Chaka Resentment Essay

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Chaka‘s Resentment The legend of Africa’s warrior king Shaka Zulu is one well-known throughout history. Known as a fearless warrior and strategic military leader, Shaka’s ambitious spirit quickly catapulted him to the status of “King of the Zulu Nation”. With his leadership, the Zulu Nation would become one of Africa’s most powerful nations. However, Thomas Mofolo’s depiction of Shaka Zulu, in his historical epic novel “Chaka”, portrays a different side of Shaka Zulu. Though fearsome warrior and conquering king, Mofolo’s Chaka was also a man capable of extreme brutality, to both his enemies and members of his own nation. In this essay I will focus on what motivate Chaka’s cruelties as having developed from his illegitimate birth , unhappy youth and the resentmtnt of his father; in turn drove him to yield to evil supernatural forces by his on chosen and leads to his early death. Chaka was born out of wedlock and was the first male child of Chaka's father, Senzangakhona. His position as heir, however, became questioned after Senzangakhona's first three wives began to bear him male children even though the chief had quickly married Chaka's mother, Nandi, to cover up any suspicions his people might have. But Senzangakhona’s first wives plotted and put pressure on him to send Chaka and Nandi away from home. Fearing that his forbidden actions might be found out, Senzangakhona complied with his wives' demands. The news spread like wild fire of Chaka’s disinheritance and illegitimacy through the villages, making him and his mother the object of mockery and harassment. Even in Nandi’s homeland the gossip spread that Chaka is a “child of sin” The young boys tormented Chaka because they heard rumors that suggested it would be a good riddance if they killed him. They ganged up and beat him on the regular at times came close to ling him and Chaka had no knowledge of
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