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Pieter Muller is an enigmatic figure, characterized by his thickset build, ginger hair, and a demeanor that’s both bullish and calculating. Once the head of police during Apartheid, he is portrayed as a cold manipulator, showing no remorse for his past actions, including the murder of Steve Sizela. Living on a farm with well-trained dogs and a fondness for bantams, he fears the ghosts of his past and is wary of potential incrimination. His provocation of James Sizela raises questions about his motivations and the dark, ruthless aspects of his character.
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Analysis ofthecharacterof Pieter Muller
- thickset man, gingerbeard, gingerhair, bullish neck - alwaystalks in shortsentences, from time to time speaks afrikaans - living on a farm, oftentalkstohisanimals, has a hedgeryofbantams - married, has well-traineddogs - formerheadofpolice in Smitsrivier (duringtheeraof Apartheid) - interrogator, torturer, murdererof Steve Sizela - hiswifesays he is a good man, verycaring General Information
- surroundedby an auraofmight - fears „theghostsofthepast“ - fearsthat Dirk Hendricks might talk abouthispastandincriminate Pieter - showsnoregretforhavingkilled Steve Sizela - worriedabout Mary - even in hisdeath he wantstosupporthiswife - provokes James Sizelatoshoothimandhavehiswifepaid-out hislife-assurance - he does not wanttoappear in front ofthe TRC, ratherwouldcommitsuicide Characterization
Wouldyoucallhim a cold-bloodedsadist? - Pieter Muller is a coldmanipulator. He triedtogethimself out ofaffairby corrupting Hendricks - doesn‘tbelieve he hasdonesomethingbad, doesn`tshowregret - racistwhohasnorespectfor human dignity - he stickstohisideals, wouldrather die thanadmittthat he was wrongandbegformercy -> Itisdifficulttodecide on whether he iscold-bloodedor not, because he hasideals, that aren‘tcomparablewithours. He didhisjob. But still fromany modern pointofview he definetlyis a cold-bloodedsadist. WhatSortof man is he?
- dislikesthe TRC because he doesn‘twantthetruthtoberevealed - does not wanttoreconcilewithhisvictims - is not ashamedofwhat he hasdone - he will neverbegformercy Muller is not interested in applyingforamnesty He definetlyknows, that he won‘tbe send toprison. Youcanalreadyguess, that he israthergoingto die. WHAT IS HIS ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE TRC?
- When Pieter Muller comes after some hearings of Hendricks to his working place he sees a notice written by somebody saying: “WHY PAY A MURDERER TO KEEP YOU SAFE” - Three of his workers didn’t want to renew their contract with his security company - “…white community had decided to ditch him rather than be tarred by his brush. He was now the target. Without allies. …” (169) - Pieter Muller is worried that the friends of him and his wife are going to leave Marie alone. What signs are there that the white community is turning against him?
- Pieter Muller has a live insurance and wants his wife Marie to have the money. If he committed suicide the insurance would not be paid-out, so he provokes James Sizela to kill him. - He doesn’t want to appear in front of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This is why his dead is the last possibility for him to escape. - Provokes Sizela by saying that his son was worthless and that he is going to talk about the torture in public, also in front of Steve’s mother - (page 238- 240) “…such a worthless son…”, “I´ll tell them everything just as I have told you but with more detail. I´ll describe your son and the pain he underwent. I´ll tell them what he told me about you as well. I´ll make you listen, not only you, but his mother as well…” How and why DID he provoke Sizela at the end?
