Peekay Character Changes

Peekay’s character undergoes dramatic changes in book one of The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay. Many of these changes occur when Peekay crosses the threshold into a new world and meets new mentors. His journey in the first part of the novel starts at the Afrikaans boarding school where Peekay learns the art of camouflage. Then the journey moves to the train to Barberton where Peekay learns how to defend himself. After that, the journey moves to the town of Barberton which brings him to Barberton Prison where Peekay learns how to fix a corrupt system and be a leader. Through his journey, Peekay meets many important mentors, like Doc, Hoppie and many more. Peekays mentor and father figure, Doc, encourages Peekay to take risks …show more content…
The Judge and the Jury at the school torment Peekay. Peekay is unconfident and has little power but this all changes when Grandpa Chook teaches Peekay the art of camouflage. Mevrou almost kills Grandpa Chook but stops because she realizes he can be useful after he kills a cockroach. Grandpa Chook saves his life by making himself useful. “He had beaten the executor by adapting perfectly.” Peekay takes this lesson and applies it to himself when he does the Judge’s schoolwork to make himself useful and experiences less of a punishment from the Judge. Peekay realizes that he can manipulate people as long as he flies under their radar. Peekay hides his brilliant mind from the school to not draw too much attention to himself. Peekay learns that he can survive in even the toughest conditions as long as he applies those lessons. This change allows Peekay to move forward and continue his journey on the train to …show more content…
The prison system is corrupt because the prisoners are not allowed to send letters and live under tough conditions. Peekay starts the “sandwich fund” to let prisoners send letters and receive goods like tobacco. He learns that he has the power to change the whole system and change the lives of the prisoners. Geel Piet teaches Peekay, “Inside all people there is love, also the need to take care of the other man who is his brother.” Peekay learns that he has power among the oppressed people and must do something to help. The kommandant calls Peekay “a leader of men.” He brings the spirits up of all the prisoners through his boxing and his personality. Peekay uses the lessons he learns in previous parts of his journey to change the entire prison system. Peekay brings to the prison, the power of one, the power an individual can make in a world that is deeply