The Power of One: Analysis of Peekay

The role of One analytic thinking of PeekayIn Pursuit of a Dog PileIntroductionThe Power of One is about the career of a boy named Peekay who overcame his raspy and lower-ranking antecedents and afterwards achieved his dreams of becoming a professional boxer. Peekay is a simple fair English in the south African who grew up in South Africa during hu firearm race War II and the beginning of the Apartheid era. He is an extremely careable and qualified young man who represends many qualities of generosity and unselfishness. Moreover, Peekays generosity and care for others leads him to square off shipway of helping black prisoners write and receive letters as hearty as thatched roofing them to box. Because of Peekays sense of humor and his ability to criticize himself, we, the reader, are able to identify ourselves closely with him on extraordinary levels. Although we command his generous and unique background end-to-end this early childhood and later adulthood, he did non grow up with more of a family. His make was very much unnoticeable in his life as she constantly had spooky breakd give births which resulted in her absence when he was just five years old. His nursemaid Zulu, on the other hand, was the woman to whom Peekay prayed and want to obtain advice. His grandpa, although being a grumpy racist, helps Peekay convince his mother to altogetherow the teaching of black inmates to box. In the end, Peekays childhood and acquaintances had an ex ten dollar billsive impact on Peekay that not totally if modify him into the man he dreamed of becoming, plainly also into the man he became.Through Peekays life struggles and honorable victories, the reader understands that it is not what we accomplish that makes us great(p) it is the journey and the limits we assay to switch to achieve our goals that defines us as true(a) champions.BullyingAs a child, Peekay was direct away to Afrikaans embarkment school where he was constantly bullied an d hazed for being a young discolour Englishman. The Judge, an Afrikaans boy who solely diminishes Peekay throughout the novel, along with the instrument panel, tease him for outflow his bed The pissing upon me by the Judge and the jury had them rocking and moaning and coincideing their pose to their ears. Such an indignity was surely beyond even the white manIn the sudden way of Africa it was dark now (12). On a to a greater extent personal level, the Judge convinces him that Hitler is on a mission to kill all Englishmen, cod over England, and throw them into the sea Adolf Hitler is the king of Germany and God has sent him to take South Africa back from the English and give it to us. He jabbed at the swastika on his ramp up. This is his sign . . . the swastika (31). The hazing con sternues as the Judge and his jury interrogate Peekay about the origin of his name and pull vote out his boxershorts in the process I stepped forward to stand directly in forward of where he sa t cross-legged on his bed. The Judges arm came up and my hand flew up to protect my face, effortfully instead of smash me he pulled at the cord of my pajama pants, which collapsed round my ankles (37). Furtherto a greater extent, during his operate day comfortables of his commencement year at boarding school, Peekay is coerce to eat human faeces and although as a young boy this traumatizes him, this unthinkable act embeds use up and de depotination into his fragile summation.The torture continues when Peekay discovers that diseases are present on a nearby chicken farm where his grandpa and mother are living. later being categorized as a prisoner of war, Peekay was afflicted Chinese torture I was required to hold the bar out in front of me while he timed each session, so that I would have to hold the bar up longer than the previous time beforehand dropping it (43). later on Chinese torture, Peekay was used as guess practice for troopers, Nazis, and any other personnel who wanted to enhance their skills For dead reckoning practice I was required to stretch my arms out on either side of me with my palms open and turned upward. An empty jam tin was placed on either hand, and each of the storm troopers was allowed two fractures to get wind to knock the tins down (43). However, he is able to overcome his problems and gain a spirit called, The Power of One, and is eventually given boxing lessons at a prison as he gets one step closer to this childhood dreams.Bullying has many effects on people that often go unrecognized and more literally, unnoticed. For Peekay, the fact he was bullied was a gift for tripletsome simple reasons. First, because of the Judges harsh humor toward his bed wetting issue, Peekay was recovered of this problem by his Nanny Zulu. More importantly, he received a unique spirit and unrivaled object that led him on a path to success throughout his life. Second, he was given the drive and heart he needed to become a boxer as h e learned that it is our variances that make us strong and talents that define who we are. Third, not only was his personality changed for the better, however also his mindset was astonishingly altered as he began to believe in himself which allowed him to chase and accomplish his dreams.Role of Apartheid and camo in Peekays LifeThroughout the novel, a theme that takes shape is the military force of Apartheid and what affect it last has on Peekay. Apartheid, in South Africa, is the system of sequestration and discrimination of specific races. The birth of Apartheid began with the 1913 Land Act which marked the beginning of territorial segregation by forcing black Africans to live in spick-and-span places and made it illegal for them to perform any winsome of work around their homes. Later, the Great Depression and World War II brought a waste of economic difficulties to South Africa which not only put them in debt, only also convinced the government to increase their polic ies of racial segregation. A hardly a(prenominal) decades passed and after the election of the Afrikaner National Party, whites were separated from whites and non-whites were separated from non-whites. However, cross-racial marriages and versed relations were banned. Following a series of new land acts, more than eighty percent of land was marked to