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We are transported to Johannesburg where the brutality of the gold mines is revealed. Reuben and Tom
go to work underground, while Sonwabo becomes a "bride" for the "induna".
Crispin begins his downward spiral that will end in his death. He learns with a shock what is happening
to Sonwabo.
Then Victor, whom he has always trusted implicitly, not only introduces him to prostitutes but is also
forgetting Frances in his pursuit of the Warburton girl.
CAPITALISM & GOLD MINING
Capitalism in its strict meaning is the exploitation of people for the sake of wealth. The gold mines in
Johannesburg were typically capitalistic ventures.
The mines were owned by a few wealthy people who forced labourers to work under harsh conditions, live
in dreadful circumstances, and be paid pathetically small wages in order to mine the minerals and so
make the capitalists wealthier.
Although Shades does not deal with the mainstream capitalists like Cecil John Rhodes, it does
nevertheless involve the lesser capitalists like Victor Drake, Charlie Fraser, Sonny Hoek and Harold
Stanbridge.
These were the people who saw the opportunity to enrich themselves by exploiting an unsuspecting
labouring group that had been devastated by the rinderpest epidemic.
The recruitment of black labour for the gold mines was a typically capitalistic venture. People like Charlie,
Harold and Victor saw in the rinderpest devastation the ideal opportunity to become wealthy.
The Xhosa had had their herds decimated. They were therefore approached by shrewd recruiters like
Victor to sign up their sons under contract to work on the mines in return for a few healthy cattle.
Cattle were regarded by the Xhosa as a source of wealth but they did not cost much for the capitalists who
could buy them cheaply and could therefore afford to give them away as gifts.
It was a form of modern slavery. Vague promises were given of good pay and ideal working conditions.
By the time the lie was spotted, it was too late. The labourers could not escape.
There was no chance of rescue. Many labourers died on the mines -- while the recruiters ignored their
desperate circumstances.
Have you looked at the questions
in the right column?
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TEST YOURSELF!
Read the left column and then answer
the following questions:
What message is Marguerite Poland attempting to convey by the barbarous name-changing scene that
starts this chapter? (4)
[Need help?]
It seems it was the accepted practice for Whites to give the Black people names which could be
pronounced more easily.
Sir Harry Smith (Governor of the Cape Colony) changed Chief Ngqunugwebe's name to "Congo",
while Chief Ngqika became "Gaika"!
As regards the name changing on the mine, did it not also indicate racism of the worst order?
The operation was insulting and indicated a gross violation of the dignity of the people whose names were
being changed -- rather like a woman has to change her name and identity when she marries.
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Comment on the various forms of barbarity which are presented in this chapter. (4)
[Need help?]
These are easy to find by a careful reading of the text. It would be too much to document here.
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Victor reveals himself untrustworthy in two ways, viz. with his dinner date at the Warburtons, and his
introducing Crispin to prostitutes. Comment. (4)
[Need help?]
Pretty straight forward a question too.
Compare, by the way, how Walter went out of his way not to get between Frances and Victor because they
were engaged, whereas Victor was quite prepared to date the Warburton's daughter and ignore the fact
that he himself was engaged!
And as for introducing Crispin to a prostitute!
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Given that Crispin's conscience is as sensitive as his sister's, how would his visit to a prostitute have
affected him? (4)
[Need help?]
Frances was flooded with guilt at having had sexual intercourse with Victor despite it having been forced
upon her.
In like manner, would not Crispin have been flooded with guilt by his losing his virginity with a prostitute
even though this too had been thrust upon him?
This surely was the first step in his descent towards suicide?
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A missionary came into the brothel as Crispin was clinging to the banisters. He questioned Crispin about
what his father and mother might think of his actions.
- What effect would this reminder have had on Crispin's conscience? (5)
[Need help?]
Crispin was a deeply moral person. To have allowed himself to get drunk on gin and then visit a prostitute
would therefore have caused him agonies of conscience.
Remember that, even while the prostitute was undressing in front of him, he was reminded of Benedict,
and then of Helmina.
Now to be reminded in this way of his own father and mother would have been the last straw.
Like Frances, Crispin was in fact innocent of the deed, yet he would also have blamed himself just as
Frances had blamed herself.
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Charlie Fraser and Sonnie Hoek carry Crispin on their shoulders after the visit to the brothel.
Why? (2)
[Need help?]
They were, of course, celebrating Crispin's loss of virginity, treating him like the conquering hero!
It is quite possible, on the other hand, that Crispin had not in fact lost his virginity at all.
First, he was too drunk and nauseous to have had an erection. Second, his feelings of terror at the
thought of the deed might have had a similar effect.
But, given his naivete, he might not have actually realised that he was in fact still a virgin! A lot of young
guys don't actually know what losing their virginity actually means.
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"Damn Victor to hell! Damn him!" Crispin shouts.
- Explain why Crispin reacts in this way. (6)
[Need help?]
Victor had done three unforgivable things.
First, he had shown no interest whatever in Crispin's plea for help that Sonwabo was being used as a
bride by the induna on the mine.
Second, Victor was responsible for getting Crispin drunk and then for introducing him to a prostitute, which
event Crispin would have seen as a breaking of a commandment.
To top it all, despite the fact that Victor was engaged to Frances and still believed that Frances was
perhaps pregnant with his child, he was off dining with the Warburton girl.
He was indeed a man with no morals whatever.
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