Question 1

The following extract is from Umongikazi (The Nurse), a play written by Maishe Maponya that depicts the labour conditions of black nurses during the apartheid era in South Africa. The action begins after Nyamezo has arrived home from her work as a nurse and reads an article that explains there will be no salary raise for nurses in the upcoming year.

(Enter FEZILE in a happy mood)

FEZILE (With both hands clutched together, hiding something. He sings.)
I’ve got the world in my hands… I’ve got the world on my fingertips…

NYAMEZO (Getting more irritated)
And what is that supposed to mean?

FEZILE
It’s a song…

NYAMEZO
I know that, but what are you doing?

FEZILE
The conquest of nature by Fezile—a discovery. I am yo‑yoing… First I yo; and then yo again… Thus producing a familiar repetitive motion known as yo‑yoing… (Parting his hands to reveal long string with a yo‑yo at the tip)… One of these days my name will go down in the history books of the world. How would you feel about it? Obviously great! And what is that supposed to mean? (Gesturing at the papers with his head)

NYAMEZO
What?

FEZILE
Papers on the floor!

NYAMEZO
Rubbish! Rubbish! I can’t stand reading this paper these days. I often wonder why we have to pay subscription fees each year. It is as if the black nurse does not exist. Nothing is said about us and the progress we make.

FEZILE (Ignoring her)
Well I’m conquering gravity. Proving that what goes down must come up.

NYAMEZO
Will you stop that and start clearing this mess, if you don’t want to listen—go and trim the hedge!

FEZILE (Continues with his yo‑yo tricks)
I thought as much—look—look I told you. I’m conquering nature! (Sings) I’ve got the world spinning and spinning at my command…

NYAMEZO
You are wasting time! Will you clear up this mess?

FEZILE
I’ll clear it up after I’ve done this my dear.

NYAMEZO
I know you won’t.

FEZILE
I will. Look at that skill! Makes me feel like a god. A movement of my hand and the world spins my way. (Sings) Give it a twist, just a flick of the wrist.

NYAMEZO (Peering at something she has missed as she went through the papers. Pulls the whole page out.)
Yes, this is where it all began, the whole story of the nursing council—all in one phrase…

FEZILE
Shoo! Ain’t funny? Keeps on going down and up again—I can’t stop it…

NYAMEZO
I sometimes think you don’t live in the same world as the rest of us. The only thing you are concerned about is that daft toy. Does nothing get through to you? Does your mind drift through your head like foggy smoke with no direction, no purpose?

(FEZILE continues to yo‑yo.)

FEZILE
You should relax my darling…

NYAMEZO (Irritated)
You don’t understand, just put that thing away?

FEZILE
It is a cord. An umbilical cord between me and peace…

– Consider the contrast between the characterisation of Fezile and Nyamezo in this extract and the effect this achieves.