write an essay about small things by nthikeng mohlele

Small Things: an extract from Nthikeng Mohlele’s latest novel

Nthikeng Mohlele first came to national attention with his debut novel, “The Scent of Bliss” (Kwela, 2008). His new novel, “Small Things”, published earlier this year (2013), will not disappoint his admirers.

It is the story of an outsider, an orphan raised by Catholics (Father Goebbels), until he is expelled and taken in by Bra Todd, a jazz musician in Sophiatown. He finds work as a journalist, but is jailed for 18 years by the apartheid regime. The novel picks up after his release into “post-apartheid” South Africa, a strange and violent landscape peopled by the “walking dead, bruised by the revolution”. He continues through life unable and often unwilling to find his place in the world. He remains obsessed with his childhood sweetheart, and takes refuge in a new mistress. Often homeless, an itinerant trumpeter, the novel follows his thoughts and the surprising twists and turns of his life as he wanders the streets with a stray dog.

Small Things is an existential novel that subtly references Jean-Paul Sartre (in a clear reference. the second part of the novel is titled “nausea”). Mohlele is a rarity, one of only a handful of South African writers that can be accurately described as literary novelists. His voice is a seductive blend of wry humour, acute observation, melancholy meditation, and transgressive views, as shocking as they are delightful, a laconic style that yields profound insights into the new South Africa.

I, TO THIS DAY, fall hopelessly in love whenever I see postmen carrying mailbags. My heart leaps at bright-red postboxes in pictures. They remind me of Desiree – the postmaster’s daughter. We never exchanged much, Desiree and I. I caught her roving eye on me one morning during Mass. Hearing nothing of the sermon, I saw only this eye, a beaming light bulb that warmed me from the third row, a good twenty metres from where I knelt praying, my knees molten with love.

Seeing her absent-minded, in the company of tedious friends, aroused suspicions that I was in her thoughts. End of term, after the mid-year exams, was marked by forced labour. We cleaned the school grounds and windows in preparation for a new school term. I never joined the gardening or chalkboard-cleaning crews, but always chose to be on the window-cleaning teams, where I could, with good perspective from standing on upside-down dustbins, admire my Desiree shining classroom floors. I got generous compliments from inspecting teachers (windows shone like mirrors against the sun) – who little knew that such workmanship was done in a trance. I was like a spider on a damaged web, doing my utmost to contain my blossoming heart.

It never made sense to me why we had to endure two weeks’ break between school terms – during which I almost turned red with longing. My Desiree would, when my hopes were at their highest, at the fast advancing first day of the new term, come down with swollen tonsils.

This I learnt through considered and disciplined interviews with her friends – slippery and non-committal, like goldfish dodging intruding human hands in ponds. Desiree came back to school (a week of absence!) following the tonsils assault, offered me an orange during lunch. She then woke up brave one morning, handed me a sky-blue homemade card that at first appeared blank. But as I opened it, with the care demanded by heart transplants, I learnt she had drawn a small heart at the centre. Complete with a faint fingerprint and candle wax (a confirmation of feelings known and treasured). Executed in candlelight.

This awoke the poet in me. I, the same evening, penned a love note whose fire assailed the heart. I wrote: ‘My love is deeper than one million seas, brighter than a billion suns, bathed in milk, fanned with tulip bunches. Shared in moderation, for fear of total combustion. Desiree. Desiree. Desiree. Come to my heart. A universe of joy. Lit by a trillion moons.’ I never got a response. She would be moody and aloof.

She then promised me eternal love – ‘When the time is right’. There were times when I was angry and rebellious; yet helpless. I wrote, in yet another carefully worded love letter, that it was unjust that I had to endure such blissful suffering. I never got a response. Desiree was again down with tonsils, away from school for two weeks, which seemed like eight millennia. She never encouraged my pursuit of her, nor did she discourage it. She seemed undecided, bordering on confused. Not all was covered in soot, though. There were moments when Desiree ignited hushed conversations, only too brief to allow me a glimpse of her torturous charms. It is peculiar, I know, but even now, I associate tonsils with love. In hindsight, my love for Desiree is as it always was: maddening. I visited Desiree at the post office, licked hundreds of stamps on letters to imaginary people. I mopped supermarket floors on weekends, ran errands, to earn money to give impetus to my suit. I bought small things; with big intentions. Wrist watches. Earrings. Tonsil prescriptions.

