Perspectives

For this part of the study guide, we will gi…

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Current issues

“Dukwane's Deliverance” is a story about overcoming adversities and pursuing one’s dreams. Because the story is set in modern London, it touches upon various social issues: street violence and youth gangs, poverty and discrimination, and disability. The story explores the lives of people who are part of the lower classes of society. It illustrates how black people still feel they are a marginalised gro…

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Literary period

Published in 2010, the short story belongs to the literary period we call Postmodernism, a period whi…

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Works with the same theme

In order for you to see how the theme of following one’s dreams is explored by other authors, we encourage you to also read stories like “The False Moon” by Shirley Golden,  “The Toilet” by Gcina Mhlophe, or “The Ladder” by Sheila Purdy.

“The False Moon” follows a teenage boy who wants to be a graffiti artist. The boy has a problematic relationship with his mother (who is an alcoholic) and her boyfriend. They would probably not understand the boy’s passion for graffiti, so he has to sneak out every night to do his art. During his escapades, he meets a girl who is also a graffiti artist and they begin to paint together.

“The Toilet” (Targets, p. 22) follows a young African woman who does not want to be like the other women she knows: a factory worker and a housewife. Overcoming the adversities of her family and preconceived ideas about African women being artists, the woman begins to write clandestinely, in a public toilet on her way to work.

“The Ladder” follows a woman who works as a cleaner for a company. The woman wants to climb the professional ladder but she does not trust herself enough. This is why when she gets the opportunity to show her bosses that she can do better, she misses out on the chance. Another colleague gets in front and gets all the credit. This episode teaches the woman to fight harder to achieve her dreams.…