Tsotsi Notes
The timeline below shows where the term Tsotsis appears in Kaffir Boy. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.year, Mathabane witnesses a murder. As he is walking home one afternoon, he sees six tsotsis chasing two unarmed men. At the sight of. Jun 01, 2020 Tsotsi, Butcher, Boston, and Die Aap head to Soekie’s house after the murder to have a few drinks. As they start drinking, they begin to talk about Boston getting sick and throwing up during the murder of Gumboot. Boston claims that the only reason he got sick and the others didn’t was because he has decency unlike the rest of them.
Character Analysis
Tsotsi Character Analysis
Our initial impression of Tsotsi would be that he is ruthless man who isolates himself emotionally. He doesn’t talk about his current state of mind, collaborative his thoughts with others or reminisce of his past. The only form of communication to others is when he commands his gang members to carry out a specific action. Tsotsi lives by three rules: 1- working in the moment, 2-never think about his past and 3- not tolerating any kind of questions. Regimenting himself so strictly enables him to only look out for his best self-interest, this is what brings Tsotsi to being the leader of his gang as he is the youngest in age out of the other thee members. Handpicking his victims for his next murder case is solely based upon his agitation level. The death of Gumboot was because of thee reason: he smiled too much and looked too happy, his tie reminded him of his own childhood and he had money. Gumboot was living a happy fulfilling life, one that isn’t seen in the township that he lives in. Tsotsi believes that by following these three principles is his sense of personal protection, by isolating himself from risks of learning about his pasts is the safest choice of living.
After targeting Morris, the man who had lost both of his legs Tsotsi has redeveloped a major emotion: compassion. After targeting Morris and stalking him Tsotsi is able to relate Morris to his old yellow dog as they have both lost their use of legs. This memory had triggered the sense of sympathy towards Morris, being how powerless and helpless he is. This emotion becomes summoned because through his childhood, he watched his father break his dogs back. However he was unable to help his dog out y his father’s rage and seeing eventually his dog dying had brought Tsotsi to be powerless with the desperate want to fix things. Having the same emotions towards Morris brings the first time ever Tsotsi has developed emotions towards anyone else. Ultimately through these emotions this also marks the first time Tsotsi decided not to kill his targeted victim. Showing that he is able to control himself over his impulses by making decisions over them. This is the start of his journey of gaining self-decency as he regains a sense of humanity and discovering more about his past.
In the flashback of his childhood of when he was ten years old -a time when David Madondo was all that existed-Tsotsi reveals his innocence. As a child, Tsotsi was very energetic, obedient and happy. He didn’t have anything to fear at this point, he was full of life and appreciating everything there was to offer. Tsotsi was very timid as well -never speaking out of term and always looking for his mother’s approval for answers-. He grew up in the township, having porridge for supper and sharing a single blanket with his mother for warmth: a typical family from poverty. Losing his mother to the police raid, having the disproval of his own grandmother then his built-up image of his father after killing his dog being shattered- he fled his house. Tsotsi took away the fact that you cannot put your trust in other people; you must be self-sufficient to make progression. After leaving his first gang, the river gang he learnt the basis of survival where, again you need to look after yourself first and foremost. He learnt that emotions are what weaken you as well, and becoming weak will make you more vulnerable to death. In order to survive he had to lock up his emotions and rely and trust only himself. This set the stage for current-day Tsotsi as he became so focused on survival, he detached himself from humanity; carrying no reason to live aside from surviving as long as possible.
Being directed by Boston, Tsotsi ended up in front of “The Church of Christ the Dreamer” in pursuit of finding answers for him. By looking for answers from God, Tsotsi is seeking guidance by an external source; he is breaking down his walls of isolation. Tsotsi has finally realized that he doesn’t just have to life on survival mode: he is able to embrace his life and live out who he actually is. “He [God] has got something to do with me,” Tsotsi is admitting to having a connection with God. Being connected to a higher power, he is surrendering his superiority of being the leader and knowing what to do and when. Tsotsi believes that through connecting to God he will be closer to discovering himself as a whole and will ultimately help him reclaim his former life.
In the end, we can conclude that Tsotsi has developed integrity. This is seen when he dives into the crumbling ruins to reach the hiding place of his baby. Just before running out the door, his final conversation with Miriam concludes to dropping his identity of being a “tsotsi” and reclaiming his former life as David Madondo. Knowing that he isn’t going to be coming back alive gives him the strength to admit the identity of how he wants to be remembered: self-sacrificing, morally just man. Tsotsi has been able to break out of his “isolated shell” when he sacrifices his life by crushing himself under the fallen ruins to go after the baby. Tsotsi has been able to connect the baby as him; by going back into the ruins to save the baby, he really is saving himself. Although Tsotsi is in a nineteen-year old boy, he is still mentally occupying a ten-year old brain. After revealing his body and seeing a smile pasted on his face shows that Tsotsi is satisfied with his sacrifice. He realized he found his destination of who he is, and has grown into who he was supposed to become.
