Light and Darkness

When we first meet T'sorsi, the sun is going down and an encroaching darkness
iS spreading as the gang makes its way to the station on a "job". But while the
gang uses night-time darkness to cloak merciless crimes there is also an inner
darkness that Tsotsi maintains through strict rules: for example, "never to
disturb his inward darkness with the light of athought about himself or the
attempt at a memory". Light can also be threatening (for example, when the
police arrive for che passbook raid that changes ten-year-old David's life forever,
their torch beams "stalb" the dark). Hovever, generally the novel traces a return
to the light (beginning with memory "flashes" of the yellow bitch) for Tsotsi as
he journeys on the hard road to redemption and some finalform of salvation.
In fact, the journey from darkness to light starts with Boston telling Tsotsi
chat he "must have a soul". Later, when Tsotsifeels some sympathy for Morris
Tshabalala,the strange experience is described as being like light suddenly
enabling someone to actually see or perceive something for the first time ever.
Until now Tsotsi has existed in a world dominated by darkness, expressed
as brutal force and power. Tsotsidemonstrates a talent for observation and
control. For example, he is in control of the gang because he can read others'
characters but does not allow them to read him. However, now he can no longer
retreat into his inner darkness where questions, doubts and uncertainties are
shut out and he is forced by events to look at himself and at others with new
eyes. Secret things in his life, that he has hidden and repressed for so long,
demand to be recalled into the light. The events that take place take Tsotsi by
surprise, and he finds his suppressed memories can no longer be ignored or
relegated to the darkness.

Identity
Using the name of Tsotsi",which reflects his conversion to a life of crime, the
traumatised young David Madondo blots our the personal identity originally
given to him through his mother's nurture and care. As "Tsotsi" he represses
disturbing memories of his past as a way of coping. His new identity is forged
by his new lifecircumstances (he needs to survive at all costs in the jungle"
environment of the ghetto) and by his associates, such as the township gangsters.
He rejects his past and allows his dark impulses> to direct him in choosing che
"jobs" for his gang. However, the baby that is thrust upon him creates a rurning
point. The baby becomes Tsotsi's new talisman, replacing the knife that had
been his old symbolof violence. The baby provides an opportunity for Tsotsi
to discover his original innocent self. He even gives the baby his old name. But
he needs to go further than this. To recover his discarded David Madondo
identity willrequire some form of self-knowledge. He willneed to reawaken the
past, rediscover his roots,discard his Tsotsi" label and inhumane way of life
and begin to forge a new lifestyle. He will have to take back the name "David",
which denotes his real identiy or original self. One could say that he had lost
this identity (and sense of "decency") chrough the traumatic stress brought on
by che police raid, the enforced separation from the security of hismother, the
brutality of his father and thesuffering of the yellow dog. In order toregain his
true identity, Tsotsihas to accept andcome to terms with his past. Atthe end of
the novel we are told that he says out aloud, with a joyous laugh: "My name is
David Madondo". And it is a "David Madondo" (not a "Tsotsi') who says Peace
be with you" in reply to the milkman'sgreeting of "Peace my brother". Finally, it
seems that Tsotsi" is no more and that David is back.