Analyse af 'Dukwane's Deliverance'

We have all tried feeling different and it’s not always a nice feeling, but sometimes being different means that you are able to do things others cannot. And that could even be to achieve your dreams or goals in life. Even though your social environment is causing you trouble, but maybe this feeling of being different can mean that you are able to find your way in life and overcome obstacles that you couldn’t otherwise. In the short story “Dukwane’s deliverance” written by Neil Ramsorrum, we are introduced to the bright young teen Dukwane who seems to be at his life’s peak, as he has just been accepted to King’s college. Dukwane’s is very happy, until he randomly runs into trouble and ends up being stabbed, which is going to have huge consequences for him.

The protagonist Dukwane, a black teenager living in a seemingly poor neighborhood, as Dukwane has to works six shifts a week in a fast food restaurant. It also seems to be a crime-ridden area, “Be careful you don’t go by the canal, it’ll be dark soon” since Dukwane’s mother tells him to be careful as he walks past certain places when it is dark. Dukwane also seems to be having a bad relationship to his, who is fat and sitting in front of the TV all day, with no ambitions. “his father sat there, his bottom shirt button open and exposing his belly overhanging his trousers, he felt a sense of sadness, but also a determination to be more”. Dukwane is dissociating from his father, by his determination to be more. He is empowered by how unsuccessful and unpleasant his father is, but also by his father’s disbelief in him “listen son, it’s not the end of the world if you don’t get in”. Dukwane’s father almost seems threatened by him, and this is strengthening Dukwane as he pushes for success. Dukwane is very different from the people he is associating with, he is very intelligent as he is accepted to Kings college university and kind-hearted as he instinctively jumps between a knife and a young kid “instinctively he places his body between the kid and his pursuers”. This shows us how brave Dukwane is, and how he by instinct acts very heroic. This difference from his environment is also, what makes him strive for a better and more successful life. Even though Dukwane is very happy and excited to be attending to King’s college, he can’t help but being worried not to fit in. This he discusses with friend Jermaine, Jermaine only strengthens these worries by telling him rumors about the rich over at universities like Kings college “Well, they’re all loaded, and white, I heard you get the cane from your teachers if you don’t do your work. And the older guys are gay and make the younger ones do weird shit”. This indicates a war between the two very different social classes, prejudices like strengthens that war between the two classes. The reason for Dukwane not to believe in these rumors is because he is so positive. This takes a turn when he is told that he can’t walk and has to be using a wheelchair, when he hears this he stats considering whether he should attend to King’s or not, not just that but he also briefly considers to take revenge over the guys who stabbed him. This tells us how he almost is adopted into this harsh environment, adopted by hatred to the people that did him wrong.