white control and closed-door facilities were built for each race.There were many oppositions to Apartheid which took form immediately in South Africa as riots, protests, and non- fiery actions constantly broke out. Police open fired on a group of Africans where about eighty seven were killed and tight two hundred wounded. When Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, international attention was brought to the controversy and as a result, in 1973, Apartheid was abolished. However, the United States and United Kingdom provided economic sanctions on South Africa. In The Power of One, Apartheid is a symbol of both fear and confusion. Peekay is unconnected as a young boy when he let ons topical anesthetic signs that say, Blacks only, as he is unable to understand the difference his elders see Half a dozen Africans were asleep at the far end of the verandah, where there was a second entrance to the shop. Above this entrance was written BLACKS ONLY. I wondered before long why whites were not allowed to enter (55). Furthermore, as Peekay grows up, he fears that Apartheid is becoming fleck and ordinary for his country and people thus he seeks to find change.As a feeble young five year old, in articulate to endure boarding school, Peekay developed the classic technique of camouflage where he would blend in. Not only was camouflage important for his survival at school, but also it was a necessity to ensure his survival of life. He learns that it is extremely dangerous to stand out and that hiding in the shadows is the outmatch form of camouflage. This is how he survives prison, boarding school, and the Apartheid era. At on e point, Peekay loses himself and forgets his camouflage I tried to cover my face but my arms refused to life from my lap. verbal expression what happens when you forget your camouflage, (33). Moreover, it was extremely important for Peekay to always be aware of the office staff and who was around him because he never knew what the next few transactions could hold. ophidian SymbolThroughout segregation and discrimination, the symbol of a snake beings to take place in the novel. At boarding school, Peekay was hazed for having a circumcised penis and often brought to shame because of it. Later in the novel, however, the symbol of the snake shedding its bark is used to show when Peekay goes home after each term of school, he is coming into his true self and accepting who he is as a person Going home at the end of each term was like sloughing a skin. The joy of a small townspeople lies in its unchanging natureI liked the belief of nada ever changing in Barberton, it gave me a sens e of belonging (379). Following, when Peekay goes to blend in to Doc, a hometown best friend, he sees a black mamba which is suggesting danger and forewarns his afterlife Then the period of the black mamba rose above the edge of the ledge two feet from where I sat. Its flat anthracite head froze inches above the shelfThe snake could only have come out of the cave. Doc has sent me a sign. I knew what I was required to do (473). Peekay describes the nature of a black mamba snake as it is the most deadly snake in the world. If its partner is killed, the second snake will often wait for the orca to return in set out to take revenge.RevengeAn important irresolution that comes up in the novel is, Is revenge everything? Toward the end of the novel, Peekay fights his childhood nemesis, the Judge, and after beating him gruesomely, he carves his initials over the Judges swastika tattoo The blood, before it scratched to run down Bothas arm, made a perfect Union Jack. crosswise the jag ged blue lines of the swastika the mamba-driven blade cut PK. Then followed the stroke of poison (512). The poison traveled throughout the Judges body and ultimately killed him. Thus, we are left hand with the idea of revenge and the question, Is violent revenge of medieval experiences ultimately the answer to a rough and bitter childhood? In Peekays mind, the answer was simply yes I matte clean, all of the bone-beaked loneliness birds banished, their approximate nests turned to river stones. Cool, clear water bubbled over them, streams in the desert (513). Peekay felt cleansed as he diminished a once childhood fear. But, do we see a different side of Peekay? Is there a violent and uncharacteristically violent Peekay we have not been introduced to? Or, is this type of act righteous and righteous?There are many instances of revenge that have occurred throughout my life as a young adult. It was the start of my annual travel soccer season and the police squad had one goal in min d-beat Marlboro Gold. conk season, we lost in the title to Marlboro Gold who had won the agnomen for the last five years. Everybody despised them not only because they were practically impossible to beat, but also because they lacked sportsmanship and respectful fans as the parents were constantly rude and ejected to the nearby place lots. In preparation for our challenge, we trained hard and long every day commencement two months before the season. However, first we had to win our group title in order to advance and play Marlboro in the playoffs. With little doubt, we dismantled every team in the surrounding area and we were playoff bound. After cruising by the quarter-finals and the semi-finals with ease, it was time for the ultimate test.The whistle sounded and the championship halt began. Five proceedings into the game, breakaway, goal Marlboro scored quite easily and took a strong 1-0 lead. Another ten minutes and another goal was scored my Marlboro and my teammates beg an losing hope. They bowed their heads, lowered their shoulders and became limp and life-less. For a second, I thought it was over and our dream of winning a championship was destroyed. It seemed like an eternity, but finally it was half-time. After dousing ourselves with water and an ambitious half-time speech by our coach, the second half began. Five minutes went by, then ten minutes, then fifteen, and all of a sudden, there were only a few minutes left in the game. Our captain steal the ball, dribbled down the field, took a long go and scored Suddenly we had life The game began again, we regained possession and with quick combination play I was on a breakaway and another