Die Aap
Nicked from his long arms resembling an ape, Die Aap is one of the members in Tsotsi’s gang. He is a very intent listener rather than speaker. Die Aap doesn’t occupy any kind of a job, rather his life consists of drinking, gangs activities: obeying and conducting the orders from Tsotsi. He accepts the life he has, he doesn’t try to challenge Tsotsi’s authority or break free from his state of black oppression.
He resembles the stereotypical male black South African during the time of South Africans apartheid: no purpose for life, no goals or dreams.
Butcher
Butcher has the similar build as Tsotsi: lithe bone supply however he had unpredictable eyes and an unnerving lower lip. He was also a listener, however he became very agitated with long explanations or stories. He spoke very minimal, topping it off at a maximum of ten words. He is also apart of Tsotsi’s gang. He never question’s Tsotsi’s motives, rather he supports him and enforces what’s tolds.
Similar to Die Aap, he resembles the lifestyle of a black man in South Africa during their apartheid: jobless and caught up in drinking and participates in gang violence.
Miriam
Miriam is an eighteen-year old with a six month old baby, Simon; named after her husband. She is a civilian of the Johannesburg Township as she never acts out of line or goes against authority. However she was guilty on holding onto the hope that her husband will return home after eight months. She was afraid of facing reality, of resuming a life without him. She is connected to Tsotsi as she is the provider of milk for his baby.
Miriam had taught Tsotsi the unconditional love between a mother and their child. After coming to terms with herself that her husband will never come back, that he was robbed of his life by the police, she was able to teach Tsotsi that he has to let go of the past. She also became his rock or constant. Tstosi would come back to her for help, confess to her about his true identity, and to talk to. She was seen as a nurturer for his baby through bathing, feeding and ensuring that he was happy.
Morris
Morris is an elder man who had lost his legs from a mineshaft collapse; he uses his arms as his method of transportation. He is not afraid of others or living his life. Morris became a very self-reliant and self-dependable man, as he doesn’t have anyone else to lean against, only himself. Despite his inabilities he is very optimistic and is able to make the most out of his situation by appreciating the fact that he still is living. He is able to see and enjoy all the beautiful features to earth. Morris is also a wise man; he knows that he has reached the highest point in his life; all he can do is enjoy himself and be grateful for his life that he still has. He was a target of Tsotsi’s as he had planned on killing him as he found Morris to be a disgrace to society. Totsi had stalked and observed Morris and eventually had encountered him.
Confronting Morris, Tsotsi learned the raw willingness to living; and that there is more to life than was you can physically see. Morris showed Tsotsi how to appreciate the gifts given to just living on the earth. Unable to steal his life away from Morris, he became the first victim that Tsotsi has not murdered. Morris had also uncovered the childhood memory of Tsotsi’s crippled yellow dog as they both didn’t have useful legs. This memory had struck Tsotsi as he had realized that this was the “final reality” in life, which was held in the purest form. This marked the first time that Tsotsi had actually felt emotions (compassion) towards others. Allowing Morris to continue living, he became his first target that he has never killed. This also helped in showing Tsotsi that there are choices in life, life isn’t carved in stone you can always make changes.
Boston
Boston is very curious and knowledgeable, as he constantly seeks for answers and asks questions because he doesn’t accept what he was given. Known as being the smart one, Boston is always telling stories as well. However he is seen as the weakest link in Tsotsi’s gang by asking all the questions. Formerly, he had enrolled into university, however by raping a girl he got expelled. Boston did hold visions of his future. He had dreams of actually living his life. Unfortunately he too has become victimized into the apartheid stereotype as a black male by being jobless, constantly drinking alcohol and really having no purpose for life.
Boston’s questions helps to unlock Tsotsi’s past. After accusing Tsotsi of having no decency, Boston actually initiates the spark for Tsotsi’s unconscious pursuit of finding his true identity and bringing on s form of decency. Although Boston knows that it is too late to accomplish what he wants to do in the end, he encourages Tsotsi to embrace his new, changed self. Boston also helps guide Tsotsi in going to the church and finding God.
Isaiah
He was the church bell boy. Although being an older man, he is treating as a little boy by the white workers there. He is seen as being a “uncaring” and irresponsible as he doesn’t seek out the detail and perfection in his work. Isaiah was the one who had told Tsotsi about God and Jesus when he had stopped outside “The Church of Christ the Dreamer”, and answering al the questions asked by Tsotsi.
Isaiah symbolizes the role of Christianity: welcoming everybody and spreading God’s word. He also brings the education to Tsotsi that the former gang actions he had done –thefts, murders- re actually sins but they can always be forgiven. Isaiah juxtaposes the bible: Isaiah the prophet.
The Baby
Tsotsi had snatched the baby from his fleeing mother after hearing his cries inside a shoebox. The baby is a newborn infant and presented life’s form in being the most vulnerable and dependable. The baby ran into many near-death situations under Tsotsi’s care. This baby brought on accountability towards Tsotsi as he had to constantly change, feed and meet the baby’s demands. In the end, Tsotsi names the baby David, after himself.
