Week 6

        For this week's assignment I spent some time reading through Hitting Budapest by NoViolet Bulawayo. In hitting Budapest I found the environment quite interesting. Some things weren't explained fully, but in all it gave a good sense of the surroundings. Paradise is a run down lower class area, while Budapest is a quiet well endowed city. Budapest is laden with nice houses and streets, and trees hanging with ripe fruit. It is a dreamy contrast to the town of paradise that the children come from, as if it is in a postcard.

      The children themselves essentially represent this environment. They are poor and hungry, and most of all they want change. Some children dream of it, having faith in one thing or another that they believe will change their stars in the long run. Yet there are also characters like Bastard who is tired of the place, but is resigned to the fate of most of the people who live there. It seems to me like the author wants you to think both parties are wrong.

     I believe that Bastard wants to be wrong. With a name like his, one can only wonder what his life has been so far. He has a very pessimistic outlook, but its clear that he only feels that way so he can protect himself and feel as though he is stronger than the others. He wants life to prove him wrong. Darling and Sbho however, are vivid dreamers. They hold onto anything they can that helps them believe things will change.

Through these different expressions in beliefs the author shows what paradise is really like through the characters. It can be downtrodden and seem hopeless, but there is always something there to encourage its people.