Maturation in I KNow Whay the Caged Bird Sings, and The Power of One
...riated about the disrespect that Momma was getting, and had a hard time biting her tongue. However Momma, on the other hand, was still humming the gospel hymns. Maya could not believe Momma was taking this from poor white girls. But as Momma came into the store, Maya realized that Momma had won the battle between her and the white girls. Momma didn’t let it get to her. However, after this situation Maya realized the injustice of racism on her people. She realized that as hard as she works and as hard as she tries, she will never be equal to the whites. This came as a hard hit, but not as hard as some other struggles she would have I her coming life. In the middle of the novel The Power of One, Peekay finds probably his best friend; Doc. Doc is an interesting character. He is German, and loves photography, and music. He teaches Peekay how to play the piano, and how to conquer his fears. He was basically his mentor. While Peekay is with Doc, Peekay turns into a man from the child he once was at the Afrikaans boarding school, where he was beaten daily by the Judge. Doc taught him to let go of those experiences, and grasp the one’s that are coming his way. Peekay very much matures in this part of the novel, and is forever changed into a nice, generous hero, instead of an egocentric hero. Peekay loved Doc so much, and learned whatever he could from him. This is how Peekay matured. He learned every little thing he could from Doc, and even went to the jail to visit him when he was arrested. While Peekay was there he made another good friend and coach, Geel Piet. Geel Piet teaches him many things like how to box, not fight, and his eight-punch combination. He also teaches Peekay about the black market, and together they run one in the prison. Peekay is now growing up, and is learning how to accept people for who they are. In the end of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya decides to run away from her fears. She has a big fight with Big Bailey’s girlfriend, Dolores, and Big Bailey drives her to one of his friend’s house. She...