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Chapter 114
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
On May 10th, Mandela is sworn in as president. Everyone, regardless of race, sings both national anthems, one of which is in Afrikaans and one of which is in Xhosa. Mandela feels it’s a historic moment, as he reflects how much things have changed in South Africa during his lifetime. He believes that apartheid created a tremendous “wound” in the country, but it also had the unintended effect of giving rise to great people in the resistance who became Mandela’s comrades.
The different languages of the national anthems show how the election has begun to break down the separations put in place by apartheid. The fact that Mandela can go from a notorious political prisoner to the sitting president reflects how much it is possible for a nation to change within the course of one lifetime, offering hope for a better future with less division and violence.
Themes
Mandela remains optimistic that people are fundamentally merciful and must be taught to hate. Mandela feels that he was born free and only realized as he grew up that his boyhood feelings of freedom were an illusion. He joined the ANC and the liberation struggle to try to get back this feeling of freedom for everyone, not just himself. He believes that he has to free both the oppressor and the oppressed, and that his work isn’t over yet. On his “long road to freedom,” Mandela feels that he can rest for a moment to enjoy success but most soon continue his journey.
Mandela published this autobiography near the beginning of his presidency, during a time of potential but also uncertainty. He spends the final moments of the book reflecting back on where his activism started and where it ended up, showing how a long journey full of mostly small, incremental gains added up to the difference between captivity and freedom. Mandela’s commitment to keep working shows his optimism that even though he has accomplished his main goal of ending apartheid, he still believes it’s possible to continue building a better future in other ways.
Themes
