The Heroism in Hoppie Noah Lastner 10th Grade

In The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay, Hoppie Groenewald is a train guard, conductor and star welter-weight boxer. While reading the book, the reader will notice Hoppie does not have as extensive of a role as some other characters but is undoubtably the strongest male presence in Peekay’s life. So far, a male figure is something Peekay needs: someone to be a good role model for him, someone that will inspire him forever. As the first male figure to look after Peekay, being a good role model and having a good first impression is very important. Courtenay creates Hoppie as a caring and determined individual whose traits allow him to inspire many others, including Peekay.

Peekay is in need of someone to look up to and care for him, someone who sincerely cares about him because he feels a deep loneliness. Courtenay deploys Hoppie specifically to do so, to fill the hole in Peekay’s empty pit of loneliness. Hoppie is a very caring individual; he feeds Peekay and makes sure he's properly dressed and comfortable at all times. When Peekay first meets Hoppie, he embarrasses himself by stumbling while going up a steep flight of steps. After this happens Hoppie says, “No worries, little brother, I too have fallen up those verdome steps...