100% satisfaction guarantee Immediately available after payment Both online and in PDF No strings attached
logo-home
Previously searched by you
Previously searched by you
logo
Power of Familial Connection in The Theory of Flight R50,00   Add to cart
Quickly navigate to
Preview
  2.  
  3. 12th Grade
  4.  
  5. English Home Language

Book review

Power of Familial Connection in The Theory of Flight
 10 views  0 purchase

This document entails an in-depth analysis of contrasting family dynamics as well as their links to transcendence, in 'The Theory of Flight,' by Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu. This analysis also includes specific quotations from the novel. Using these notes, I placed in the Top 1% Nationally for English H...

[Show more]

Preview 1 out of 2  pages

Document information

  • January 24, 2024
  • 2
  • 2023/2024
  • Book review
  • Unknown

Subjects

  • analysis of family theme in theory of flight

Connected book

book image

Book Title:

Author(s):

  • Edition:
  • ISBN:
  • Edition:

More summaries for

All for this textbook (33)

Written for

All documents for this subject (1127)

Seller

avatar-seller
auerellopillay

Content preview

Auerello Matthaeus Pillay Reddam House Waterfall 12 – Mrs de Carvalho



Power of Familial Connection in TTOF

In the novel, The Theory of Flight, by Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu, family is presented as a
powerful concept, through which characters enact the values they have been taught.
This is most apparent in Prudence Ngoma’s nurturing parenting. Consequently, this
leads to her son, Golide Gumede’s materialisation of his Theory of Flight, despite
doubt, and her daughter, Minenhle Tikiti’s uncompromising resistance to protect her
brother. By examining the characters’ upbringing, Ndlovu presents the need for one
to have a strong moral basis, emotional support, and motivation, to be able to
withstand and transcend beyond suffering.


Prudence Ngoma compassionately raises her children to be strong and virtuous.
Considering she believes character is “something you sowed, nurtured, grew,
cultivated and then reaped,” she raises her children “to be proud and never look or
feel defeated.” She finds her husband, “Baines in love with something else, a
contraption.” It is this contraption that foreshadows Golide’s Theory of Flight.
Prudence speaks “to an inner truth.”


Golide Gumede, Genie’s father, chooses to materialise his Theory of Flight, despite
its seeming impossibility. Seeing as “being capable of flight would come at a price,”
Golide’s Theory of Flight, at first, appears impractical. Every aspect of the
materialisation of his plan to fly is expensive and apparently debilitating, with “parts
either having to be bought or manufactured,” and people having to be “educated and
trained.” Most restrictively, “the state’s monopoly on manufacturing had to be
destroyed and decentralised.” These obstacles would prevent the average person
from fulfilling their dreams. However, Golide rather harnesses these restraining
factors and chooses to spend “his time thinking of ways to make the people
understand that they were still capable of flight.” Here, through the vigour of personal
agency, Ndlovu presents the leadership trait of resilience . Though controversial,
Golide “strategically” shoots down a Vickers Viscount, carrying passengers, “so that
it would land virtually undamaged in the guerrilla camp.” In this way, he is able to
teach his race of angels “how aeroplanes work… at no cost.” By virtue of
surmounting the seemingly impossible, Golide exercises the power of choice; in that

1

The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:

Guaranteed quality through customer reviews

Guaranteed quality through customer reviews

Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.

Quick and easy check-out

Quick and easy check-out

You can quickly pay through EFT, credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.

Focus on what matters

Focus on what matters

Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!

Frequently asked questions

What do I get when I buy this document?

You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.

Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?

Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.

Who am I buying this summary from?

Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller auerellopillay. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.

Will I be stuck with a subscription?

No, you only buy this summary for R50,00. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.

Can Stuvia be trusted?

4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)

77254 documents were sold in the last 30 days

Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy summaries for 14 years now

Start selling
R50,00
  • (0)
  Buy now