Character relationships

Here you can read about Mandisa’s relationship with various characters in Mother to Mother by Sindiwe Magona and the way they develop over time. 

Mandisa and Mxolisi

Mandisa’s relationship with Mxolisi is a complicated one. On the one hand, Mandisa initially feels angry at Mxolisi and resentful of the way the child’s arrival disrupts her life and her plans for the future: “what turmoil the coming of this child had brought into my life. […] I was forced into being a wife, forever abandoning my dreams, hopes, aspirations. For ever” (p. 132). This shows that Mandisa blames Mxolisi for not being able to live her life as she had wished. The shaman Mandisa takes Mxolisi to when he stops speaking also reveals Mandisa’s grudge against her child: 

‘Mama,’ she said, her voice once more her own. ‘You must free this your son.’

I said I didn’t understand. 

‘You know what I’m talking about. Go home. Think about your child. Children are very sensitive. They know when we hate them.’ After a small pause she shook her head. ‘Perhaps, I use a word too strong… but resentment can be worse than hate.’ (p. 154)

At the same time, however, Mandisa sometimes thinks she loves Mxolisi the most out of all her children: 

Dear God, I pray, let my children be safe. Keep them all safe, all of them… but especially Mx...

Teksten herover er et uddrag fra webbogen. Kun medlemmer kan læse hele indholdet.

Få adgang til hele Webbogen.

Som medlem på Studienet.dk får du adgang til alt indhold.

Køb medlemskab nu

Allerede medlem? Log ind