Peekay+character+development

**Chapter 3 & 4** Already from the initial chapters we witness significant transformations Peekay is undergoing. Peekay is still a shy five-year old (now six-year old) boy who at times out of ignorance or need to survive the potential punishments willingly respond to the insulting orders of the Judge: “‘What is your mother, Pisskop?’ ‘A whore, sir!’ I had no idea what a whore was, but I knew it was the answer he wanted.” (p. 52). As you can see, despite the severe harassment and isolation Peekay suffers, he is not an out-spoken rebel, but of course there are times of exception - when the Judge and his stormtroopers kill Grandpa Chook, Peekay for the first time openly fights back the Judge: “Slowly I looked up a the giant with his foot resting on my shoulder. High above him I could see a milky, moon hanging in the afternoon sky. We had got so close to making it through to the end, just a few more hours. I spat at him, ‘You’re a dog shit! Your ma is a whore!’ He pushed violently downwards with his foot, sending me sprawling.” (p. 59) Another great and perhaps important characteristic of Peekay is the fact that he never spares his tear for his enemies, but for his loved ones. And this of course is what gets the Judge the most - he can never make Peekay cry.

Another intriguing thing about Peekay - his maturity. He is the kind of character that makes me go back and search through the pages to double check his age. The things Peekay say and think are so deep and insightful that sometimes it’s doubtful that the words are coming from a five-year old. Here are some example passages:

“Far below I could see that ten stones wet and glistening and the white water as it crashed through the narrow gorge beyond. I knew then that the person on the outside was only a shell, a presence to be seen and provoked. Inside was the real me, where my tears joined the tears of all the sad people to form the three waterfalls in the night country.” (p. 54)

“‘Peekay,’ I said tentatively. I pronounced it in English, the way Harry Crown had, so it sounded like a proper name. I suddenly felt new and clean. Nobody ever again would know that I had been called Pisskop. The first two South African casualties in the Second World War.” (p. 76)

Also from these passages we see Peekay going through metamorphosis. He is re-establishing his identity, and through it he’s gaining more confidence. Peekay now must get over the fear that him being an English is going to damage his relationships with friends such as Hoppie.

In chapter 4, arguably the most important factor is introduced to Peekay’s life - the equalisers. The equalisers or the boxing gloves will be tools that Peekay use to “equalize” the racial discrimination in South Africa and perhaps, place himself as an equal of an Afrikaner (who obviously hate Englishmen).