ENG1501 ASSIGNMENT 3
2023
UNIQUE NUMBER: 650457
DUE DATE: 01 AUGUST 2023
, ASSIGNMENT 03: The Novel
Small Things by Nthikeng Mohlele
In Small Things, one of the minor characters, Comrade Q, may be a lesser mentioned
character but his role in the novel opens up discussions on two important themes in post-
Apartheid South Africa, namely, inequality and class and history and transition (of South
Africa from Apartheid to a democratic state). In post-Apartheid South Africa, the novel
suggests that a new, wealthy class of citizen has developed. This is a class of previously
disadvantaged South African comrades who use their credentials as anti-Apartheid
activists as currency to gain influence in business and politics in order to generate wealth
for themselves as well as family and friends.
Using the extract detailed below as a starting point and focusing specifically on the theme
of history and transition, write an essay in which you discuss Comrade Q’s portrayal as a
minor character. In your essay, you should do the following:
• Focus specifically on the theme of history and transition (Discuss how Comrade Q’s
character reinforces the theme of history and transition of South Africa from Apartheid to
a democratic state).
• Explain how the theme of history and transition (of South Africa from Apartheid to a
democratic state) links to the theme of inequality and class.
The extract you are expected to use begins on p. 75 of the novel with the words, “Frost
descends on Benito…” (p.75). The extract ends on p. 76 with the words, “Even more
absurd: how many souls owe how many Comrade Qs favours?” (Mohlele, 2013:76).
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2023
UNIQUE NUMBER: 650457
DUE DATE: 01 AUGUST 2023
, ASSIGNMENT 03: The Novel
Small Things by Nthikeng Mohlele
In Small Things, one of the minor characters, Comrade Q, may be a lesser mentioned
character but his role in the novel opens up discussions on two important themes in post-
Apartheid South Africa, namely, inequality and class and history and transition (of South
Africa from Apartheid to a democratic state). In post-Apartheid South Africa, the novel
suggests that a new, wealthy class of citizen has developed. This is a class of previously
disadvantaged South African comrades who use their credentials as anti-Apartheid
activists as currency to gain influence in business and politics in order to generate wealth
for themselves as well as family and friends.
Using the extract detailed below as a starting point and focusing specifically on the theme
of history and transition, write an essay in which you discuss Comrade Q’s portrayal as a
minor character. In your essay, you should do the following:
• Focus specifically on the theme of history and transition (Discuss how Comrade Q’s
character reinforces the theme of history and transition of South Africa from Apartheid to
a democratic state).
• Explain how the theme of history and transition (of South Africa from Apartheid to a
democratic state) links to the theme of inequality and class.
The extract you are expected to use begins on p. 75 of the novel with the words, “Frost
descends on Benito…” (p.75). The extract ends on p. 76 with the words, “Even more
absurd: how many souls owe how many Comrade Qs favours?” (Mohlele, 2013:76).
1
