The Power of One, by Bryce Courtenay, addresses the stories, tendencies, and emotions of human life. Throughout the story we see “a mixture of people and social status(Courtenay 329)”- different characters fighting different battles, and facing a variety of conclusions. In every story there is one strong message: Karma is the inevitable resolution to any situation. Whether it be good or bad, people will get exactly what they deserve. Young narrator Peekay gains empathy, cleverness, and ambition throughout the story displaying the endure and achieve nature of the book.
Peekay suffers through several trials as a small boy, being bullied by the Judge and his followers leaves him afraid and submissive to almost any confrontation. Coincidentally,…show more content… When we closer examine it though, it clearly runs parallels to instances of karma. The Judge is physically superior in every way, so Peekay must learn to fight with his brains, he cultivates strategy to beat the bully, “Victory was mine a second time. My first attempt at manipulation had been successful(Courtenay.41).” Later he goes back to boarding school with a philosophy of “actively making the system work for you(Courtenay 323).” This shows that Peekay grows up using his camouflage tactics to survive, Peekay develops this mentality from adapting to his environment, the very core of his torment guides his strategy of intellectual succes. Resourcefulness is a weapon used to vindicate the victims in this book too. When encountering Jamie Geldenhouse, who refuses “business with a filthy Jewboy(Courtenay 405)” Morrie uses his cleverness to place an indefeatable bet, “Morrie had outfoxed him and avenged himself at the same time(Courtenay 405).” This shows the tactical advantages Peekay and Morrie, someone passes judgement on someone he believes weaker, the very person rises up and outsmarts him. It is not only cunning or scholarly comprehension Peekay possesses, at the age of five, he observes, “If you listen close enough, you can hear the most amazing things going on behind a speaker’s voice(Courtenay 116).” This is incredible wisdom, for a young boy to recognize and understand the inner working of someone rather than to analyze it. Peekay is given a tool of great thought to even the scales of
