Examine the ways that the author of 'Crackling day' explores the themes of fear, power and courage. What messages is the author trying to communicate to the reader through the characters' attitudes?
Crackling day is set in Africa, during the times of apartheid. Apartheid was a system introduced in 1948 to segregate the Black people from the Whites. Under this system, whites, blacks and coloureds were educated, and lived, separately. Apartheid is evident in Crackling Day in many places such as the trained dog and the young white boys randomly verbally abusing Lee and Andries.
"The young white man that served us did it in leisurely fashion"
As well as apartheid in 'Crackling Day', there are also tough living conditions evident for all the black people. They have to walk to get their daily meat every Wednesday in very cold weather and with little food. Aunt Liza works hard every day, her "Swollen hands" show this and all of the black people have hardly any clothes, if they do they have lots of very thin layers of shirts.
"The slits of the many thin cotton dresses she wore"
As a result of these facts, all the characters feel fear and need to show courage on a daily basis. Some examples of the difficult conditions which individual characters face are that Lee and Andries face the cold on their way to buy the crackling.
"Were helpless victims of the bitter cold"
Also they face hunger on the way to buy the crackling as well.
"Hunger was an enemy too, but one with whom we could come to terms with"
The fear of hunger also has a positive side too:
"It gave our moeroga a feast-like quality"
As well as these harsh conditions they also have to fear the wrath of the white people, the white people always had authority over the black people at this time.
"Before Sam could reach the door, it burst open. A tall, broad white man strode in"
They also fear the dog that had been trained to attack black people; this shows that the white people that had trained the dog had no concern for the black peoples' welfare.
Crackling day is set in Africa, during the times of apartheid. Apartheid was a system introduced in 1948 to segregate the Black people from the Whites. Under this system, whites, blacks and coloureds were educated, and lived, separately. Apartheid is evident in Crackling Day in many places such as the trained dog and the young white boys randomly verbally abusing Lee and Andries.
"The young white man that served us did it in leisurely fashion"
As well as apartheid in 'Crackling Day', there are also tough living conditions evident for all the black people. They have to walk to get their daily meat every Wednesday in very cold weather and with little food. Aunt Liza works hard every day, her "Swollen hands" show this and all of the black people have hardly any clothes, if they do they have lots of very thin layers of shirts.
"The slits of the many thin cotton dresses she wore"
As a result of these facts, all the characters feel fear and need to show courage on a daily basis. Some examples of the difficult conditions which individual characters face are that Lee and Andries face the cold on their way to buy the crackling.
"Were helpless victims of the bitter cold"
Also they face hunger on the way to buy the crackling as well.
"Hunger was an enemy too, but one with whom we could come to terms with"
The fear of hunger also has a positive side too:
"It gave our moeroga a feast-like quality"
As well as these harsh conditions they also have to fear the wrath of the white people, the white people always had authority over the black people at this time.
"Before Sam could reach the door, it burst open. A tall, broad white man strode in"
They also fear the dog that had been trained to attack black people; this shows that the white people that had trained the dog had no concern for the black peoples' welfare.
