Because
Sizwe Bansi is dead, he can stay alive. Likewise, because Charles Darney is
dead, Charles too can stay alive and accompany his wife and his daughter. Just
as Sizwe becomes Robert Zwelinzima, Charles Darney has to become Sdyney Carton.
When I read Sizwe Bansi Is
Dead, what stood out the most is the character, Bansi, taking on someone
else’s identity and that reminded me of Charles Darney making the same decision
to stay alive.
Sizwe
Bansi is alive because he has a new identity. In the play Sizwe Bansi Is Dead by Fugar, Kani, and Ntshona, the story
surrounds Sizwe Bansi who came to a town to find a job to support his family.
Unfortunately, because of a stamp on his passbook that indicates his criminal
record, he cannot obtain a job and he must leave the town. Sizwe Bansi,
nonetheless, becomes Robert Zwelinzima to stay in town, get a job, and support
his family.
Similarly,
Charles Darney is alive because he is dead, at least his name dies. From the
novel, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, Charles Darney has
to take on a new identity like Sizwe Bansi. However, Charles Darney’s problem
is that he has to be executed because he is related to the Marquis, who wronged
the French citizens. Nonetheless, Charles is not the one who die; instead of
him, Sdyney Carton substitutes and become Charles Darney. Thus, Sdyney Carton
is the one who dies as Charles and Charles must live as Sdyney to survive.
Another
similarity the two stories have is that the characters switch their identities
and sacrifice their pride and more for their love ones. Sizwe only becomes
Robert Zwelinzima because he needs to stay in New Brighton and to find a job
that can support his wife and his four children back in King William’s Town. In
the novel, Sdyney is in love with Lucie Manette, but she is married to Charles.
Nonetheless, Sdyney still loves her and wants her to be happy. Therefore, he is
willing to replace Charles and to die in his lieu. Thus, Sdyney Carton becomes
Charles Darney. In addition, Charles Darney has to change his identity and
become Sdyney because not only does he not have a choice, but also he needs to
support Lucie, his father-in-law, and his daughter.
Besides
changing identities, the characters, Sizwe Bansi and Sdyney Carton are similar
in that they come to accept their new identities. At first Sizwe is reluctant
to become Robert Zwelinzima, but with much persuasion from Buntu, he realizes
that he needs to be Robert. Still Sizwe cannot say he is Robert; nonetheless,
when he goes to meet Style, he is able to say his full name and his
identification number. This is similar to Sdyney in that when he first becomes
Carton, he is not responsive to his name being called. When Sdyney meets a
seamstress, who thought it is Charles, Sdyney do not realize that he is being
called. Although he does not need to become another person and know the details
like Sizwe does, Sdyney does become Charles when he is being called by the
executioner because he do not hesitate and gets guillotined.
In the
beginning, Sizwe do not want change his name because of his pride but after a
while and the persuasions of his friend, he realizes that his family is more
important. Sdyney is only substituting for Charles because of Lucie and Charles
has no choice but to accept what happened because he was drugged to sleep.
Thus, these stories make me realize that names are just something we are
referred to. After reading their decision to change their identity, I feel we
can identify ourselves in many other ways beside the name. We are distinguished
from one another in our personality and character, so I believe that although a
name is meaning, who we are and how we portray ourselves is more important
because a name can be changed easily. Therefore, I think that a name is not
extremely important especially now that we can change our name easily but who
we are on the inside and our personalities cannot be changed.
I like how you said that the identity of a person isn’t based on a name, it is based on personality. The argument you presented reminds me of the saying: Don’t judge a book by its cover. Though Charles and Sizwe are trapped in their new identity, they don’t have to change anything about themselves. They are who they are, through and through.
ReplyDeleteBut in the case of Sizwe, he has to lose all connections he has to his family because of his newfound identity. And going off on a tangent, the theme of identity makes me wonder how much importance society puts on us to be unique individuals so that we can stand out in a crowd.
We all strive to differentiate ourselves from those around us, whether forced upon us in the form of our student ID number, or even on a daily basis through the way we dress. But identifying who we are to the world and finding a place for ourselves to fit in doesn’t make us any different on the inside. For example, by dressing up a nerd in the most fashionable clothes may change him/her appearance on the outside, similar to Sizwe and Charles taking on new identities. But on the inside, that same nerd will still like his comic books and action figures just as much despite the change of appearance.
I agree that the whole idea of identity is such a big theme in both Sizwe Banzi is Dead and the Tale of Two Cities. All three characters, Sizwe, Charles, and Sydney must give up there identity in order to protect and support their families and loved ones. Sizwe accepts his new identity to work and support his wife and children, while Charles must also continue on for his family. Sydney does so to protect his love, Lucie, from losing her husband. I think sacrifice, along with identity, is also apparent in both works. They go a bit hand to hand in both the stories, as these characters must sacrifice their previous lifestyles/persona for a new one. Like you have said, I agree that names do not really dictate our identity because so much more goes into developing it other than what we are called. However, names do hold a bit of history, kind of like a base in which we can always come back to. I can understand both arguments and I find what Wendy discussed interesting. How much importance does society put on individuality, let alone identity?
ReplyDeleteThese two stories seem to almost be the one and the same with how the characters change their identities because they want to protect not themselves but their loved ones and to live on so they could support them with their new identity. I agree with you as well that it is so easy to change a name and be called a different one but not your personality. I remember when I was younger, we played a game with my class involving 'trading' names with my classmates to see if we were alert enough to respond to the name change. It was a little difficult due to when as a kid, you always respond to your given name because that was how you were taught by your parents and society. However, changing your personality is a much more difficult task because it is who you are and it is what makes you, basically, you. Living a life with a whole new name will take time but it is possible; it's when you have to become someone who you are not when things become more difficult.
ReplyDeleteThis was an excellent comparison. I have not yet read A Tale of Two Cities, but I have planned to do so for a while now.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I do in a way agree with you that you are not your name necessarily. I do agree that we are we because of what is inside of us - our personality. However, I do have to say that a name is still a part of us. It can be changed quite easily, but it does provide many connections. A name was chosen by our parents. Sometimes the name was that of a grandfather or aunt or someone close to the parent. There is history associated with a name. Although, all the memories created could easily have been the same with a different name, but I still feel it has some significance. It's like being given a nickname within your family. The name could easily be changed, but it would not bring out the same feelings or emotions as the original nickname did. Over time the new nickname will have new associations and new feelings attached to it, that is true.
Both characters sacrifice their names for the greater good of their family, and I respect that.