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Chapter 53
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Long Walk to Freedom, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Racism and Division
Negotiation, Democracy, and Progress
Nonviolent Protest vs. Violent Protest
The Value of Optimism
Summary
Analysis
One night in late May, Mandela learns that he’s being transferred to the Robben Island prison. The guards at the new prison all seem to take pride in being strict and cruel. Mandela tries to remain defiant while avoiding being beaten, which is common in the prison. He struggles with the poor conditions, particularly the isolation, in spite of his attempts to connect with other prisoners when he gets the opportunity. One day at prison, he sees a foreman from Liliesleaf Farm and realizes that the police must have discovered his old hiding place. He learns later about a raid at the farm that led to several arrests.
The transfer to Robben Island is a bit of a blow to Mandela, particularly given the poor conditions. Robben Island thus emerges as a symbol for how the government seeks to isolate activists like Mandela and in doing so, deprive them of their power. When Mandela learns about the raid on Liliesleaf Farm, he is reminded again of how the people who support him often face consequences—and this gives him a sense of responsibility to live up to the trust that these people put in him.
Themes
