Long Walk to Freedom

Long Walk to Freedom

by

Nelson Mandela

Long Walk to Freedom: Chapter 40 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Mandela doesn’t go home after the verdict because he’s still anxious about authorities coming for him, so he stays at a hotel in Cape Town. He makes the decision to start living underground, which changes his whole resistance strategy, requiring even more planning than before. There’s a warrant for his arrest, and he begins going out mostly at night. He begins to look unkempt to try to hide his identity.
Although Mandela triumphed in court earlier, his decision to go underground reflects his growing understanding that no matter what he does, he won’t be able to succeed within the crooked South African legal system. Mandela shows once again that he isn’t rigid in his beliefs and is willing to adapt his strategy to whatever makes sense in the present moment.
Themes
Racism and Division Theme Icon
Negotiation, Democracy, and Progress Theme Icon