Jonas and Lucky Mbulu

Outer characterization

Jonas and Lucky Mbulu are important characters of the short story “We gotta number there” by Rayda Jacobs.

Jonas's outer characterization reveals that he is a poor black South African man (l. 2) in his thirties (l. 40). He is married to Lucky Mbulu, and they have a daughter named Shona (l.12). Jonas used to work as a gardener and as a driver (ll. 45-48), and he wears “clean clothes” (l. 39) when he looks for a job. Lucky Mbulu is described through Richard’s eyes as a “slim, young woman” (l. 40). She used to work “for a madam in Sea Point” (ll. 34-35) and works hard just like her husband. Her new job in the Cooks’ house is probably that of a housekeeper or maid and includes cleaning the house, cooking, and tending to Richard Cook’s shirts.

Jonas and Lucky live in the Imizamo Yethu village in South Africa, a place to which they are greatly attached, despite the difficult living conditions it offers its residents.

Inner characterization

Jonas and Lucky share several personality traits. At the same time, much of their inner characterization is revealed through t...