Mine Boy Chapters 9–12 Summary and Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Peter Abrahams’ “Mine Boy” which is considered the first South African Modern Novel was first published in 1946. The novel was set in South Africa during the 1930s, and it tells us the story of Xuma, a young black  man from rural South Africa who travels to the city to find work in the gold mines. “Mine Boy” is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that explores the themes of race, identity and oppression in South Africa during the apartheid era. The novel is seen as a classic version of South African literature and is still widely read and studied today. The novel is considered  a prose fiction and was one of the first books to expose universally the conditions under the South African racial segregation. The novel “Mine Boy” employs several narrative techniques, such as third-person point of view, symbolism, flashbacks, irony, foreshadowing, stream of consciousness and social realism, to tell the story of Xuma and his experiences in the city of Johannesburg, and to convey deeper meanings and themes of the novel, such as race and racism, oppression and exploitation, identity and belonging, political awareness and resistance, and the impact of colonialism. Like “Cry, the Beloved Country” by Alan Paton and “Native Son” by Richard Wright, “Mine Boy” explores poverty, racial discrimination and social injustice.

Chapter 9

This chapter opens with Xuma being woken by Maisy, while it is still dark, reminding him that he must go to work. She then tells him to get dressed as she brings him food and coffee.  He sees that she made a bed herself on the floor and asks her if she slept there, she simply nods. He was confused as to why she did that as she had wanted him and when she got the opportunity, she slept on the floor, he just couldn’t understand why. Xuma then followed her out the little passage where she gave him directions on how to get to Malay Camp. But he didn’t leave immediately, he looked at Maisy’s face who had not looked at him all this time. She then raised her eyes and looked at him and they decided to go there again(      )

He was reluctant to leave at first but then he finally leaves, meeting Johannes, who was drunk, not very drunk but not sober, at the mine gates after changing at his room. Johannes tells Xuma that the police have taken his woman – Lena for drunkenness and noisiness.  Xuma suggests meeting Leah for a loan but Johannes disagrees bluntly saying that it’ll be good for Lena to work for the seven days given.

Paddy, and another white man out of the shack where the white man rested and had their tea. He saw Xuma and called him, making him leave Johannes at the tape where he was washing his face. Xuma went to the shack to meet him and Paddy tells him that the mine crew will work night shifts, starting at midnight for the next month.

Xuma attempts to leave but is stopped by Chris who had just come out of the shacks, telling him to tell Johannes that they’ll be waiting in place until the right time to explain the new shifts to him.

He then tells Johannes about the shift change and sends him to his room to rest, giving him the key and telling him to eat the bread and sardines he finds in the room.  Johannes is touched by Xuma’s generosity and feels ashamed of himself for being irresponsible by comparison. He then thanks Xuma who figured out what was going through Johannes’ mind and tells him that they are friends. Johannes tells Xuma that he saw Dladla, who had a lot of money and was drunk and boastful, saying that Leah would be sorry for what she did to him. He tells Xuma to warn Leah when he sees her that maybe Dladla had betrayed her to the police.

Xuma and Paddy  went into the cages with their men. Xuma walked beside Paddy. Together they went to look over the place where they were going to work, while the others waited near the cage as it was the duty of the white man and the boss boy to find out whether it was safe to work, to see if everything was in order. Xuma assessed the structure, studying the sides and roof of the tunnel, where the tunnel led to the wall where the working had to be, walking down the tunnel he called the others. Paddy and four white men drill and mark places that look like possible gold seams while Xuma instructs and shows the blacks how best to put a boulder on the conveyor belt.  Paddy took a drill, switched it on and held it to the side of the wall of rock. Xuma also, turns from a group of boys and picks up a drill next to Paddy and reflects on how they are two strong men working side by side, shoulder to shoulder, one white and one black.

One of the men who had been putting up the poles at the weak spot in the tunnel tapped Xuma’s shoulder. Xuma stopped his drilling and turned. The man shouted that there was water coming through, making Xuma follow him to the place. Xuma called Paddy and showed him the place, Paddy studied it for a while then went to the phone and shouted for an engineer to come look at it. An engineer comes down to assess the trickle of water leaking through the rock, and insists the structure is sound. Paddy looked at Xuma’s face and saw doubt there and had to  ask the engineer whether he was certain. The engineer was firm in his certainty, so they had to go back to their work.  When the time to eat came, the men flung their tools from them and stood around with tiredness on their faces. Xuma called them together to tell them about the new shifts but they cared less and left anyway.

