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What Are The Obstacles In Kaffir Boy

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In Mark Mathabane’s autobiography, Kaffir Boy, Mathabane demonstrates traces his journey as a child as well as the difficulties he faces along the way. The obstacles and constraints he faces throughout his youth, molds him into a person able to rise above the restraints forced upon him both through his society and culturally. Although he is able to overcome the ordinary way of life in South Africa, Mark faced many obstacles along the way. In Kaffir Boy, Mathabane’s primary obstructions to achieving his goals were the system of apartheid in South Africa, his father's existence, and his father's intent to hold him to tribal beliefs.
Apartheid
During the novel, Mathabane, as well as the other blacks who lives in the ghettos of South Africa’s …show more content…

Mark’s father being raised in a tribal setting causes him to not agree with the more modern systems of South Africa's society. Despite Christianity, and education, being constantly on Mark’s mind, his father continues to discipline him for what he wants Mark to do. His father’s struggles with apartheid leaving a negative effect on Mark. His father uses the government as a justification for the way that he is, as well as why Mark should not go against his beliefs. As his father struggles to find a stable job to provide for the household, or avoid being arrested, his support for the family is minimal, resulting his relationship with Mark becoming distant. Without his father’s support Mark suffers physically and psychologically. Mark’s sufferings during youth ages are affected primarily by lack of income within the home.
Conclusion
Overall, Mark’s obstructions and obstacles were due to dehumanization in apartheid South Africa. As he and his father drew apart physically and emotionally, his connection to manhood changes all together. The society in which Mark is raised challenges him to grow into a better person. Despite the difficulties Mark encounters daily, he uses his restraints as motivation to move forward and overcome generalized

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