Death of a Tsotsi

Death of a Tsotsi

Understanding the story (P.125):

3. The hints that the story gives us about the living conditions of black people in the city that Spike went back to after his dismissal from the reformatory were mostly revolving around racism. The story takes place in a village where people of white race and people of black race disagree with the one and the other for no reason. They are disgusted by each other and have no mutual respect. If a black man was seen with a white man, he was directly known as a traitor, whatever his reason was, and vice versa. They were divided and nothing could bring them together.

Understanding the characters (P.126):

2.
a. I think that Walter's remark about Spike's being "reformed" was viewed as an insult because Spike still was not accepting the fact that he changed for the better and wasn't a trouble maker like them anymore. What Walter meant was that Spike wasn't part of them [the gang] anymore because he improved his conduct and was not ready to sacrifice his life again to be a Tsotsi.

b. I think what the principal meant by saying that Spike was "going forward to being a man" was that he was adopting a better way of life. He was improving the way he used to act and was putting an end to the errors he made by correcting them with enhanced circumstances.

5. I think that Walter is a good kid at heart and the only reason he acted this way was because he was a black man and could not agree or be associated with a white man (the principal). From my point of view, he felt sad for the death of Spike but at the same time he did not care because Spike got associated with the principal, who was white. There is so much hatred in Walter's heart and he grew up with racism around him that he felt disgusted by the principal and knew that nothing, but nothing, could make him bound with him. He also knew that he could not feel any sorrow for Spike anymore because he joined the principal and they were all so different.

Understanding the theme (P.127):

1. In my opinion, the killing of Spike was the result of a private gang quarrel but nothing more. I think that the gang had a disagreement because Spike was the brains of the gang, and he did not want to go back with them to help them with their criminal acts, once he’s free, so they wanted revenge, and decided to kill him. Also, once you’re in there [street gang], there's only one way out and it is through death. There are many proofs affirming my statements:
“They are planning trouble for me, meneer.” P.119
“And they won’t allow Spike to leave the gang?” P.121
“[…] the reason why they don’t want to let Spike go is because he has he brains and the courage. […] But off the job he’s nobody. […]” P.121

2. I can’t answer this question because I said that the killing of Spike was the result of a private gang quarrel and not something bigger.

4. The events and problems that occurred in this story have zero connection with the events and problems that occur here, in Canada. Canada is a much safer country that South Africa because it’s a peace country that does not start war. Also, we have tough gun laws, the police forces have stepped up on gangs, we have strict criminal laws, and more. On the other hand, South Africa is ranked as one of the top country for homicide. Its issue of crime is pretty complex and its laws are not threatening and solid enough.

For composition (P.128):

4. I do think that prejudice and discrimination can lead to crimes but the reason why people commit crimes has been viewed from different other perspectives. At some point, those prejudices and the discrimination easily bring hatred and disgust in people's heart. When they won't be able to keep all that anger in them anymore, they will release it on anyone. All of that will lead to violence, which will lead to crime at the end. Also, some of them will turn to crime because they won't know how to handle the situation so they will commit crime to fill that unknown solution, out of frustration.
Ashes for the wind

1. The central conflict in this story is the shady government who is ordering Juan’s family to move out of their own place or else they’ll burn it down. The story revealed the Martinez family’s motivation by showing that they won’t back down from a fight. They want fairness and won’t be pushed around by authorities. Finally, I think that Arevalo’s motivation was very hypocrite towards his old friend Juan. He agreed to help the policeman because he was scared of losing his life but he killed a once-beloved friend.

2. In my opinion, Juan Martinez was more of a hero than a fool because during the whole story, he was standing for what he believes in. It wasn’t a smart idea to stay inside the burning house still; it does not make him a fool. After all, he lost his life. He struggled to find an answer because he knew that either way he had to sacrifice something: his and his family’s lives or the house. He knew that without the house, they would not survive. In my eyes, he was only a father who was defending his rights against social injustice.

3. There was wrong done during the story it’s just that everyone did what the government ordered them to do. Arevalo and the law burning the house down as asked, if Juan and his family did not leave in time. And Juan decided to sacrifice his and his family’s lives instead of getting evicted and having to live with no roof above their heads because they weren’t getting enough money to pay their rent.

4.
a. Juan's continued reference to Arevalo as the "son of Simon Arevalo" was because he still considering as a kid or a childish man because he wasn’t able to make his own decision and was constantly licking the government's arse.

b. This following detail shows how Arevalo was being a "pussy". Because he and Juan were friends back in the days, he did not have the guts to look at him straight in the eyes because he was ashamed of himself, backing up the government.

c. The references to nature during Arevalo's first visit were made to make us understand how everything [the house, the yard, etc.] was pretty and was picture-perfect, before they burn everything down. It was for us to resent how Juan and his family were attached to this house and that they'll fight for it until the end.

d. The whips carried by the policemen show how the government is trying so hard to be violent and to act tough because without their whips, they would be weak.

e. The final reference to oil makes us understand that nothing changes in the story, even after Juan and his family's death because the government was killing anyone that rebelled against them and most people were too afraid of doing something because they did not want to die.

5. They used many statements letting us foresee that Juan and his family will eventually die. Here are some examples:
a. "He said if we weren't gone by the end of the week they'd come and put us out.” “They'll have to kill us,” Carmen answered.
b. “It would be the best for you to clear out.’’
c. “You’ve had fair warning. Clear out and clear out fast.”