The man near Xuma coughed and a trickle of red spittle flew out of his mouth and fell at Xuma’s feet. He looked at the man, he was an old man and  then took him aside asking him how long he’s had it for and why he hasn’t seen a doctor about it. The man said that he has a wife and two children and that they’ve worked it all out. He tells Xuma that he has a small farm and he owes a white man eight pounds and that if he doesn’t give the money back, the white man is going to take the farm. I have worked it all out, he says and he has been saving for four months and that if he saves for another three months he’ll have the eight pounds and his wife and children will have a home. He pleads with Xuma not to tell the white people that he is sick.  Paddy comes and asks Xuma what the problem was, he notices blood on the side of the man’s mouth. Xuma then told the man to tell Paddy about everything. Paddy then informs the man that he need not worry, that he’ll receive a sick pay.

Xuma, Paddy and the sick man go to the doctor who confirmed the man’s illness. They then got

the money from the cashier, ten pounds and  full month’s wages, three pounds five, making it thirteen pounds and five shillings in total; and a train ticket home. The man is grateful to Paddy and Xuma. He went to meet the other boys to tell them the good news and in his joy, he puffed his chest out and called out a battle-cry that ended in a painful lung-tearing cough. Xuma tells Paddy that he did a good thing and Paddy repeats the phrase bitterly.

Xuma changed his clothes and looked around the room smiling. He realized that Johannes, who had gone to his room earlier, had made the bed, swept the floor and left everything clean and tidy.

He didn’t feel tired or sleepy at all, so he decided to go out. He contemplated on whether to go to Leah’s house or not because if he were to go there, he’ll have to tell her about Dladla and he had seen the look on her face when she had spoken about the one who was betraying her. He then decided to go to Maisy’s. He wondered whether she would be busy or whether she would be afraid in case her white people saw him. But he felt sad and he knew that Maisy was the only one who could cheer him up. He knew Leah would understand if he told her but could not cheer him up, only Maisy would for she knew how. When he got to the broad tree-lined neighborhood, he was not sure of the house because he had not looked closely that morning. A boy named Johnny ran out of the passage and Xuma wondered whether to ask him. Maisy calls out to Johnny and that makes Xuma realize that that’s actually her place. Maisy comes out with her white boss, Johnny’s mother and at the sight of Xuma, she asks him if he didn’t go to the mines without minding her white woman.

Johnny’s mother invites Xuma to have tea and cookies with Maisy. Xuma tells Maisy about the man coughing blood when she asks him why he’s looking sad. They tell each other about how they feel about each other after which there was silence between them for a long time. He then remembers Dladla and tells her that he is the one betraying Leah. Then there was another stretch of silence between them. Maisy got up from where she sat near the window and walked over to the bed, she stood there looking down at him. He opened his eyes and looked at her. They decide to go tell Leah about Dladla.

Chapter 10

This chapter opens with Xuma and Maisy walking through the streets on their way to Malay Camp to warn Leah. They had spoken very little as Maisy was quiet and subdued in her manner. The joy and laughter that was usually with her was not there, Xuma walked beside her.

The thought of Eliza had come to his mind as they drew near the place, she had been out of his mind since he and Maisy had gone to Hoopvlei on Sunday morning and he had felt peaceful and happy, but there had been something lacking in his happiness. And he knew that at the back of his mind had been the knowledge that it was Maisy and not Eliza who was giving him this happiness, he had wanted it to be Eliza because he loves her. He wished he loved Maisy because she makes him happy. Maisy tells him that Eliza must love him since she went to his room the other night.

Xuma asks Maisy if she loves him but Maisy gets angry and crosses the road, hurrying down a side street. Xuma tried to follow her but the traffic and stream of people blocked his way.  He then continues to Leah’s place.

