Alex Mpondo

1. Gillian Slovo Red Dust Alex Mpondo

2. Index • general characterization • Mpondo‘s past • effect of his past on his present emotional and mental life • relationship towards his torturer • Alex from the eyes of Dirk • relation between Alex and Sarah • relation between Alex and Steve • situation at the end of the book

3. general characterization • popular politician • well-educated • strong and smart • versatile • influenced by his feelings • due to his past a little bit weird • deep connection between him and Steve • his motto: “Don’t mourn, mobilize.”

4. Mpondo‘s past • an MK operative who had buried some RPGs in the dried-up river bed outside town • he was young and naïf, he had no idea how cruel the police could be • he was imprisoned • Dirk was responsible for him, had done the hearings and was his torturer • he had suffered very long tough man

5. effect of his past on his present emotional and mental life • filled with bitterness • deep mental scares • mood swings extreme variations • political activities • problems with hometown / region • problems to sleep well • doesn´t want to be confronted with past  wants life in peace • able to drink abnormal much • cannot handle his experiences from past  not able to talk about past

6. relationship towards his torturer • hates him  calls him bastard • rejection to face him  no sense • cannot see him • Dirk left him nothing, not even anger • physically revulsion • his voice follows him  fear • knows him well  intimate and deep connection • knows his smell, what he thinks and plans  like nobody else • they are two men in one • Dirk made him to a white person  they are equal • later does not regret coming back  beginning of handling with the past ?!

7. Alex from the eyes of Dirk first expressions after a long time • smart • looks different • the changes cover every aspect of the man • seems taller, more confident, more at ease and even slightly fatter • the dramatic change lay entirely in his face, in his expression • seems to be a ladies man

8. relation between Alex and Sarah • Sarah tries to find the same level, but Alex doesn’t • let her approach • she has difficulties to appreciate him at the beginning • Alex is all the time attractive for Sarah • first there is an unpredictable distance between them but then their relation gets closer

9. Relation between Alex and Steve  Alex hadn’t thought about Steve in a long time to save himself and to forget  Steve had been a friend, a part of him like a brother  Alex finds it almost impossible to summon up Steve’s image  It’s also his own need to lay Steve to rest  Alex still mourns Steve  James blames Alex that Steve had gone astray  Alex has a bad conscience  thinks that his betrayal ended in Steve’s death, this insecurity plagues him

10. situation at the end of the book • the hearings afflicted him hard  couldn’t eat, sleep and couldn’t go on • he was sad, tired and vulnerable • he felt like a victim but later he is seen as a hero • the end of the hearings seemed to be the beginning of a new peaceful life for him he seems to come to terms with himself !