How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Shhhh. I will avenge you, this I promise. Don't cry, champ, don't cry, little boetie." (14.52)
This is the first time that someone steps in for Peekay, offering to get revenge for him rather than making him deal with the hurt on his own. Captain Smit is so angry about Geel Piet's death that he promises to avenge his death—even though he himself had treated him poorly because of his race.
Quote #2
"This kaffir's blood will haunt you till you die," Captain Smit said. (14.117)
Captain Smit is teaching Borman a lesson for killing Geel Piet, and even though he's not the one who puts a curse on Borman, he has made it possible for the people to do so. This means that everybody gets a piece of Borman, a sort of group revenge.
Quote #3
The people knew. The curse was fixed. Lieutenant Borman was dead meat. (15.118)
Do you believe that certain groups, with enough collective negative thoughts, can cause someone else's death? That's what Peekay is claiming happened here, because Captain Smit let the black prisoners know who was responsible for Geel Piet's murder. Groupthink is a powerful, powerful thing.
Quote #4
It was not long after Geel Piet's death that Lieutenant Borman started to complain of piles. (15.31)
Piles are another word for hemorrhoids, an illness that affects the very parts of the body that Borman preferred for torturing his victims. It's poetic justice to see someone being tortured by pains in their…ahem…rectum after torturing others with just the same sort of pain.
Quote #5
"It's God's justice," Gert confided to me. [. . .] Those of us who had been in the gym that night all knew Borman was under a curse. (15.32)
Here religion is used for good, because according to these guys, God is always right—this also foreshadows the ultimate revenge that Peekay will take on the Judge.
Quote #6
Lieutenant Borman died knowing what it felt like to have a donkey prick jammed up your arse until your entrails spill out. (15.70)
One word: ouch. This is an awfully graphic scene, and it hurts even to read it. But the point is that, even though Borman died of natural causes, his death is very similar to the one he inflicted on Geel Piet, meaning that perhaps God—or the People—have taken their revenge on Borman.
Quote #7
Morrie had outfoxed him and avenged himself at the same time. (20.75)
Do you think that Morrie knew all along that Jaapie would take the bet? He was quick with a response that allowed him to get revenge for Jaapie's rude comments, and also make some quick cash. Cha-ching.
Quote #8
"Then, with Mr. Nguni's help and for a small sum, yet to be determined, we'll sell a correspondence course for blacks throughout South Africa. We'll even send one to Captain Swanepoel and tell him to jam it up his arse so that every time he farts he sounds intelligent!" (22.197)
The idea here is that if the police want to shut down the school for Africans to keep them ignorant and easily controlled, the boys will get their revenge by educating even more Africans by mail. What a crafty and creative bunch—sign us up to help.
Quote #9
If its partner is killed, the second snake will often wait for the killer to return, prepared to die in order to take revenge. (23.102)
This is a symbol for Peekay himself; he waits for Granpa Chook's killer to return and risks his life to avenge him. All for a darn chicken. Hey, we'd still be mad too.
Quote #10
Nothing would ever remove the wide band of scar tissue which would form to make up the flag and the initials that canceled out the swastika. (24.102)
What do you think of Peekay's revenge? Is it good enough? Too much? What would you have done in the same situation? Why do you think that his obsession with the Judge was wiped away with just that one act?