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1. In the novel, Small Things, the narrator forms relationships with various characters that he
encounters. Some make a lasting impact in his life, while others have little to no effect on him.
Using the two extracts below as starting points, write an essay of approximately 600 words, in
which you discuss how the narrator’s relationship with Bra Todd is similar to or different from
his relationship with Gabriel Sanchez.
Essay 1
The Shaping of a Soul: Bra Todd and Gabriel Sanchez as Mentors in "Small Things"
In Nthikeng Mohlele's novel "Small Things," the unnamed narrator's journey through life is
profoundly influenced by the relationships he forms along the way. Two figures stand out as paternal
mentors who shape his understanding of the world: Bra Todd, the respected newsman from
Sophiatown, and Gabriel Sanchez, the Cuban exile who becomes his confidant. While both men
serve as father figures and provide guidance, their relationships with the narrator differ significantly
in terms of emotional intimacy, the depth of shared confidences, and the nature of the lessons
imparted. This essay will explore these similarities and differences, arguing that while Bra Todd
represents a distant admiration based on proximity to Desiree, Gabriel Sanchez offers genuine
emotional connection and wisdom born of shared suffering.
The relationship between the narrator and Bra Todd is characterized by admiration tinged with envy
and emotional distance. As the narrator reveals, he "hung out with Bra Todd, a respected newsman,
with a taste for American swing" (Mohlele, 2013: 11). Their connection is largely professional and
transactional—the narrator polishes shoes, helps with dishes, and learns "sophisticated ways to woo
a lady" (Mohlele, 2013: 11). However, there is a significant barrier to genuine intimacy: Bra Todd is
Desiree's uncle, and the narrator "refrained from burdening him with my Desiree misfortunes"
(Mohlele, 2013: 11). This restraint stems from fear and the practical understanding that Bra Todd
"had full command of her attention" (Mohlele, 2013: 11). The narrator envies this access but cannot
bring himself to confess his true feelings, creating a relationship built on apprenticeship rather than
emotional transparency.
In contrast, the narrator's friendship with Gabriel Sanchez evolves into something far more intimate
and revealing. Gabriel, who "begins in Cuba" and is "the only journalist in an otherwise musical
family," becomes a true confidant to the narrator (Mohlele, 2013: 53). Their bond transcends the
professional or transactional nature of the narrator's relationship with Bra Todd. Gabriel shares his
darkest secret—the murder of Rafael Lopez—and the narrator, in turn, is able to discuss his tortured
love for Desiree. Gabriel offers not just practical advice but philosophical wisdom about love,
suffering, and the nature of obsession. His cautionary words—"Love is greater than life; it feeds life,
makes life worth living" (Mohlele, 2013: 52)—demonstrate a depth of understanding that the
narrator never receives from Bra Todd.
Another key difference lies in the nature of the lessons each mentor imparts. Bra Todd's guidance
centers on professional development and social navigation: the world of journalism, the importance
of political awareness, and practical skills for survival in Sophiatown's complex social landscape. His
warning that "everyone is a politician" speaks to the realities of apartheid South Africa. However,
Gabriel Sanchez teaches the narrator about matters of the heart, about moral ambiguity, and about
the painful choices that love sometimes demands. Gabriel's own tragic history—killing a man in a fit
of jealous rage—enables him to speak with authority about the destructive power of obsession, a
lesson directly relevant to the narrator's consuming love for Desiree.
1. In the novel, Small Things, the narrator forms relationships with various characters that he
encounters. Some make a lasting impact in his life, while others have little to no effect on him.
Using the two extracts below as starting points, write an essay of approximately 600 words, in
which you discuss how the narrator’s relationship with Bra Todd is similar to or different from
his relationship with Gabriel Sanchez.
Essay 1
The Shaping of a Soul: Bra Todd and Gabriel Sanchez as Mentors in "Small Things"
In Nthikeng Mohlele's novel "Small Things," the unnamed narrator's journey through life is
profoundly influenced by the relationships he forms along the way. Two figures stand out as paternal
mentors who shape his understanding of the world: Bra Todd, the respected newsman from
Sophiatown, and Gabriel Sanchez, the Cuban exile who becomes his confidant. While both men
serve as father figures and provide guidance, their relationships with the narrator differ significantly
in terms of emotional intimacy, the depth of shared confidences, and the nature of the lessons
imparted. This essay will explore these similarities and differences, arguing that while Bra Todd
represents a distant admiration based on proximity to Desiree, Gabriel Sanchez offers genuine
emotional connection and wisdom born of shared suffering.
The relationship between the narrator and Bra Todd is characterized by admiration tinged with envy
and emotional distance. As the narrator reveals, he "hung out with Bra Todd, a respected newsman,
with a taste for American swing" (Mohlele, 2013: 11). Their connection is largely professional and
transactional—the narrator polishes shoes, helps with dishes, and learns "sophisticated ways to woo
a lady" (Mohlele, 2013: 11). However, there is a significant barrier to genuine intimacy: Bra Todd is
Desiree's uncle, and the narrator "refrained from burdening him with my Desiree misfortunes"
(Mohlele, 2013: 11). This restraint stems from fear and the practical understanding that Bra Todd
"had full command of her attention" (Mohlele, 2013: 11). The narrator envies this access but cannot
bring himself to confess his true feelings, creating a relationship built on apprenticeship rather than
emotional transparency.
In contrast, the narrator's friendship with Gabriel Sanchez evolves into something far more intimate
and revealing. Gabriel, who "begins in Cuba" and is "the only journalist in an otherwise musical
family," becomes a true confidant to the narrator (Mohlele, 2013: 53). Their bond transcends the
professional or transactional nature of the narrator's relationship with Bra Todd. Gabriel shares his
darkest secret—the murder of Rafael Lopez—and the narrator, in turn, is able to discuss his tortured
love for Desiree. Gabriel offers not just practical advice but philosophical wisdom about love,
suffering, and the nature of obsession. His cautionary words—"Love is greater than life; it feeds life,
makes life worth living" (Mohlele, 2013: 52)—demonstrate a depth of understanding that the
narrator never receives from Bra Todd.
Another key difference lies in the nature of the lessons each mentor imparts. Bra Todd's guidance
centers on professional development and social navigation: the world of journalism, the importance
of political awareness, and practical skills for survival in Sophiatown's complex social landscape. His
warning that "everyone is a politician" speaks to the realities of apartheid South Africa. However,
Gabriel Sanchez teaches the narrator about matters of the heart, about moral ambiguity, and about
the painful choices that love sometimes demands. Gabriel's own tragic history—killing a man in a fit
of jealous rage—enables him to speak with authority about the destructive power of obsession, a
lesson directly relevant to the narrator's consuming love for Desiree.
