The Reactive Long essay
A year after I graduated from Tech, and a week before the sixth
anniversary of your death, I infected myself with HIV in the laboratories.
That’s how I became reactive. I never had the reactions I need for myself,
and I couldn’t react to you when you called to me for help, so I gave my
own body something it couldn’t flee from. Now here’s your older brother
and murderer, Luthando. His name is Lindanathi and his parents got it
from a girl (The Reactive, 2014, 174).
Contextualise the above quote. Drawing on Kopano Ratele’s theory of “successful’
masculinities”, discuss how the novel both affirms isiXhosa traditions while also
challenging hegemonic (i.e. dominant) ideas about what constitutes masculine
behaviour. Use examples from the novel to support your argument.
-It is in your best interest to provide your tutor with a draft of your essay
-Minimum 1500 words
-You must have a bibliography and your bibliography should refer to at least two
valid secondary sources (i.e. journal articles or book chapters)
-Use MLA referencing
-Attach a plagiarism declaration
-Late submissions will be penalised.
A year after I graduated from Tech, and a week before the sixth
anniversary of your death, I infected myself with HIV in the laboratories.
That’s how I became reactive. I never had the reactions I need for myself,
and I couldn’t react to you when you called to me for help, so I gave my
own body something it couldn’t flee from. Now here’s your older brother
and murderer, Luthando. His name is Lindanathi and his parents got it
from a girl (The Reactive, 2014, 174).
Contextualise the above quote. Drawing on Kopano Ratele’s theory of “successful’
masculinities”, discuss how the novel both affirms isiXhosa traditions while also
challenging hegemonic (i.e. dominant) ideas about what constitutes masculine
behaviour. Use examples from the novel to support your argument.
-It is in your best interest to provide your tutor with a draft of your essay
-Minimum 1500 words
-You must have a bibliography and your bibliography should refer to at least two
valid secondary sources (i.e. journal articles or book chapters)
-Use MLA referencing
-Attach a plagiarism declaration
-Late submissions will be penalised.
