Power of One

A detailed Summary of Power of One

It is evident that as life goes on, times get difficult. How one chooses to make life's situations work for themselves is their decision. Each individual contributes to his or her own demise or success. However, the path of life leads to situations of ignorance and prejudices. Bryce Courtenay's novel, The Power of

One is an example as to how these predicaments are evident during the early 1900's. A young boy, Peekay, the main character, experiences ignorance

in its harshest forms, yet still makes the system work for himself.

First, at the arrival to Peekay's new boarding school, the Prince Of Whales, he was chosen to deliver a cream bun to the captain of the rugby team, Fred Cooper. In Peekay's attempt to just "try" the icing, one lick led to another

lick. By delivery time, the cream bun was ruined. After a few whacks from Cooper, Peekay was ordered to purchase Cooper a new cream bun. With no money in hand, Peekay and Morrie, Peekays friend, restored the same cream bun and returned it to Cooper. After the sly maneuver Peekay said, " It was the first time we'd beaten the system...I guess that's what being partners is all

about"(Courtenay 335). Peekay learned, after being defeated for so many years, that there are ways a

Nguni's hand and courteously introduced himself to the man. Peekay's sidekick, Morrie, was venturing with him and spoke disrespectfully to Nguni. When spoken to this way, Nguni replies to Peekay, "Your friend has no respect"(Courtenay

To add, even those Peekay associated with were racist, although he was not racist himself. For example, when Peekay was traveling his way back to school from boxing class he was encountered by a man, Nguni. Peekay shook

Also, during boarding school at the Prince of Wales school academic competition was of nature to many of the boys. However, gambling became Peekay's and Morrie's nature as well. The headmaster, Singe' n' Burn, chose six boys he thought to be of superior intelligence, or Renaissance men, to be in a group. This group was called the St' John's people, or Sinjun's people. Morrie and Peekay ran a bet, the Multiple of One Hundred, on who would be chosen of the group. Nearly all students chose Peekay as first choice and Morrie was chosen not once. Morrie realized a lot of money riding on this bet, and he and

the plan to his and Peekay's success. After the decision of Morrie being chosen first and Peekay chosen last, Morrie and Peekay had won the bet. Morrie adds, "So when Singe'n' Burn discovered personal sacrifice together with generosity of spirit to be a fundamental part of my character, I knew I had the number one posse in the bag"(Courtenay 376). Morrie and Peekay learned what the head master wanted to deceitfully get their way and once again, defeat the system.

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Approximate Word count = 1077
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English