Tsotsi Notes
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:
Tsotsi, a long-lost novel written between 1959 and 1960 and abandoned until its publication in 1980, displays characterization, graphic language, and sardonic humor that foreshadow much in Fugard. Tsotsi is a 2005 South African and United Kingdom co-production film about a Johannesburg township gangster Tsotsi who is struggling with his longing for fatherly love. He is on a journey of survival and redemption from his childhood while experiencing the social classism and poverty of the post-apartheid period.
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.
Chapter 12:
Tsotsi Film 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.