The Wind and A Boy Analysis

The Wind and a boy
by Bessie Head
Bessie Amelia Emery Head was born in Pietermaritzburg on
6 July 1937 and died in Botswana on 17 April 1986. She is a
South African writer who, though born in South Africa, is Bessie Head
usually considered Botswana’s most influential writer. She
wrote novels, short fiction and autobiographical works.
After completing her Junior Certificate, she studied for a two-

year Teacher Training Certificate. In 1956 she started
teaching at Clairwood in Durban. After 18 months of
teaching, she resigned and moved to Cape Town where she
started a career as a journalist.
In March 1964 she accepted a teaching post in Serowe

(Botswana) and left South Africa for good.
1. Summary
The story is about a grandmother (Sejosenye) who is raising her
daughter’s son in a rural village because her daughter had to
continue working and could not take the child with her. They live in
Ga-Sefete-Molemo ward. Sejosenye takes Friedman everywhere
with her; there is a close bond between the grandmother and her
grandson. Sejosenye is very proud of her grandson. He is the apple
of her eye.
The boy lives a care-free life and gets killed in an accident. His death
affects the grandmother so much that she also dies and gets buried
two weeks after the boy’s funeral.
2.Title
The boy in the title refers to Friedman, the main character. He is a boy who
has a magical wind blowing for him. He is loved and envied by other parents
who see him being different from other children. The winds of change are the
results of the new attitudes and lifestyles of the community at large. The wind
is the cause of the boy’s death. Figuratively, the boy lives in a care-free world
with no rules and consequences. He becomes a victim of the winds of political
change in his community.
3.Themes
3.1 Gender roles
In the story, there is no sense of equality between the sexes. The boys do as
they please, and no one gives them guidance on how to behave as they grow
up. They go wherever they want, leaving home in the morning only to come
back after sunset. Girls stay at home and perform household duties that
include fetching water. It is assumed that they do not need any education, and
that puts a spotlight on gender roles. Sejosenye becomes the envy of other
women because she can plough the land, which is a duty that is mainly
associated with men.
3.2 Loyalty
Friedman is loyal to his grandmother. He listens to her stories and teachings,
and emulates the heroes from the stories that he has listened to. He goes
hunting so that he and his grandmother can have meat. He becomes more
loyal to his grandmother and wants to help her in any way. Sejosenye is loyal
to Friedman. She is there for him throughout his life. She takes him
everywhere she goes; she is very proud of her grandson.
3.3 Change and modernity

Towards the end of the story there is evidence of change and modernity.
Although the village is still rural and predominantly agricultural, there is an
emergence of a new class of people who are modern and buying cars. The
driver of the truck that kills Friedman does not have a driver’s licence, he
rushes to get a truck so that he could fit into the privileged class.
4. How is the story told?

4.1 Setting
The story takes place in a rural village in Ga-Sefete-Molemo ward. It is not
clear when exactly the story takes place, but it is at the dawn of independence
in Botswana (1960s).
4.2 Structure and Plot Development

Exposition
The narrator introduces the reader to Friedman’s phases of life. In the first
phase he comes home from the hospital as a small bundle and his
grandmother takes care of him. The next phase is characterised by him
toddling silently next to his tall grandmother. In the third phase, he is a tall,
long legged boy who has become the king of kings of all the boys in his area.
Rising Action *Robinson

Crusoe is a
Whilst listening to his grandmother’s stories, Friedman gets hooked on the fictional character
heroic stories of Robinson Crusoe* (the great hunter) and decides that one who spends 28
day he is going to be just like him. years as a
castaway and
hunter on a
Climax remote island.
Life with its responsibilities increases for Friedman as he starts his teenage
years. He asks for a bicycle so that he can do more for his grandmother. His
mother buys the bicycle and Friedman starts running more errands for his
grandmother. He is hit by a truck while running errands for his grandmother
on his bicycle.
Resolution
Sejosenye is sent to hospital for shock. She dies in hospital and the villagers
bury her.
4.3 Characterisation
Friedman ● He is a lovable young boy who is brilliant,
talented, and naughty like other boys.
● He is imaginative. (He loves to listen to the
stories his grandmother tells and gets captivated
by Robinson Crusoe’s heroic actions.)
● He is very loyal. (He stays close to his
grandmother and wants to help her all the time.)
Sejosenye ● She is a loving grandmother who loves her
grandchild unconditionally.
● She is a non-conformist. (She does not conform
to societal expectations.)
● She is a confident woman. (She holds her head
high even when the society thinks she has
committed scandalous acts.)
● She is physically strong and independent. (She
ploughs the fields whilst other women sit and wait
for their husbands to do it.)
Dr Friedman ● He is friendly. ‘foreign’ doctor who works at the
hospital where ‘baby’ Friedman was born.
● He is an exemplary/role model. (Sejosenye
decides to name her grandson after him
because of his friendly behaviour towards
Sejosenye when she visits the hospital.)
4.4 Narrator’s point of view

The story is narrated by a third person omniscient narrator who has a bird’s
eye view of all the events that take place in the story. The narrator gives an
unbiased turn of events from the beginning of Friedman’s life and through his
growing up stages, until his untimely death.
4.5 Style
The story is told as a narrative by a third person omniscient narrator. The
reader easily gets all the details pertaining to what is happening to the
characters because the narrator is not part of the story but has a bird’s eye
view of the events as they unfold. There is minimal use of dialogue.
4.6 Diction and figurative language

SIMILE:
o ‘from side to side like a cobra’ (Page 134)
Friedman’s movements are compared to those of a cobra when it
moves from side to side in the grass.
METAPHOR:
o ‘small dark shapes’ (Page 133)
The narrator compares the village boys to small dark shapes as they
sped out of the village to the bush.
o ‘extravagant care’ (Page 133)
The overgenerous care with which Sejosenye takes care of Friedman
is compared to an extravagant gift of love.
o ‘a small dark shadow’ (Page 134)
Young Friedman is compared to a small dark shadow.
o ‘leave your handbag at home sometimes’ (Page 134)
How other women referred to Friedman because he was always with
his grandmother.
o ‘he was crossing swollen rivers’ (Page 137)
The overflowing river compared to something that is swollen.
PERSONIFICATION:
o ‘a porcupine hurled his poisonous quills’ (Page 133)
The speed with which the porcupine raises its quills is compared to
someone who is throwing something.
IRONY:
o ‘The gift brought the story of his life abruptly to a close.’ (Page 138)
The bicycle that was meant to help Friedman cuts his life short.
o ‘He belonged to the new, rich civil-servant class … first announced
themselves to the village.’ (Page 138)
The civil servants who come to the village to bring development bring
carnage and fear to the village instead of hope and joy.
4.7 Tone and Mood

Tone:
● Cheerful, appreciative: Friedman lives a happy life and brings happiness
to his grandmother.
● Sympathetic, disappointed, and dull: Friedman and Sejosenye’s
deaths leave the villagers miserable.
Mood:
● happy, optimistic
● sad, angry, emotional

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The Wind and a boy

After completing her Junior Certificate, she studied for a two-

In March 1964 she accepted a teaching post in Serowe

3.3 Change and modernity

4. How is the story told?

4.2 Structure and Plot Development

Rising Action *Robinson

4.4 Narrator’s point of view

4.6 Diction and figurative language

4.7 Tone and Mood

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