Peekay Growing Up in The Power of One Essay

What does a poor boy do upon entering a wealthy school? If hes Peekay, he befriends Morrie. In the book Power of One by Bryce Courtenay, Peekay, a young English boy living in South Africa around the WWII era, is sent off to his second boarding school with nothingno friends, no money, only the knowledge he obtained from his adult friends back home and his boxing skills. Peekay has been an outsider since he went to his last boarding school at the age of five, where he was surrounded by Afrikaner children who hate him for being who he is. When he returns home and befriends Doc, the German music teacher and cacti collector, he gains knowledge that seems like it shouldnt interest a child or his age. Theres no questioning Peekay is different from normal children, but this time, this school, is different. Peekay has chosen to disregard his camouflage, the ability to blend into the background that he picked up at his last school, and stand up for who he is. At this important time in his life, he needs an ally and Morrie, a fellow outcast at Prince of Wales, quickly adopts him as his partner. Because of their close relationship at this crucial point in Peekays life, Morrie is very important to the story.

Morrie and Peekay are both outcasts and reach out for each other. Peekay is a poor boy who gets a scholarship to Prince of Wales School, a boarding school for rich Christians. Enter Morrie, the wealthy Jewish boy. Peekay is accustomed to being the outcast as hes always different from whatever group he joins. Morrie is looking for allies to begin his money-making scams and Peekay instantly fills the position. When the boys first arrive at the train station and are met by Sarge, the man demands to know why Peekay does not have a proper Christian name. When he asks Peekay why he doesnt have another name, Peekay responds, Its what Ive almost always been called, Sarge. However, Sarge is still upset by his lack of names and when he mocks Peekay again after learning George Andrew Sebastian Cunningham-Ryders name, Morrie returns the jab by pointing out, Perhaps Cunningham-Ryder can give Peekay one of his names, Sarge? This single comment binds him and Peekay together in the eyes of Sarge for as long as theyre at school.

Morrie and Peekay both require each others help to survive the school. Peekay has no spending money and is thus at a disadvantage while Morrie is a clever money maker determined to prove himself to his rich father by making his own way. Peekay and Morrie set up betting on Peekays boxing. Without Peekay's boxing skills, Morrie wouldnt make his money and without Morries collateral and people skills, Peekay wouldnt have been able to set up bets. After a while, Morrie and Peekay become dependent on each other. When Peekay leaves Barberton, his new home town, he keeps in touch with weekly letters that sometimes raise questions in his young, but well-learned, mind. Peekay and Morrie constantly expand their knowledge by sharing and researching Miss Bornsteins educational tidbits and even challenge their history teachers accuracymuch to the joy of their class and the humiliation of their teacher.

Throughout the story you see how different people are a vital part of Peekays growing up, like Doc and Hoppie Goldberg, but Morrie helps build Peekays confidence and provides the friendship and support needed at a critical time to a young mans development. Without Morries support and money-making abilities, Peekay would be out of money and wouldnt challenge his teachers, nor mingle with his fellow students as well as he did while at Morries side.

All information comes from The Power of One, written by Bryce Courtenay