A Long Walk to Free

A Long Walk to Freedom EssayThis extract is an autobiography by Nelson Mandela talking about the variation from a small undemanding child to a contri stilling factor in society. The writer engages our sympathy by effective use of vocabulary, various linguistic techniques and through his nostalgic tone. In the title, Long Walk to Freedom, the long, drawn out vowels like ee and o reflects the struggles and difficulties in this exhausting walk of life. Even the word walk co nonates to the, strive for the attainment of freedom and rights of all individuals. There is a gradual flow of ideas in this extract which has a great impact as it bringing out the growth and understanding through the passage of time. In the beginning, a somber serious mood is created as they fargonwell their last cerebrate to childhood and step into a wider mature world of adulthood.The speeches, songs and gift-giving portray the Afri rump culture the sons of Xhosa have just been circumcised again reflectin g African customs. Due to this, the writer gains a heady feeling of confidence and his body gestures straighter, taller, firmer effectively illustrate his inner feeling of pride and satisfaction. Suddenly the gaily colored dreams darken, as the young adults outright have to face the harsh reality. There is a sentiency of clouding of the proximo as the Chief would give a speech, continuing a customs duty. The wrangle act like a source of inspiration and encouragement, enlightening the youngsters to the disgruntled society. It is in their hands that the future lyes, and imperative that they ar exposed to the reality roughly them. Calling their sons young healthy and handsome, Meligqili begins his speech in an assertive tone.In addition to this, he also calls them bang of the Xhosa sketching a metaphorical image of bud life and the true potential and pride of the nation. He shakens the juvenile adults with harsh words naming the ritual an empty, illusory promise. There is a dejected, deep sense of negation as they have no strength, no power, no control over their profess destiny. Furthermore, their bleak future is ragged off their rightful position as they are nothing more than slaves in their own country, and tenants in their own soil.The bitter irony croup these juxtaposed words hits us hard, as they are left with no value or significance in the very own homeland their possession which has been snatched away from them by the whites. The pungent issue of racial discrimination is raised as all South Africans, are a conquered people. Moreover, in the land of their birth, they suffer the discomfort of shacks and cheap alcohol since they are deprived of their own land to prosper and multiply. These lines repeatedly highlight the struggles, injustice and discrimination the unfortunate people endure everyday in their native soil, but yet not theirs.In addition to this, it is them who cough their lungs out deep in the bowels of the white mans mines. This is the most impactful metaphor and alliteration as it allows us to picture the inhuman, merciless conditions the people are made to work in, detrimental to their health and all for the robbed treasures of the whites. They have lost every bit of authority or belongingness of their own possessions and rather their energy, labor and efforts are wasted in filling the greed of the white men.Piling up such dreadful, pathetic images, our sympathy and compassion is drawn.We can understand the brutalizing agony internally and externally torturing these innocent people regularly due to unequalled prosperity. Their abilities, intelligence, are all squandered. The writer uses superlatives like simplest, insensible chores, which show their powerless nature and attempt to eke out a living for the white men. Furthermore, the words of the chief are at the peak of disappointment where he wants a chance to shake Qamata awake and tell him that the flower of Xhosa nation are dying. Their stat e is so helpless that is seems even their God is dozing and he repeats the flower of Xhosa, to underline the youth the future, beauty, innocence and strength of their fading nation. whole these horrific visions illustrated and the bitter, harsh words of truth leave an undying, unbelievable and undeniable impact on the reader. The words pierce through our ears, almost allowing us to feel the pain. It arouses a number of questions in our minds especially due to the irony, and great sympathy for the Africans. Yet, the young adults are only more and more quiet and more and more angry. By these repeated comparatives, the writer contrasts their present feeling of resentment to their mood of celebration earlier. All the words are slowly seeping in but it only made them rather cross as they thought the chief was being egoistic and ignorant, in his abusive comments, since he was not noticing the positive side the whites brought them value of the education and the moral cultures and etique ttes taught by them. Their tender age has almost blinded them to the oppressor behind what they think is the benefactor. In all, the only thing the chief ended up doing was spoiling the proud feelings with wrong headed remarks, for the teenagers.Gradually, the pace slows and there is growth of mental adulthood and realization as the true meaning of the chiefs words began to seep in Mandelas mind. The real essence of the words had sown a seed to the development of a potential future, although it had been dormant for a long season. Now, the tables turn as Mandela realizes its him who was the actual ignorant man, not the chief. Adding on to the various metaphorical images is when Mandela watches the river meander on its way. These phrases reflect back to the title and theme of a long walk which is a route with its curves and junctions. Finally, the river empties into the Indian Ocean, symbolizing his outpour of delirious success as after many miles distant, he sees a vision of suc cess liberty and happiness. Although, this young adult had not yet crossed that river and his future seems very bleak, but he is now ready to face the challenges of life and combat the rocks that hinder his route, with a lot of power, struggle and hard work.His foresight is tacit limited as he knows little or nothing of the world beyond, that beckoned him. Under these words, the writer expresses how none of them had yet tasted the gift of freedom and independence but right now, for all he knew, darkness was descending it was sunset already and time for him to prepare. Furthermore, we invite a little more idea of the African tradition as it was forbidden to look back while the lodges were burning, probably because we can never go back to the past and remembering it will only move us more and build hesitance to step into a new world.This feeling is even understood as Mandela is unable to resist and looks back at two pyramids of ashes by a large mimosa tree. These ashes metaphor ically symbolize the loss and fading away of a delightful world of childhood and the treacly irresponsible days. There is complete dilemma as, when he looks back, there are only faded ashes and ahead darkness enveloping him. Also the mimosa tree in a way symbolizes the survival of the fittest, as it is a sturdy, giant tree that continuously bears the pain of memories burning by it.After a pause, there is a new picture illustrated now he was a man. There is a deep sense of negation and remorse as never again would he get back those youthful, playful, mischievous days. After many years he has finally become a man but now its like a re-birth to attain independence. All in all, the extract country childhood brings out the first steps of Mandela through inspirational words and encouragement to the celebrated statesman he is now. He is a potent symbol of resistance striving out his life to attain his goal of victorious freedom and in this autobiography, he embodies the spirit of digni ty and triumph of hope over despair and hatred.