Xuma was shocked and stunned to see Leah dressed up in fancy clothes with new black, shining, low-heeled shoes. She was alone and slightly drunk. Leah strolled up and down the street, showing off her elegance to the people who lived in houses around, imitating the fashionable white of Johannesburg. A drunk old Daddy came rolling down the street, pretending to be a gentleman.

Further away, Maisy, who had just arrived, sat helplessly in the gutter.  Leah invites everybody to a party. The people applauded the invitation loudly and went into their homes to get out their best clothes. Maisy got up and went to Xuma, asking him if he told Leah about Dladla.  Xuma notices Eliza coming from down the street. Maisy followed his look and saw, she turned away abruptly and went into the house. Xuma stayed on the veranda, watching Eliza coming up the street. He was surprised that she waved at him. He jumped off the veranda, an eager smile on his lips. But he did but go to her, he waited. She waved again. He hurried forward. She smiled up at him, he took her hand. She looked apologetic and he could see the warmness in her eyes for him. She leaned towards him a little and looked at him and there was warmth and love in her eyes and Xuma was happy. She says that she is his woman, that she cannot help it, that she is just his woman,  after he tells her that it is bad if a man loves a woman and she loves him not. She asks him if he’ll be happy if she loves him. He didn’t respond but she could see the answer to her question in his eyes. She tells him that he must be strong with her for she is bad. Eliza cries. Maisy comes out and in an instant, takes in everything with one sharp look. She tells them that the food is ready. Xuma and Eliza followed her into the house.

Leah looked at Xuma and Eliza and gave one snorting laugh, loud and raucous. Eliza drew Xuma to a bench. Leah got up and looked at Maisy, she slipped her arm around Maisy’s shoulders and held her affectionately.  She tells her that she would be the head of the party, leading the dances, starting the party and handling all the orders. Leah tells Eliza harshly to look after her man when she said she wants to start the party.  Maisy starts the party by singing a happy song. The music was warm and cheering and Maisy’s voice was hoarse and warm. And as she sang there was laughter in her eyes again.  Ma Plank tells Leah that Xuma is a fool for choosing Eliza, and Leah says that no man is a fool who takes the woman he wants.

Leah plans to deal with Dladla in a few days’ time, stating that this was his party, to celebrate her discovery of a traitor. She goes into the house and finds Xuma and Eliza there, lingering over their food. She could see that Xuma and Eliza were both happy. She tells them that if they have trouble, they should come to her for she loves them both and she will help them. She then asks Eliza if she loves Xuma and Eliza said yes. She offers to give Xuma and Eliza everything in Eliza’s room for when they start their life together.

She tells Xuma to go and find Maisy and dance with her. Eliza put down the things and put her head on Leah’s laps and holds her. Xuma finds Maisy and asks if he could dance with her and she accepts his offer. He tells her that Eliza loves him and that she is a good friend and she says she is happy for him and that he must remember to go to work at midnight.

After dancing, Eliza drags Xuma to a quiet corner of the yard and they sit down on some rugs near a fire. Eliza makes him rest his head on her lap and feeds him the food given to her by an old woman. After they had eaten the food, Xuma tells her about his home and his people and about the things he had done and the things he had wanted to do when he was a young boy. Then she told him about herself, about how she had not known her parents, how they had died when she was very young and how Leah had looked after her and sent her to school. She tried to tell him about the madness that took hold of her at times, that made her hate herself because her skin was black, the white people because their skin were white and her own people because they did not want the things of the white. But it was hard to tell, for the words would not come. It was hard to explain the emptiness in her breast sometimes or the feeling that made her want to kill people. So she simply said, “it is the madness of the city that is in me”.  He told her not to talk about it.  And over and over she told him she loved him and he told her over and over again that he loved her.

Eliza looks at her watch and sees that it is nearly eleven. It is time to go, she told him.  Xuma tells her to dance with him. They then left together afterwards to Xuma’s room where he changed his clothes. Eliza went round the room, touching everything. She walked with him to the spot where they had been that first Saturday.  Xuma remembers the first time they had been on that spot, he had tried to kiss her but she had fought him. It seemed like such a long time, then he knew nothing of the mines. Now he was a boss and knew very much, almost everything. She says she fears him more now that she loves him. He walked hurriedly down the little footpath that led to the directions of the mine. He turned once and waved, Eliza watched him till the pale blanket of darkness covered him, then she turned and slowly made her way back to Malay Camp.

