Eng2602
Assignment 2
fiction
This essay will be critically analyzing the given extract, showing how
the literary features of the text function to depict the setting as
dangerous and alienating. In the context of the text, Hillbrow is the
setting which is depicted as dangerous while Giggles nightclub is
alienating. The extract from Mda Zakes’s “The Heart of Redness”
(2000) describes Camagu’s experiences after his return to newly
democratic South Africa. Camagu has lived in the United States of
America for many years during apartheid era South Africa.The setting
of Hillbrow and Giggles nightclub in this extract can be described as
unfriendly, tense, cruel, depressing, contemptuous, frustrating, and
uninviting.
, Adjectives such as “toneless, deadly, disaffected, rejects, exile,
moaning, nostalgic” have been used in the extract to create an
imagery of how unfriendly, depressing and cruel Hillbrow is thereby
depicting it as dangerous and alienating. The fact that “Giggles” is
described as a toneless nightclub suggests that the place was boring
and not entertaining as expected. The music played was not only
“out-of-tune “but also monotonous. If the saxophone was described
as” screeching” then this was certainly an irritating unpleasant tune.
Perhaps Camagu would have expected the nightclub to be
refreshing, with entertaining tunes that create an entertaining
pleasant atmosphere as if to welcome him back from the selfless
assignment in exile. The atmosphere at “Giggles” was however
depressing and uninviting and ironically made the “heroes of exile”
feel inferior.
Furthermore, the use of the proper noun “Giggles” which was the
name of the night club equally contributed to creating a dangerous
and alienating setting. It would be assumed that giggling is making a
repeated light silly laugh as a result of the amusement. The name
would be befitting for a nightclub because it is a place where patrons
can be amused. Ironically in this context,” Giggles” symbolically
depicted a nightclub where exiles were humiliated and embarrassed.
The lack of captivating entertainment and an uninteresting rapport
was humiliating enough. The diction of “moaning” and “whingeing”
highlights that these exiles are suffering from alienation and are
lonely. The statement “Giggles was not a place for him tonight”
suggests that Camagu feels alienated and lonely while inside Giggles
nightclub, he does not enjoy the company of other patrons including
the music that ‘rasped his eardrums’ and is out-of-tune.
The use of personification in the extract assists in depicting the
setting as restless and cruel. This is because Hillbrow is
described as “never sleeping”. It is as if Hillbrow has been
Assignment 2
fiction
This essay will be critically analyzing the given extract, showing how
the literary features of the text function to depict the setting as
dangerous and alienating. In the context of the text, Hillbrow is the
setting which is depicted as dangerous while Giggles nightclub is
alienating. The extract from Mda Zakes’s “The Heart of Redness”
(2000) describes Camagu’s experiences after his return to newly
democratic South Africa. Camagu has lived in the United States of
America for many years during apartheid era South Africa.The setting
of Hillbrow and Giggles nightclub in this extract can be described as
unfriendly, tense, cruel, depressing, contemptuous, frustrating, and
uninviting.
, Adjectives such as “toneless, deadly, disaffected, rejects, exile,
moaning, nostalgic” have been used in the extract to create an
imagery of how unfriendly, depressing and cruel Hillbrow is thereby
depicting it as dangerous and alienating. The fact that “Giggles” is
described as a toneless nightclub suggests that the place was boring
and not entertaining as expected. The music played was not only
“out-of-tune “but also monotonous. If the saxophone was described
as” screeching” then this was certainly an irritating unpleasant tune.
Perhaps Camagu would have expected the nightclub to be
refreshing, with entertaining tunes that create an entertaining
pleasant atmosphere as if to welcome him back from the selfless
assignment in exile. The atmosphere at “Giggles” was however
depressing and uninviting and ironically made the “heroes of exile”
feel inferior.
Furthermore, the use of the proper noun “Giggles” which was the
name of the night club equally contributed to creating a dangerous
and alienating setting. It would be assumed that giggling is making a
repeated light silly laugh as a result of the amusement. The name
would be befitting for a nightclub because it is a place where patrons
can be amused. Ironically in this context,” Giggles” symbolically
depicted a nightclub where exiles were humiliated and embarrassed.
The lack of captivating entertainment and an uninteresting rapport
was humiliating enough. The diction of “moaning” and “whingeing”
highlights that these exiles are suffering from alienation and are
lonely. The statement “Giggles was not a place for him tonight”
suggests that Camagu feels alienated and lonely while inside Giggles
nightclub, he does not enjoy the company of other patrons including
the music that ‘rasped his eardrums’ and is out-of-tune.
The use of personification in the extract assists in depicting the
setting as restless and cruel. This is because Hillbrow is
described as “never sleeping”. It is as if Hillbrow has been
