QUESTION – Describe a key relationship between two or more characters or individuals in the text. Explain how this relationship helped you to understand Peekay.
In the novel, The Power of One written by Bryce Courtney, a key relationship which helped me to understand Peekay was the relationship between him and Doc. The Power of One follows an English-speaking South African boy named Peekay during World War 2 and the beginning of the apartheid era. It shows the struggles he faced daily because of his nationality and how he overcame them. Firstly, this relationship helped me to understand Peekay because Doc taught Peekay how to think logically and believe in magic. Logical thinking is what helped Peekay to understand everyone is equal no matter what race or religion they are. The final paragraph is about how Doc’s death affected Peekay.
Firstly, Doc taught Peekay to think logically and also to believe in magic. Doc is Peekay’s piano and biology teacher as well as his general life mentor and best friend. He teaches Peekay to have confidence in himself, a love for Africa and how to conquer his fears. One of the main things that Doc taught Peekay which has stuck with him throughout his life is that “The power of one is above all things the power to believe in yourself.” He also taught him how to analyse, observe and make inventories of a cacti which are all skills that have helped him majorly with his schooling. At around this same time of learning, Peekay also learns from Doc the need for magic and mystery to exist in the world. He teaches Peekay that it is mystery, not logic, that creates hope in the world. “As Doc had pointed out, mystery, not logic, is what gives us hope and keeps us believing in a force greater than our own insignificance.” The need for logic and magic has also taught Peekay about oppression. I believe that without the knowledge that Doc passed onto Peekay, he would not be where he is in his life today.
Secondly, the logical thinking that Doc taught Peekay leads to anti oppression. While visiting Doc in Barberton prison Peekay begins to see the racism developing around him. He does not agree with any of the ways that different races and religions are being treated and therefore decides that he will love and accept anyone no matter what. While at Sunday School Peekay questions the pastor and asks him – “If nobody is dirty and nobody works in heaven and black and white are equal, why can’t they live in the same place as us?” This quote shows that Peekay doesn’t ‘judge’ anyone purely on the colour of their skin. Peekay does not enjoy going to Sunday school however his mother expects him to attend it, which he refuses to do. Peekay and his mother make an agreement that instead of going to Sunday school him and Doc will distribute Gospel tracts to the prisoners. While doing this Peekay and Doc help the prisoners who are facing oppression by sneaking tobacco leaves and letters from their families into the prisoners with the Gospel tracts. I see this as a very kind thing of Peekay and Doc to do as it helped the prisoners a lot.
Lastly, Doc’s death had a very big impact on Peekay’s life because after Geel Piet’s death Doc was one of the only people that was always there to help and support Peekay. Following Doc’s death Peekay felt very alone and isolated and he stated that “It was as though he had lost his centre of gravity”. Doc’s death is the first and only death Peekay has experienced which is not brutal. He has always been very afraid of death, even if it is natural, which is why he finds Doc’s death so tough. Peekay describes the relationship and the love him and Doc have for each other as “So fierce that it burned like a flame inside us”. When Peekay is first told about Doc’s death he refuses to believe it because he doesn’t want to face the reality of it. Doc decided to take himself to the crystal caves of Africa to die which is a spot he and Peekay discovered together. I see this decision of Doc’s as a very good one as it is demonstrating his worship to Africa and it is a great example of the independent spirit he taught Peekay to have.
Throughout the novel, The Power of One, Bryce Courtney has shown in many ways how the key relationship between Doc and Peekay has helped the reader to understand the novel. He has shown this throughout the text when Doc teaches Peekay to think logically which leads to anti-oppression and finally how Doc’s death affected Peekay.
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