How Does Peekay Show Courage

“First with the head then with the heart, that’s how a man stays ahead from the start” (Hoppie Groenewald). Peekay had taken a train to Gravelotte, South Africa and had met Hoppie Groenewald, the train guard. Hoppie had watched over Peekay during the ride and had told him about being the “champion of the railways” (Courtenay 66). With this, Groenewald had opened up the idea of boxing to Peekay and soon enough, becoming the Welterweight Champion of South Africa was Peekay’s goal. Ever since Hoppie had first expressed the words, “First with the head then with the heart” to Peekay, he has used them as motivation to achieve his aspirations. The advice given to Peekay from Hoppie is the most important lesson Peekay has been taught and has significantly
Peekay was seventeen when he had his last boxing match against the Judge. In the past, the Judge was cruel to Peekay and treated him unfairly. “The Judge encouraged new insults and torture. I was blindfolded and tied to the truck of a jacaranda tree with rope around my chest and waist, leaving my arms and legs free because two of the main tortures required my hands to be free. Most tortures began with an iron bar, which was known as ‘‘Chinese Torture”” (43 and 45). He was unable to fight back due to his young age and small figure which made him vulnerable and unable to protect himself from further torture. “He had a beer gut, but with years of working on a farm, he had built up his bulk and was at the height of his physical strength. But looking at him, I (Peekay) knew his condition was poor” (511). During the match, Peekay had been knocked to all fours, and with the anger that he had from the past, he heard Hoppie’s words, “‘First with the head then with the heart.’ It was Hoppie’s voice I heard in my head and it had totally controlled my thoughts.” In other words, Peekay’s hate for the Judge had grown over the years. When Peekay was younger, the Judge was able to take control over whatever situations arose between them. Now that he is older and wiser, Peekay has learned from Hoppie’s words that he can now stand up for himself and do
Previously in the book, Peekay and Doc went hiking and found a crystal cave. “To lie on this altar and in a hundred and fifty years maybe the body would be a part of this cave. A part of the crystal cave of Africa. Imagine only this Peekay” (394). The thought of Doc dying seemed incomprehensible to Peekay. “I still need you here” he exclaimed (394). After Peekay’s fight against his opponent, Mandoma, he found out that Doc had passed away. By following Hoppie’s advice, “First with the head then with the heart,” Peekay was able to figure out where Doc had died. At first, Peekay had his doubts about Doc’s whereabouts when he hiked to the crystal cave to find him. “I searched for half an hour and didn’t see anything” (440). Also on page 440, Courtenay states that “Doc might have intended to leave me (Peekay) a message.” Based on the evidence provided, Peekay used his head to think and strategize on where Doc might have died. “And then I saw it. I ran my hand over the stained rock and received a sharp prick. Sticking out of the middle of the dark patch was the point of the blade of Doc’s Joseph Rogers pocket-knife. Around its handle, tied with cotton thread, was a note.” Additionally, he then used his heart to hike to the crystal cave and find the note Doc had written to him before he passed away. (what should I say for the