Rev. Henry Ransome Character Analysis in Tsotsi

Rev. Henry Ransome is a white priest who presides over a church in the Black township, the Church of Christ the Redeemer. Early in the novel, he serves at Gumboot Dhlamini’s funeral but is disturbed that he doesn’t even know the murdered man’s name. The Sunday after the funeral, he finds himself getting angry at parishioners filing into the church, thinking that his services are “no good,” and recalling once again that he didn’t know Gumboot’s name. Nevertheless, he prays for help and goes to the church to do his job. Though Rev. Henry Ransome is somewhat condescending toward the Black church gardener Isaiah, Isaiah likes him because he showed Isaiah how to ring the church bell and then left him to the task without further interference—unlike the other white church employee, Miss Marriot, who constantly interferes with Isaiah’s work.

Rev. Henry Ransome Quotes in Tsotsi

The Tsotsi quotes below are all either spoken by Rev. Henry Ransome or refer to Rev. Henry Ransome. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

).

Gumboot had been allocated a plot near the centre. He was buried by the Reverend Henry Ransome of the Church of Christ the Redeemer in the township. The minister went through the ritual with uncertainty. He was disturbed, and he knew it and that made it worse. If only he had known the name of the man he was burying. This man, O Lord! What man? This one, fashioned in your likeness.

Related Characters: Boston, Gumboot Dhlamini, Rev. Henry Ransome

Page Number and Citation: 60-61

Explanation and Analysis:

‘Why Boston? What did do it?’

A sudden elation lit up Boston’s face; he tried to smile, but his lips wouldn’t move, and his nose started throbbing, but despite the pain he whispered back at Tsotsi: ‘You are asking me about God.’

‘God.’

‘You are asking me about God, Tsotsi. About God, about God.’

Related Characters: Tsotsi (David) (speaker), Boston (speaker), The Baby, Miriam Ngidi, Morris Tshabalala , Rev. Henry Ransome

Page Number and Citation: 205

Explanation and Analysis:

Rev. Henry Ransome Quotes in Tsotsi

The Tsotsi quotes below are all either spoken by Rev. Henry Ransome or refer to Rev. Henry Ransome. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

).

Gumboot had been allocated a plot near the centre. He was buried by the Reverend Henry Ransome of the Church of Christ the Redeemer in the township. The minister went through the ritual with uncertainty. He was disturbed, and he knew it and that made it worse. If only he had known the name of the man he was burying. This man, O Lord! What man? This one, fashioned in your likeness.

Related Characters: Boston, Gumboot Dhlamini, Rev. Henry Ransome

Page Number and Citation: 60-61

Explanation and Analysis:

‘Why Boston? What did do it?’

A sudden elation lit up Boston’s face; he tried to smile, but his lips wouldn’t move, and his nose started throbbing, but despite the pain he whispered back at Tsotsi: ‘You are asking me about God.’

‘God.’

‘You are asking me about God, Tsotsi. About God, about God.’

Related Characters: Tsotsi (David) (speaker), Boston (speaker), The Baby, Miriam Ngidi, Morris Tshabalala , Rev. Henry Ransome

Page Number and Citation: 205

Explanation and Analysis:

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Rev. Henry Ransome Character Analysis

Rev. Henry Ransome Quotes in Tsotsi

Rev. Henry Ransome Quotes in Tsotsi

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