She appreciated the efforts, yet dismissed them as heart-warming but unnecessary. It took me time to learn her emotional compass – which often spun out of control. I hung on, learnt and unlearnt bizarre discoveries, reassuring compromises, brutal rebukes. I could recognise Desiree’s singing or laughter in a hall full of people; even if there was a thunderstorm. She knew this, and I suspect it meant a lot to her. That was why I once inquired if she ever thought of me, to which she, with fire in her eyes, countered: ‘What do I have to do for you to leave me alone?’ I was beyond bliss. The rebuke was a step in the right direction. Preferable to her more direct protests, the famous: ‘Stop staring at me!’

Small Things by Nthikeng Mohlele

ISBN 9781869142452 108 pages

Review written by Brent Meersman for GroundUp.

You can follow Nthikeng Mohlele on Twitter @BlueBeamHorizon .

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Book Review: Small Things by Nthikeng Mohlele

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Nthikeng narrates loss and love in Johannesburg We’re all somewhat familiar with the stereotypical figure of the romantic and struggling artist of the city. He’s (because they’re oftentimes portrayed as male) the creative dude who resists working for the man or being a slave to society. More often than not, he’s got a sharp tongue […]

Nthikeng narrates loss and love in Johannesburg

We’re all somewhat familiar with the stereotypical figure of the romantic and struggling artist of the city. He’s (because they’re oftentimes portrayed as male) the creative dude who resists working for the man or being a slave to society. More often than not, he’s got a sharp tongue for social commentary and is bursting at the seams with unfiltered passion and despair. We’re familiar with this character through countless portrayals in film and  literature, real life figures like Van Gogh and more recent ones like Basquiat (and if we’re pushing it) Kanye West. Of course, struggling/starving artists vary in their portrayals. The extent to which they’re willing, for example, to give in to ‘working for the man’ differs with social context and restrictions. In Nthikeng Mohlele’s Small Things , the author offers us a hopeless romantic poet and musician, whose aspirations are quelled by the trauma of the forced removals Sophiatown’s demolition (1955-1960), a life-long unrequited love and eighteen years as an apartheid political prisoner. These three life events form and structure the experiences of Nthikeng’s starving artist and unnamed protagonist in the city setting of Johannesburg. Sophiatown and it’s history becomes the way in which we understand the struggles of our main character, his resentment towards an oppressive system and the way in which it deprived people of their humanity.

Known back then as the ‘Chicago of Africa’, Sophiatown exemplified the possibility of a metropolitan lifestyle, middle class aspirations and (most importantly in this book) a reclamation of humanity through the arts. This is surely a one-dimensional view of the place (what with all the violence, constant harassment of residents by the police and the poverty). Small things is reminiscent of the way that many writers of the time romanticised Sophiatown, but it still brings these opposing realities together to exist in tension in the city and through the main character, during and after apartheid.

“How was it that amid open sewage, such laughter was possible? That self-taught pianists, painters, writers and unassuming philosophers saw and expressed life with such devastating clarity? It was as if skulls were not being cracked with batons, torches not shone on naked lovers during planned and impromptu raids. Happiness, I found, was a strange creature. While the gramophones wailed, while wedding songs filled romantic summer nights, rumours abounded that Sophiatown would be demolished.”

Through this image, we sense how police invasion, forced removals and Apartheid in general wreck the idea of Sophiatown residents being able to fully embrace the ‘wholesomeness’ of values such as love, romance, happiness or even just a sense of normality.

Like any portrayal of a struggling/starving artist, the protagonist of Small Things has a muse, known as Desiree. It is through, Desiree, that our artist projects the trauma of Sophiatown’s chaos, destruction and beauty. Our protagonist holds onto memories of his youth spent being mesmerized by Desiree singing jazz songs and church tunes at Sophiatown’s popular Odin Cinema, but his dream to be with her is ruined first by the forced removals which separate them and his arrest after being a suspected conspirator in the resistance. It is through music, jazz and poetry that he finds meaning. It interlinks with Desiree, home and Sophiatown.

The idea of home is a central theme to many pieces of literature which explore ideas of belonging and identity, and it’s soon clear that his separation from home is the reason for his shaky sense of self. It’s no wonder that we’re given a character with no name or why his quest to find stability and meaning in life is continuously unfulfilled and unattainable.

The idea, then, of the stereotypical figure of a struggling artist who goes off on an individual quest to find himself gains more depth here. The notion of finding oneself becomes a little less romantic and much more tragic and trauma-filled. Here, finding oneself is not just an individual quest backed by narcissistic tendencies, but is more of a reflection of  systematic failures that affect the individual.

