Narrator and Tone of text

A technique used by many authors is to help get them into the mind and thoughts of the main characters or even just the inferior characters mentioned in the novel. This technique is called the stream-of-consciousness. In order for the reader to posses these thoughts they are written exactly as a clear representation of the characters thoughts. Bryce Courtenay, the author and main ambition of the story, The Power of One, we extrapolate thoughts and ideas about Peekay and what happens to him. This happens because throughout the novel, it is a constant flow of thoughts being expressed by him directly to the reader.

We are relatively pushed aside from the descriptive written representation and shown Peekay’s emotions and feelings towards his thoughts, observations and understandings that are brought up. Throughout the novel, the reader can get a strong vibe of race controversial, bullying and poverty. By the use of the technique, stream-of-consciousness, Courtenay is able to convey to his readers, the mental struggles that young Anglo-African (Rooineks) boys underwent during an upsetting time in South African history.

The tone of a story is often described as what the author is feeling towards a subject. The tone can be developed through the use of language conventions such as pronunciation, imagery, enclosure or elimination of facts, and extended metaphor. In many cases, the tone may change or evolve throughout the piece of writing. This method of interpreting the novel can sometimes be mixed up with the other method called the mood, which is actually what the reader feels and thinks.

Christians are given a disapproving tone by Courtenay as he uses Peekay’s mostly negative experiences with Christians to demonstrate that. To Peekay, Christians appear racist hypocrites whose main objectives are the salvation of others only for their own benefit. Pik Botha, for example, is portrayed in a very negative light for is lack of compassion in helping Big Hettie and kindness towards Peekay. The hypocritical side of his actions can be seen as on his silver tie clip, which said “witnessing for the Lord", when in fact, he was being absolutely skeptic to Big Hettie’s pleas