The disparities between wealth and poverty and the implications for society when so many are robbed of their childhood, is a common theme in films and novels. In the novel "Tsotsi," by Athol Fugard and the film of the same title, directed by Gavin Hood, these themes are present. The plot of "Tsotsi" differs in the film and the novel. However, the basic outline of the plot is about a boy "Tsotsi," who lives in a township outside of Johannesburg. He is given a baby, who he is to look after. The story addresses the redemption of a hardened criminal in a cruel world. The conventions that are used, such as narrative conventions, characterisation and settings have been used in surprising ways by the author and the director. Both the film and novel employ techniques in an unusual way to engage the reader/viewer and portray the theme of redemption. .
Athol Fugard uses descriptive language in surprising ways in the description of Morris the cripple. The language used to describe Morris makes the readers feel disgusted and unsympathetic towards Morris. Morris is rarely referred to his proper name of Morris, but instead, the cripple, the beggar or the dogman. He is also portrayed as having "skin folded up and bulged out like ropes of a double stranded noose who has been pulled up by a savage jerk off its leash. The picture you imagine of a stray animal, particularly a dog with a disease is grotesque and readers are intimidated by the description to be disgusted in him. If Tsotsi decided to harm or even kill Morris, we would understand his decision, but if he chose to harm the baby we would have a different view of Tsotsi. The description by Athol Fugard of Morris makes readers feel horrified of Morris, not sympathetic.
The use of gaps and silences are surprising in some ways and in the narrator's analyse of the situation surrounding Gumboot in the markets and then when Tsotsi and his gang catch up with him on the train.
