERS The three characters referred to in these questions are all significant to the narrator, and all can be seen to symbolise different functions of what he is seeking in some senses. He seeks the idealism and the sense of perseverence that Gabriel Sanchez shows, as well as the deep love for country and the sense that there is still something salvagable about South Africa as a whole and about the intense class divisions and exploitation that the narrator is witness to. Sanchez's link to a communist government might also be important in why he is shown in these ways. The dog Benito symbolises again deep connection and loss, two things that seem to follow the narrator. It is interesting to note the way the narrator reacts once Benito is taken from him. He works so hard to provide for the dog, even sacrificing his own food and sensing something fragile (just as he is fragile at points and others take pity on him and care for him), but this is taken away from him. Amazu might be the contrast with this. Amazu cares for the narrator in ways that approach friendship, but there is always a wall between them. Amazu recognises the narrator's talent, but he symbolises the life of wealth and intellectualism that the narrator cannot reach. Theme: The Meaning of Life Re-read the first and last chapters of the novel, as well as pages 27, 103-105, and 142-143. Then, look closely at the section on pages 142-143, starting with ‘It is becoming…’ and ending with ‘…fermenting milk cartons’. Also look closely at pages 150-151, starting with ‘There is no telling…’ to the end of the novel.
1. Write a paragraph in which you reflect on how the theme of ‘the meaning of life’ is explored in these passages. Support your answer with textual evidence. 2. Write a paragraph in which you consider how the theme of ‘the meaning of life’ intersects with the themes of ‘inequality’ and ‘art’ in the last two pages of the novel. I wonder if you think that the novel can be viewed as cynical and nihilistic? Is there a sense of hope offered in the novel? The idea of the meaning of life seems to almost contrast with the incredible hardships suffered by the narrator, and there is a sense of hopelessness intermingled with fierce independence that becomes prominent towards the end. How does this link to the novel's view of the meaning of life, and the ultimate realisations the narrator comes to about himself and the country?
Mock Exam Question Please see the sample exam question below and pay attention to the highlighted keywords in the instructions. Love is an important theme in Nthikeng Mohlele’s novel, Small Things. To show whether this statement is true, critically analyse the following extract from the first chapter of the novel. In your essay, pay attention to how narration and characterisation are utilised to explore the theme. While your focus should be the extract, you should also refer to other relevant sections of the novel, where appropriate. I, to this day, fall hopelessly in love whenever I see postmen carrying mailbags. My heart leaps at bright-red post boxes in pictures. They remind me of Desiree – the postmaster’s daughter. We never exchanged much, Desiree and I. I caught her roving eye on me one morning during Mass. Hearing nothing of the sermon, I saw only this eye, a beaming light bulb that warmed me from the third row, […] from where I knelt praying, my knees molten with love. (Mohlele, 2018: 5) What do you think your exam answer should consist of based on the highlighted keywords? How would you structure this exam answer? What would you include, and what would be the main arguments you would make? Please respond to the question throughout the week and I'll let you know if you are on the right path. Practising this early will be essential in doing well in your exam. ANSWER I think we should write about love as the main idea and interpret the given text by paying attention to how the characters respond so that we can inspect the theme thoroughly and respond accordingly. We should also look for other parts in the novel that link to this quoted text. The structure of our essay answer must have an introduction consisting of contextualisation, a thesis statement and indication of the structure of the argument. The body is made up of paragraphs consisting of topic sentences and signpost words. Our arguments must be supported by textual evidence incorporated in grammatically correct sentences. We must
write one idea / argument per paragraph and paragraphs must follow a logical order. The last paragraph or sentence(s) must be a conclusion that reaffirms the introduction. The theme of love is prevalent in the novel Small Things (Mohele : 2013). It is explored by the protagonist instantaneous attraction to Desiree reminiscent of a fairy-tale type love which develops to obsessive love and ultimately veers towards toxic. This essay will show how the focalised narrative is effective in portraying the protagonist’s emotions affected by Desiree as well as Mercedes within the theme. A love that is prioritized over trust and affection towards Desiree and love that brings healing from Mercedes. The protagonist develops through these two love relationships but cannot hold on to them – to him love is a bitter-sweet notion as is evident in various settings and symbolisations of the novel. The focus of my analysis will be the main character’s naivety that starts by him admitting: “We never exchanged much, Desiree and I. I caught her roving eye on me one morning during Mass” which made his “knees molten with love” (pg.5). Secondly his obsession [with his belief that he can change Desiree] which damages his self-esteem. Lastly the contrasting effect that Mercedes’ love has on the protagonist such as renewal [of his soul] but that he fails to hold on to it because he cannot let go of Desiree. Your introduction could look like: The novel Small Thinigs by Nthikeng Mohlele (2013) tells the story of an unnamed narrator who experiences hope and disillusionment in apartheid-era and post-apartheid Johannesburg. The theme of love is very important in the novel, and the narrator experiences great love with two women, Desiree and Mercedes. In this essay, I will analyse moments from the text to argue that the narrator's love for Deisree is symbolic of his fading sense of hope and growing disillusionment in postapartheid South Africa. To support this argument, I will analyse the early descriptions of love in the extract from Chapter 1, where love takes on an almost religious importance for the narrator. Secondly, I will show how the relationship with Desiree is ultimately unfulfilling for the narrator, mirroring his resentment for Johannesburg. Finally, I will highlight how love leads to bitterness for the narrator, and how the early descriptions of wonder, excitement and joy disappear completely by the end of the novel. Character Please answer the questions about character below: 1. Explore one of the secondary characters in the novel. What are this character's traits and motivations? How does this character affect the narrative? 2. How is the narrator of the novel characterised in the first chapter? Which words or phrases give us insight into the characterisation of the narrator at the start? 3. Are there characters that you like or dislike in the novel? Give one example of each, and explain what it is about that character that you like or dislike. ANSWERS 1. Secondary character: Francois de Wet. He is a kind and generous man. He notices the narrator outside his restaurant and offers him a job as a waiter. Not only does he order a lamb shank for the narrator, but his dog gets a lamb shank too. This gesture shows that he is kind and caring. His motivation behind the job offer probably stems from the fact that "he is no stranger to hardship himself". (p129) He was able to see that the narrator needs help.
