Sizwe Banzi is Dead Essay Questions

What is the significance of the play's title?

The play's title refers to a line that Sizwe writes to his wife in a letter. He says that "Sizwe Bansi is, in a manner of speaking, dead." What he means is that he has abandoned his name in order to avoid deportation. He is not literally dead, but has instead renounced his former self. The play's title makes reference to the idea that Sizwe is still technically alive but has lost his identity and had spirit crushed by the oppression of the era.

How does the play depict life for Black citizens under apartheid?

The play paints a bleak portrait of the institutional segregation of apartheid. The story highlights the oppressive laws implemented by the National Party government, with a particular spotlight on the pass laws requiring Black citizens to carry around passports. These laws create Sizwe's problems, as he is both unable to find work and unable to continue living in the province he has come to in order to look for work. As he and Buntu discuss his options for escape, it becomes increasingly clear that he is trapped in a system that is working actively to make life as hard as possible for him. He is given no legal recourse to save himself and has to turn to impersonation and fraud to narrowly save his own life. The play shows how dehumanizing and destructive these political policies were and how they made it impossible for Black citizens to live day to day.

What function does Buntu serve in the play?

Buntu is a harsh realist. He frequently crushes Sizwe's hopes about the future and is constantly thinking of worst-case scenarios. When Sizwe says he might try and be a street vendor, Buntu reminds him of the permits he will need. When Sizwe says they should tell the police about the corpse they found, Buntu tells him they should not, as they will likely just be falsely charged with murder. Finally, Buntu pushes Sizwe to take the dead man's papers, as he will otherwise be deported. Buntu is perpetually aware of the ways in which white citizens will use their political power to abuse them. Buntu serves to provide an objective perspective on the rampant injustices of apartheid, advising Sizwe to make harsh, realistic choices to save himself.

How does Styles's story parallel Sizwe's?

Styles's story is a version of Sizwe's with a happier ending. Styles spends years working at a car factory, feeling miserable and oppressed by the poor labor conditions. He eventually decides to quit and successfully starts his own photography studio where he is able to be his own boss. In contrast, Sizwe is fired from his job and is unable to find new employment. Then he is told to leave the province, after being taken to a government office and receiving a stamp in his passbook. He only escapes this fate by stealing the identity of a dead man and pretending to be him. Styles is able to escape some measure of degradation, but Sizwe remains constantly subject to it. In this way, their stories reflect how no Black citizen was unaffected by the reach of apartheid.

What ultimately makes Sizwe's choice an impossible one?

Sizwe's choice is ultimately impossible in that he has no good options. He can keep his name but he will be deported, tearing him away from his family and likely forcing him to face death or detainment. He can give up his name and live as "Robert," but this will require him to give up his old life and face severe punishment if he is caught. Either way, he cannot just keep living as himself. The legal system makes it impossible for him to keep living without giving up some substantial part of himself. The harsh political atmosphere of apartheid leaves him with no real choices, as he faces brutal oppression regardless of what he decides to do.