The baby, in its purest state of life helped bring clarity to Tsotsi. He had uncovered flashbacks of his own childhood, experiencing this the first time he ended up one of his three rules: never ask question. The baby had initiated the curiosity inside of Tsotsi as he had become thirsty in needing the knowledge and answers in discovering his past. The baby’s ability in uncovering the past to Tsotsi helped form his identity and brought back his willingness to living life again. The baby acts as a catalyst towards Tsotsi’s self-discovery by unlicking his childhood, he can form his identity as a person. Ultimately we come to the understanding that Tsotsi is the baby,-although he is inside a nineteen-year old body, he only has knowledge of a ten year old-. In the end, he is not only saving the baby from dying, but he is also saving himself.
Tsotsi Notes Pdf
Chapter Summaries
Chapter 7:
Tsotsi has been stalking Morris. Seeing Morris move reminded Tsotsi of something; the yellow dog he had when he was younger. The dog and Morris both lost the use of their legs. Because of this realization Tsotsi has become more interested in talking to Morris. Tsotsi’s stalking of Morris led to something that Tsotsi has never felt before. Tsotsi felt sympathy for him. The two men finally came in contact. Morris thought that Tsotsi wanted his money, but when he laid the money on the sidewalk, Tsotsi just kicked it aside. Morris and Tsotsi have along conversation about how and why Morris lives. Tsotsi comes to understand that even though Morris is a cripple, he values life. Morris tells Tsotsi that mothers do love their children, something that didn’t believe. Tsotsi recognizes that he has choices and he chooses to let Morris live.
Chapter 8:
The condensed milk attracted ants. Tsotsi turns to the baby and finds that it is in terrible condition. Tsosti cleans it up and sees that the milk isn’t good any longer and he has to find some. The baby was desperate. Tsotsi goes to the water well and finds Miraim Ngidi. Tsotsi kidnaps her and threatens her that he will kill her child if she doesn’t come help. Miriam’s husband, Simon, left and never returned. Miriam cleans up the baby and feeds it.
Chapter 9:
Being with Morris has sparked a flashback to his childhood with his mother and grandmother. He remembers all the good times and how he always felt happiness and comfort at home. During the passport raid, Tsotsi’s mother was taken away. She always told Tsotsi what to do in dangerous situations. She promised she would be back, but never returned. Tsotsi hid in a hen coup when an intruder – Tsotsi’s father – came into the backyard and kicked his dog in anger. The dog lost the use of his back legs and later miscarries its puppies. Tsotsi remembers the name he was given as a child, David. This symbolizes the innocence he had as a child. Tsotsi was walking on the streets and was approached by a gang. They ask him a few questions and suggest that he goes back to the pipes by the river with them. Petah a member of the gang offered Tsotsi a place to sleep in his pipe. Petah said that in order to be a part of the gang he was going to have to commit an act of violence and Tsotsi. Tsotsi decided that violence was an act of the past. Tsotsi knew that violence was not worth it. He woke up one night and left the boys. After the raid, the boys had come together and Tsotsi had learnt one thing, to watch for the weakness of sympathy and compassion for others weaker than yourself.
Chapter 10:
Die Aap goes to Tsotsi’s place because he doesn’t have anywhere to go. Boston and Butcher are both gone. Tsotsi doesn’t really seem to care that die Aap doesn’t have a place to go; he tells Die Aap to leave. After Die Aap leaves Tsotsi holds the baby and realizes that the baby is him. The baby didn’t look like it was doing too good, but he really wanted it to stay alive. Miriam Ngidi came to feed the baby. Tsosti named the baby David and Miriam disagreed and said “Are you his father?” Miriam asks one thing of Tsotsi and that is if she could have the baby but Tsotsi says that the baby is his. Miriam leaves Tsotsi with some milk for the baby and after she leaves, Tsotsi hides the baby in the ruins and leaves wondering the whereabouts of Boston.
Chapter 11:
Tsotsi found Boston at a shebeen and carries him back to the ruins to his place. Since Tsotsi remembered some of his past, he wants redemption because he beat up Boston. Boston tells Tsotsi about his past. He was a pretty smart kid, went to university however didn’t have much luck with the girls. When Boston was in his final year of high school, he attempted to rape another student and as a result he was expelled. Boston became broke. He met a man named Johnboy Lethetwa. Tostsi and Johnboy forged signatures to make money. Tsotsi starts to ask questions about God to Boston and Boston notices a change in Tsotsi. Before Boston left, Tsotsi offered him some sour milk and bread.
Tsotsi Notes
Chapter 12:
Tsotsi Film Study Notes
Tsotsi goes to the church to seek redemption and forgiveness from God for all the sins he has committed. After, Tsotsi returns to the ruins where Miriam is feeding the baby. When Miriam tells Tsotsi that her milk is sour, she means that her life, heart and life is sour without her husband. Tsotsi understands that you have to leave the past and look to the future. Tsotsi comes to realize that mothers do really love their children. Tsotsi announces that his name is David Madondo. Tsotsi left the baby in the ruins and he hears bulldozers heading there. He runs back and tries his best to save the baby. But just as he got there, it was too late. As he took the baby the walls came crashing down killing both of them. As the remains were uncovered there was a smile on Tsotsi’s face; he died happy knowing he did his best trying to save that baby.