Geel Piet In The Power Of One

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Within The Power of One, Bryce Courtenay creates many characters that influence the narrator’s, Peekay, life. These characters are often shown through contrasting characteristics. Geel Piet, a boxing coach and prisoner, trains Peekay in boxing so Peekay can achieve his life goal, becoming welterweight champion of the world. Geel Piet notices Peekay’s determination and coaches him through to his full ability. Geel Piet is a great wrestling coach, but what contradict this great skill is the fact he is very selfish. Geel Piet is a well trained boxer, giving him the skills to teach boxing efficiently to his students. While he is locked up in jail he learned how to box and got proficient at the skill. “After all [Geel Piet's] years of incarceration …show more content…

Peekay speaks of his great skill with boxing and even calls him a genius for this skill. Geel is then compared to Doc. Doc to his music skills and Geel Piet to his boxing skills. Peekay admits that Geel Piet’s skill for boxing out does that of Doc’s and music. Peekay could potentially be biased being he does not see him in a future of music, but Peekay admits that Doc is his best friend, so it is saying something. Peekay was too young to join the team, he begged Captain Smith to let him train on the team, but not necessarily fight against other people. Peekay was nervous about Geel Piet, being that Geel Piet is a criminal. Peekay thought Geel Piet would not teach him because of his age, but Peekay was wrong, when he asked Geel Piet about joining he said, “‘I will help you to be a great boxer,’ he said simply. And that was how it all got started” (213) Peekay …show more content…

With a sudden explosion, Smit's fist caught him in the mouth.” (217) Geel Piet wanted to find a sutable boxer to train and teach his skills too, but he couldn’t find anyone worth teaching. This shows his selfishness because instead of teaching all the kids to the fullest he can, he would rather teach one student to the fullest potential. That happens to be Peekay. Peekay later finds himself in a bind, he has to fight a kid at school and wants to learn “dirty fighting” or rather street fighting, so he can take this kid down quick. He asks Geel Piet. “Geel Piet, I felt sure, would show me how to fight dirty as

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