Chapter 11

Chapter eleven with Xuma waking to the sound of birds, noise of water and of the wind in the leaves. The voice of the bird changes to the voice of a person humming. He is confused to see that the bed clothes were covering him as he remembered throwing himself on top of the bed clothes and to see that his shoes had been removed too. He turned his head, there was a warm, glowing fire in the centre of the room. And the sound of the wind in the leaves was the frying of the pan on fire. But there was no one in the room and the humming he had been hearing had gone. Again he heard the humming, it came from outside. The door opened and Eliza entered carrying bread and some paper parcels. She stopped humming and smiled when she saw him awake. Xuma was startled to see her there and felt foolish for being startled. He had never expected her to come to the room and make fire and cook food, maybe Maisy would do that but Eliza; he never thought so. She hugged him and then went to the frying pan and turned the steak. The water boiled, she made tea and cut bread.  Xuma and Eliza talk about their past love life. Then they ate, talked very little and were happy.

Eliza asks Xuma if he wants her to come live with him and he says yes. She then asked him why he didn’t ask her, he tells her why and she tells him to ask her now but he couldn’t, he tried but words would not come and there were like hard lumps in his throat. He does and she agrees that they’ll make the small single room a home and eventually get two rooms.

Ma Plank comes to them with news of Dladla’s death and that Leah wants Xuma to come to her. At Leah’s, she says she wants to know who if it was one of them, for her to know how to act. She implores them not to hide or lie stating that the police will be there soon. She says they’ll come, for Dladla to betrayed her.

She then asks everyone of  them if they did kill him but no one in the room takes the responsibility and Leah says she did not think it was Johannes as she still spoke to him that morning. Police arrive at Leah’s place and question her. After questioning, they decide to talk her in. Xuma jumps up from his seat, offering to go with her, but Leah tells him to stay back and look after the others. Suddenly, Eliza jumps up and rushes at the foremost policeman. Xuma pulled her way from the policeman. The police take Leah and Eliza cries. Ma Plank, Daddy, Maisy and Eliza are sad . In the corner, Daddy wept quietly.  However, a few hours later, Leah returns, Ma Plank pulled her in and fussed around her, gave her coffee, offered her food, laughed and cried, all at once. Maisy took Leah’s hand and kept caressing it. Daddy woke, saw Leah and burst into tears, then he went back to sleep again. Eliza burst out crying and clung to Xuma, burying her head on his shoulder. They fussed about Leah as though she had been on a long journey and had not been with them in a long time. Everyone was happy once again. Leah took Xuma’s hand and smiled for a long time. Even the neighbors came to greet her and tell her how pleased they were that she returned. Leah and Xuma both wondered who killed Dladla, but it was never discovered who killed him.

Chapter 12

Chapter twelve begins five days after, when Xuma and Eliza strolled him through the gathering dusk. The past five days has been good for Xuma as he and Eliza had loved and been together all the time. He and Eliza had a routine where they spent as much time together as they could before his shift at the mine.  At times, they go to Leah’s after food and they would talk and help with selling. Sometimes, Xuma noticed that Eliza was quiet and far away, deep in her own brooding thoughts. He figured later on that it was caused by his night shifts. She asks him when the night-shift finishes and he says in another two weeks.

Xuma and Eliza’s neighbor tells them that Ma Plank came by asking that they go to Leah’s quickly. At Leah’s, they are informed that Daddy had been hit by a car. The doctor came and announced that Daddy has internal injuries that’ll kill him. Everyone of them gather, consoling each other as Daddy dies before then in Leah’s bed.

Xuma sets for work alone as Eliza did not go part of the way with him. When he came back from work the next morning, he went straight there. Leah was still in the same grieving state as she was the night before. Maisy and Eliza had not gone to work. Everyone on the street helped with the funeral as they had known Daddy and loved him; which they conducted that day, biting Daddy at the native cemetery on the hill beyond Vrededorp.