“It will never make sense to me why the eighteen-year punishment. I admit: I am not Desmond Tutu. Or a Nelson. I have come to realize that underlying my apparent indifference is irresolvable anger; anger in search of meaning”

Nthikeng’s novel invites us to revisit the concept of the personal being political, a concept that the protagonist draws our attention to. “Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you”. Indeed, Sophiatown’s demolition and his arrest as a suspected conspirator in the resistance separate him from his home and love interest, crushing his desire to reach a sense of normality.

“The soul is a temperamental thing. Once tainted, there is little to be done to restore it’s tranquility.” Even after his imprisonment, our struggling artist is unable to try and live a normal life again. Plagued by loss and heartache, he becomes a vagabond in the city of Johannesburg, moving in and out of homelessness while occasionally working as a street musician.

The book might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Some may view it as depressive, and some may find the main character too complacent within his despair. Still it encourages discussions about systematic failure and its impact on human agency. It also recognizes art as a form of therapy, while also revealing it’s limitations in a society that undermines creativity as a profession.

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Small Things Nthikeng Mohlele Internal Conflict Essay

Literature often serves as a mirror to the human experience, reflecting the intricate web of emotions and conflicts that shape our lives. In Nthikeng Mohlele’s novel “Small Things,” the protagonist, Nthikeng, becomes the conduit through which the internal conflict of a generation is vividly portrayed. Set against the backdrop of Johannesburg, the narrative delves into Nthikeng’s internal turmoil, interwoven with themes of love, identity, and societal tensions during the Apartheid regime. This essay dissects the layers of Nthikeng’s internal conflict as it converges with broader themes, culminating in a poignant exploration of the human psyche.

Table of Contents

Essay: Internal Turmoil and Societal Struggles in “Small Things” by Nthikeng Mohlele

Loss (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); of hope, love, and identity.

From the outset of the novel, Nthikeng’s internal conflict emerges as a central motif. The loss of hope, love, and a genuine sense of identity in his homeland, Johannesburg, serves as the crucible from which his turmoil arises. The urban landscape, once vibrant with potential, becomes a canvas of disillusionment. The vivid descriptions of Johannesburg’s transformation mirror Nthikeng’s own journey from optimism to despair. This discord between the external environment and his internal world generates a palpable dissonance, leading to a profound internal conflict.

The Complexity of Love and Struggle

Chapter one serves as the inaugural battleground for Nthikeng’s internal conflict, as he navigates the intricate terrain of being in love and the struggles within himself. Love becomes both a source of solace and a trigger for inner discord. The thematic exploration of love encapsulates the turbulence of his emotional landscape, emblematic of the broader struggles within South Africa’s societal fabric. This duality of emotions parallels the duality of a nation torn between unity and division.

Class Stratification and Societal Tensions

The tapestry of Nthikeng’s internal conflict is intricately woven with threads of class stratification, a prominent theme in “Small Things.” The chasm between social classes, reminiscent of the broader socioeconomic disparities of Apartheid-era South Africa, exacerbates Nthikeng’s inner turmoil. The palpable contrast between his aspirations and his reality amplifies his internal conflict, mirroring the wider societal tensions that simmer beneath the surface.

A Microcosm of Societal Unrest

Nthikeng’s internal conflict serves as a microcosm of the broader societal upheaval during the Apartheid regime. His struggle to reconcile his dreams and his identity mirrors the nation’s struggle to reconcile its fractured identity in the face of segregation and discrimination. As he grapples with his internal demons, he simultaneously embodies the collective consciousness of a generation at odds with its past and uncertain about its future.

Loneliness as a Reflection of Internal Turmoil

The novel provocatively raises the question of whether Nthikeng’s chosen solitude is a consequence of his internal conflict or a manifestation of the segregative Apartheid regime. His isolation can be interpreted as a symbolic representation of the isolation felt by those entangled in the societal web of oppression. His existential loneliness becomes a canvas onto which the reader projects their understanding of the broader struggles for autonomy and identity.

In the evocative narrative of “Small Things” by Nthikeng Mohlele, the internal conflict of the narrator, Nthikeng, serves as a compelling exploration of the human psyche amidst the tumultuous backdrop of Apartheid-era South Africa. As Nthikeng grapples with the loss of hope, love, and identity, his struggle converges with themes of class stratification and societal tensions. The internal turmoil he experiences becomes emblematic of the broader challenges faced by a nation grappling with its past and searching for its place in an uncertain future. “Small Things” is more than a novel; it is a visceral depiction of the intricate interplay between individual turmoil and societal struggle.

