Bryce Courtenay is a Australian author who grew up in South Africa. In a way, his life is very similar to that of Peekay's. Besides values and beliefs, Courtenay and Peekay have at least 15 similarities. Courtenay was a illegitimate child. He had a mother, who couldn't look after him, and, as a result, put him in a orphanage. At the orphanage, Courtenay learned to box so he could protect himself against bullies. Like Peekay, Courtenay was not racist. Both tried to set up a school for black adults, which is also the reason Courtenay was thrown out of the country.
Throughout the book, Peekay gives his thoughts and opinions on every scene, as if he is telling the story. This stream of consciousness makes the book seem more real, as if the story really happened, and gives Bryce Courtenay the opportunity to give his opinions. This way of writing also keeps the book entertaining and captures the audience. Through this, the reader is brought close to Peekay, as well as providing a laugh when Peekay expresses some of his thoughts (like when he 'finds out he is evil' at the beginning of the book). This stream of consciousness starts right at the beginning of the book, when Peekay starts 'telling' his story. The first words of the book are 'This is how it happened', which informs the reader that the book is not very formal, and invites him/her to read on.
The author also uses tone to give his thoughts and opinions about certain topics found in the book. One such topic was Christianity. The tone the author set for Christianity was on of dislike. The first time Peekay is 'exposed' to Christianity is when he goes home to his mother. His nanny is gone, because she wouldn't be reformed to Christianity. This makes Peekay sad, and the reader begins to dislike Christianity. Every time Christianity is portrayed, it appears a pathetic religion that has no base and you just have to believe. Peekay's mother is always repeating the words "Praise the Lord", and "Hallelujah". This is pathetic, and not a true representation of Christianity. Peekay views Christianity as a nuisance. Everything he wants to do is not God's 'will', and is 'on his list of 'don'ts''. This is very obvious in the scene where Peekay is talking to his friend Hymie Levy on the phone. The 'born-again Christian' girl at the phone desk cuts Hymie off because he is blaspheming. When she stops listening in, even Peekay blasphemes, showing his thoughts on the subject. The tone set for Christianity is very convincing, despite the fact that it is extremely wrong.
The tone for racism is very different then Christianity. Peekay treats everyone alike, despite their race, and the fact that he, himself, was subject to racism. Thus, racism is viewed negatively. The first instance of racism in the book is when Peekay is bullied because he was a English 'Rooinek' and not a 'Boer'. This already makes the reader hate racism. Another scene with racism is in the prison, when the warder punches the 'dirty Kaffir' black person for something he didn't even do. Peekay obviously isn't racist. At his primary school, Peekay is considered a 'Boer' by the African kids. He is able to intercede between the 'Boers' and the English. At the college, the boys from the Boer school think Peekay is one of them. Peekay treats the black people like people in the Barberton prison, and again when he becomes their great chief, 'the tadpole angel'.
Courtenay uses his life experiences to create a stream of consciousness coming from Peekay, and his values and beliefs to help create the tone. Both the tone Courtenay sets and the stream of consciousness Peekay gives the author make convincing opinions, presented as facts, about certain topics.
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