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 !
Hat später Dirk verhört, deswegen hero….