Essay On Small Triggers of a Troubled Mind

Our minds are delicate constructs that can be thrown off balance by even minor daily occurrences. While such inconsequential issues may outwardly seem irrelevant, they wield surprising influence over our mental well-being through disproportionate rumination. This essay will examine how small prompts in various areas of life mobilize intense distress far beyond their objective significance. It will argue that cultivating perspective helps downscale trivial triggers’ perceived impacts.

Daily Life Decisions

Making everyday choices presents potential for inner conflict. Banality haunts preferences around clothing, food, schedules and more. Within each petty decision lurks capacity for doubt and indecision. Am I selecting correctly? Will this meal be healthy enough? Thought spirals ponder alternatives, imagining judgment from straying from invisible social norms surrounding minutiae best left unlabored over. Time focussing minutiae would be better spent relaxing instead ofAGANIZED deliberating minutiae that should flow naturally.

Interpersonal Interactions

Relationships represent common minefields where fleeting social friction detonates unrest. Minor squabbles, passive aggression or broken commitments from others ferment ruminative questions twisting stomachs long after issues’ passage. Do they truly value me? Will this damage our bond? How can I regain favor? Scenes replay endlessly worsening issues’ perceived severity. More positive reframing would serve minds better than amplifying small interpersonal disharmonies into looming relationship catastrophes.

Health and Appearance

Subjective perceptions of attractiveness loom disproportionately large in fragile self-esteem. Minor weight fluctuations, new blemishes or ordinary aging signs trigger insecure spirals condemning transient imperfections. Most acknowledge bodies change, yet conditional acceptance of self remains elusive for some. Conscious redirection is needed recalibrating perceptions seeing natural fluctuations instead of supposed character defects. However, negative thought patterns ensnare tenaciously through learned habit.

Work and Productivity

Productivity hinges on focus persisting through minor issues. However, tiny errors ignite cascades of self-criticism for fragile self-confidence. A deadline extension or casual social friction sparks obsessive thinking jeopardizing livelihood and respect. Hypothetical worst-case projections proliferate unproductively better curtailed through compassionate self-talk. Forgiving stance towards humanness replaces severity counterproductive for well-being and motivation.

Intrusive Thought Patterns

Perhaps most perturbing, thoughts themselves trigger disproportionate distress. Fragile minds recall slight memories and slights endlessly. From minutiae emerge worst-case scenarios priming anxiety. Why dwell on something inconsequential? Breaking cycles demands vigilance intercepting thought deviations cueing distress. With practice, minor triggers lose power mobilizing obsession and mental anguish.

In summary, mental health associates delicately with common, trivial daily events. Numerous interdependent influence points render rumination prone to small prompts. Developing perspective to properly scale issues’ objective severity versus perceived impacts promotes inner balance. Catching disproportionate thought patterns cultivates disengaging from rumination fueled by innocuous triggers. Minor stressors lose potency toppling inner peace with recalibration.

Hello! Welcome to my Blog StudyParagraphs.co. My name is Angelina. I am a college professor. I love reading writing for kids students. This blog is full with valuable knowledge for all class students. Thank you for reading my articles.

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Nthikeng Mohlele

Small things.

In this haunting tale of love and learning, the existential chaos of a life ravaged by circumstance takes on a rhythm of its own, one bound by loss and loneliness, but also an intelligent awareness of self.

Sometimes melancholy, sometimes brutal, occasionally funny and infuriating, a journalist-comrade-lover caught up in the shade and shadow of politics and social injustice faces treachery and betrayal on every level.

Set against the backdrop of a cityscape that taunts and tantalises, this is where love fails and passion wanes, “where suffering has no meaning”, where an individual escapes death only to find himself confronted with choices wrought by remorse and retribution, by conscience and character. And yet, with all trauma, there is a distinct musicality to the lyrical unpacking that follows a string of small things …

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Small Things: A novel

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In this haunting tale of love and learning, the existential chaos of a life ravaged by circumstance takes on a rhythm of its own, one bound by loss and loneliness, but also an intelligent awareness of self. Sometimes melancholy, sometimes brutal, occasionally funny and infuriating, a journalist-comrade-lover caught up in the shade and shadow of politics and social injustice faces treachery and betrayal on every level. Set against the backdrop of a cityscape that taunts and tantalises, this is where love fails and passion wanes, ‘where suffering has no meaning’, where an individual escapes death only to find himself confronted with choices wrought by remorse and retribution, by conscience and character. And yet, with all trauma, there is a distinct musicality to the lyrical unpacking that follows a string of small things .

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Small things

By nthikeng mohlele.

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