goal We had scored two goals in only three minutes and now we awaited overtime, a first goal wins format. I had never been more nervous in my life when overtime began. After constant chances for both teams, we had our opportunity.We had a fast break down the pursuance and a cross in on goal. As the ball float ed, for what seemed like forever, I adjusted my body and put myself in position to head the ball into the internet. And after a blink, the ball landed in the net and we won the championship. Upon the crying of sore-losing nine year olds, I was immediately domestic dog piled in the middle of the field. I share this story not to typify one of my favorite childhood soccer memories, but to prove that with hard work and effort, dreams can be accomplished just as Peekay carry out his ambition of becoming a boxer and obtaining revenge on a childhood bully.Creed RelationSimilar to Peekays story as well as mine, there exists extreme synergy between the fight and determination of Peekay and that of genus genus genus Adonis Johnson in the compelling movie, Creed. Creed is the story of a man named Adonis who is the son of an accomplished former heavy weight boxer, Apollo Creed, who is answer time in Los Angeles youth prison. Not knowing his mother, she bails him out and takes Adonis in for herself. As an adult, Adonis obtains a steady job at a security firm, but he walks away in order to pursue his dreams of becoming a professional boxer. His mother quickly opposes his idea as Apollo was killed in the ring and fears the same will happen to her son. Ultimately, the close is Adoniss and after being rejected from many different boxing academies, he travels to Philadelphia to connect with his fathers old friend and rival, Rocky Balboa.Adoniss journey to become a boxer is rough and unsettling and similar to Peekay, Adonis learns the hard life and restless task of becoming a professional boxer. Adonis travels to a local gym where the trainer is a family member who has shut him out of his life since early childhood. Adonis enters the ring, puts his Mustang up for wager, and challenges the number six ranked cleverness heavyweight boxer in the world. After a few seconds, Adonis knocks him out proving his worth. Next up is Danny Wheeler, the number two ranked escaped heav yweight boxer in the world, with a record of thirty-one wins and nought losses. Adonis is knocked out after laying a few hits. We see how an ego can get the best of someone and how important it is to be humble. Here is the signifying difference between Peekay and Adonis. However, at the end of the film, Adonis has to start his legacy as he challenges Ricky Conlan, the number one ranked light heavyweight boxer in the world. It is an extremely rough fight, and halfway through, Adoniss left eye is completely shut from taking a beating. His coach wants him to give up, but Adonis thinks otherwiseI gotta prove it.Prove what?That Im not a mistake.The final round begins with Adonis landing some shots of his own on Conlan. With ten seconds left, Adonis lands a hit so queenful, it sends the Conlan to the mat, but he rises to his feet after nine seconds of the ten second count. In the end, the decisions comes down to the judges where they declare Ricky Conlan the victor. Relating back to The Power of One, Peekay is clearly Adonis in the situation and uniquely, Ricky Conlan is the Judge. Conlan gave Adonis little respect throughout the film concern him a failure and incapable of becoming a boxer. The main difference between the two examples is Peekay ends victorious, while Adonis comes up short. However, both stories teach us that it is not the end result that is important it is the drive, determination, and heart you hold within yourself that makes you a true champion.ConclusionI learned much about who I am from reading The Power of One and furthermore, open ways in which I relate to Peekay I never thought possible. Although this may sound completely conceded, I found that like Peekay, I am also extremely talented and always find ways to achieve my goals. Also, my talents and accomplishments represent the kind of person I am and the kind of person I want to be. This led me to discover that it is our personalities that distinguish us, but our talents that define us. F urthermore, this reminds me of a time during my sophomore year that shaped me into the person I am today and the person I am imperial to beIt happened on a frigid ten-degree day in Mercersburg. I was the backup lacrosse goalie and looked forward for my chance to play in a varsity game. When there were thirty seconds left in the game and our starting goalie received a penalty, without hesitation, I threw down my over-sized football coat and jogged out to the net, my legs frozen from standing on the sideline. There was a shot after ten seconds that hit the post and rolled to the back corner of the field. Mercersburg retrieved the ball and maintained possession. With fifteen seconds remaining in the game, a shot was taken that bounced and hit me in the chest and landed in front of me. I immediately pounced on the ball to make sure Mercersburg could not scramble the cage, and after a few seconds, the whistle sounded, the game was over, and our team won. My teammates dog piled me for having stopped the goal that would have tied the game and forced overtime.In conclusion, Peekay taught me to always believe in yourself. It is important to always strive for your dreams, no matter the difficulty, and to never sell yourself short. Peekay learned in his life-from the rough bullying, Apartheid, and other struggles he experienced-that after hard work, he achieved his dreams and obtained his revenge. In Creed, Adonis trained his whole life to follow in his fathers footsteps and, although he cut short in the end, his heart was greater than other light heavyweight champions in the world and that is what truly made him unique. In my life, I sought revenge in the championship game against a rival soccer team. Also, I made two incredible saves in lacrosse that won the team the game. Most importantly, it is not what we accomplish that makes us great, it is the journey and the limits we strive to overcome to achieve our goals that defines us as champions-the pursuit of a dog p ile, the power of one.