An important passage...
All roads lead to Johannesburg. If you are white or black they lead to Johannesburg. If the crops fail, there is work in Johannesburg. If the taxes are to be paid, there is work in Johannesburg. If the farm is too small to be divided further, some must go to Johannesburg. If there is a child to be born that must be delivered in secret, it can be delivered in Johannesburg.
I thought that this was a well-written passage. Based off of what we know so far in the story, Johannesburg doesn't seem like a great place to be. This passage only confirms what we have read so far, because it seems that people come to Johannesburg because they have problems and have nowhere else to go. It seems like a city where people gather because they have troubles in their lives, but it also seems like a city of hope, otherwise, why would people go there?
Any other thoughts? Opinions?
I, on the other hand do think as you mentioned, that Johannesburg is a place of hope rather than a bad place to be at. I think that Johannesburg is the beginning of an Industrial Revolution where people more people will begin to live in the city rather than in rural areas. All in all I think that Johannesburg is a place of hope and prosperity.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the only reason you would go there is because there is a lot of opportunity and many things can be done.(Not necessarily all positive things as we learned about Kumalo's sister)
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