Journey to Adulthood (Bildungsroman)
In a bildungsroman, the protagonist reaches maturity by going through the following four stages: 1) They experience the loss of
something significant and 2) then embark on a journey in response to that loss to resolve the issue. 3) On their journey, they face
experiences and make decisions that cause conflict with themselves and the people around them. 4) But as their journey progresses,
the protagonist matures after learning a lot about life and themselves in the process.
Patson
Patson starts
to lead the
gwejana.
Kamba as
Patson for
protection
Patson sells
girazi:
Grace - St
Cyprians,
Apartment in
Seapoint,
Prosthetic
Bulawayo
Journey to the
mines
Patson's response to the
story of the man who
discovered the first
diamond
Financially
independent & loyal
to Boubacar and
The Baron
"How did you get
here, Patson" full circle
moment
Arrival at mines
Welcomed into the
'company of men' with
Joseph & Boubacar
"Write your way into
another life"
Negotiations with The
Baron
Comforts and
protects Grace:
Baba is alive
"Write your way into
another life"
The way Patson
now relates to
Boubacar
After crossing over to SA
Patson rethinks his father's
warning about the man who
found the 1st diamond in
Marange
"Now with the girazi I
found we wouldn't
have to stay there
much longer"
Sense of responsibility:
I was elated with every stride that
took me away from the mine. I had
managed to escape. With my
diamonds. I'd fetch Grace. We'd be
free.
Boubacar to Pason
at the hill:
"stop behaving like
a boy'
Journey to Adulthood (Bildungsroman)
In a bildungsroman, the protagonist reaches maturity by going through the following four stages: 1) They experience the loss of
something significant and 2) then embark on a journey in response to that loss to resolve the issue. 3) On their journey, they face
experiences and make decisions that cause conflict with themselves and the people around them. 4) But as their journey progresses,
the protagonist matures after learning a lot about life and themselves in the process.
Overcoming Challenges
Joseph:
Financial
Crossing the
border:
Patson has 'no
passport, no
papers of any kind'
Patson:
climbing the hill without
crutches
Boubacar: Journey
to Marange
Nurse Godi:
"Not today young
man. Today you go by
yourself" - Patson's
'meltdown'
Patson:
Mental challenge
of overcoming
negative way he
things about his
disability
Patson:
Mother's death
Joseph: mines
Journaling in
hospital: Writing
kept away the
gloom that
threatened to
decent upon me.
Soccer:
what would Arves do? &
Making a save
Patson: response to
mining
Patson climbs Table
Mountain
" I was determined not
to let my leg be the
focus of our day'
Arves:
HIV & Dairy Den
Boubacar: "Grace rescued herself"
but "that sparkle I took for granted is
now gone and at night she has
nightmares"
Boubacar: "she will need time to
accept what she has lost"
The role of Love
Grace's response to life
on the mines: makes
dinner for the family
Patson's
mother's spirit
guides him
The stories Joseph told
Patson as warnings:
1) 1st diamond in Marange
2) Mai wanting a partner
(fable)
Loss of Boubacar's family and the
influence it has on his relationship with
Patson & Grace
(See character sketch in lesson 2)
Patson protects &
comforts Grace:
Baba is alive
Patson & Boubacar go
to SA to find Grace
New Family:
Patson, Grace &
Boubacar
Patson risks his
life for Arves gets medication
The Dream Stone &
Patson's shavi
Corruption and Greed
Government
Police Officer
Banda Mining
Syndicate
Soldiers
James Banda & Arves
Ghuma-Ghuma
at border
crossing & the
pursuing
Commander
Jesus
Commander Jesus:
'There will be no more
illegal mining in
Marange. There will be
no more stealing from
President Mugabe'.
Sergeant Brandt &
Corporal Mashau
R10 000
Plainclothes officers
CIO
Meikles
Dept. Store
"The soldiers are coming"
Loss
Joseph:
Financial
Boubacar:
Journey to
Marange
Grace:
Meaning of her name and the
way she deals with loss in her
life
(See character sketch in
lesson 4)
Related to 'overcoming
challenges' theme
Patson:
Mother's death
Loss of "wholeness" Stumpy
"This is not happening to me! I
am a normal boy"
Loss of
Boubacar's
family
Moyo's move to
tobacco shed
Joseph's
shattered
glasses
Patson:
Joseph is dead
Chipo & Kamba escape
Arves's health is
declining
Lies & Deceit vs The Truth
"Diamonds for
everyone"
James Banda:
Moyo's in tobacco
shed
Sheena's family is
moving to Marange due
to Patson's texts - must
tell her the truth
Patson to
Grace:
Baba is alive
The way James Banda
misrepresented
Boubacar
Patson & Sheena
Chipo is a girl!
Gwejana: selling
the ngodas
(Patson & Sheena)
Patson's girazi
Gwejana's
ngodas
'a mine is just a hole
in the ground with a
fool at the bottom
and a liar at the top'
The Role of Violence
Soldiers:
Mazezuru
Miners
James Banda:
Musi & Xaba
James Banda:
Jamu
Landmine:
'I said you can go,' insisted
Commander Jesus. 'Go, the same
way you went last night.'
Army takes over the
mines: Helicopters fire
at miners. Soldiers &
dogs.
How soldiers
treat women on
the mines
Commander
Jesus: tortures
a group of
miners & mass
grave