"Ways of Dying"

Paper Summary:

Set in South Africa, Zake Mda's famous novel "Ways of Dying" could in many ways be "Ways of Living". It is a novel written after the first free elections, which depicts apartheid and post apartheid horrors. This paper attempts to look critically at the above assertion taking into account the excessive poverty and brutality of the times during which the book was written.

From the Paper:

"It is during this time in South African history that we find our two central characters Toloki and Noria. Toloki, a professional mourner, lives the life of a socially isolated and Spartan-like hobo. Noria, who is Toloki's homegirl, and was known to him as 'that stuck-up bitch' (24), is his link to his rural past. Noria quickly becomes his soul mate and muse. They both have come from the countryside to live in the city, 'to search for love and fortune' (60). Separately they initially find their own misfortune and extreme poverty before they find each other. The tragedies in their lives are all related to death and dying. Noria's first son Vutha is brutally savaged by dogs, her second son Vutha is necklaced. Toloki's connection with death is somewhat different."

More papers on "Ways of Dying":

• Book Review # 147313 : "Myra Bluebond-Langner's, "The Private Worlds of Dying Children"
• Analytical Essay # 7407 : "Death and Dying as a Literary Device"
• Analytical Essay # 42515 : "As I Lay Dying"

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