This character positively affects the narrative by reaching out to the narrator, thus steering the novel in another direction. 2. The narrator is characterised as an orphan. The words "Catholic sanctuary for abandoned, orphaned souls, of which I was one" (p8) gives the reader insight into the narrator's characterisation. 3. I dislike the biker character because he took Benito away from the narrator, accusing him falsely of stealing his dog. He did not even give the narrator a chance to explain or defend himself, causing the narrator great embarrassment in front of patrons eating at Cafe Mesopotamia. The character which I like the most is Mercedes because she shows a genuine interest in the narrator. She understands his needs and recognises his artistic talents. She teaches him to play the trumpet which he masters so well that he can live off donations while he was jobless. For these questions on character, you can begin to consider how some characters are more rounded than others, and have more character traits that are known to us. You could make a list of all of the characters and list two or three character traits that you would associate with them, and then try to find a quote to really show us how they are characterized in the novel. For example: Narrator: hopeful, kind, emotionally insecure Desiree: Independent, powerful, does not believe in love Mercedes: Intelligent, confident, passionate You could list these types of ideas for each character, and then think about their role in the story. What do they do that affects the protagonist? How do they drive the plot of the story forward? It is interesting that there are two characters who are rarely referred to by their names, namely the protagonist and the man who robs him on the bridge near the start of the novel. How do these two characters intersect? Why are both of them often left nameless and vague? Try to think about what the novel is saying about those who are seen as outsiders and how the characterization of the protagonist might link to this (mostly) nameless and mysterious character. You can also consider your personal feelings towards these characters and why you might like or dislike them. Perhaps you dislike Desiree, and you feel this way because she doesn’t really reciprocate the love that the narrator has for her, or she seems too aloof and uncommitted. Or, you might even dislike the narrator, and consider all of the reasons you feel this way. These exercises can help you to think about the novel in new ways that highlight the importance of character. Narration Please consider the following three questions about narration for this week: 1. What narrative voice does the novel contain (first person, second person or third person)? How does this impact on our understanding of the narrative? What would have been different if a different narrative voice had been used? 2. Does anything change in terms of narration throughout the novel? Does the narrative voice evolve from the first to the final chapters? Identify these differences. 3. Explain how narration in the novel gives us insights into stories that are often untold in South Africa. What effect does the narrator have on making us think about South Africa differently?
ANSWERS Remember that the point of narration is to give you certain insights into characters. The perspective we are given allows us to either see things from the perspective of an omniscient narrator (third person, usually), a conversation between the narrator and the audience/ another character (second person) or someone’s very personal and subjective view of the events (first person). As we have a first-person narrator in the story, we really can see the South African landscape through their eyes, and we really can feel what they are feeling. However, we don’t have even a name for the narrator, and many other characters are given a lot more characterization than the narrator is in the story. What is the effect of this? It seems we are given a first-person narrator who is depersonalized for the reader. There is still a sense of distance between the reader and the protagonist. This might impact on how we understand the narrator. We might see the narrator as representing those views that are marginalized and that are not given any authority in South Africa. For example, prisoner, unemployed, homeless, artist could all be seen as marginalized identities. Looking at the changes in narrative voice could be significant in this question. The narrator becomes much more cynical as the novel evolves, and the sense of hope, wonder and freedom that we sense in the early chapters seems to disappear from the narrative. This could show us a change in the optimism of the struggle for freedom in South Africa to the postapartheid malaise, and how many identities are still marginalized and disenfranchised in the country. There might be a lot that you could unpack about how allegorical the novel is, and how it tells of disillusionment with changes in the country. Please try to unpack these three questions for yourself and see if you can respond here with some ideas, and I will comment on these.