Babamukuru In The Life Of Jesus Pilate

When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all, but that a riot was breaking out instead… he handed him over to be crucified” (Matthew 27:24-26). Several accounts in the Bible verify that Pontius Pilate’s decision to crucify Jesus was a selfish one. His decision was made to please, not to be just. Even 2000 years ago, reputation was of utmost importance. Honor and reputation cause even the most highly educated and powerful people to act irrationally. To Pontius Pilate, it was greater that the life of the innocent Jesus, and in Nervous Conditions, Babamukuru values it more than family. He is an example of peak power and education for black men in Rhodesian society. Babamukuru’s reputational motives to perform benevolent acts showcases how

Nyasha is not totally against the idea of thanking her father for his actions, but she does not want to “make him into a hero” (162). Nyasha tells Tambu not to praise Babamukuru, believing it only raises his pride and reputation. She feels the more they praise Babamukuru for his actions, the increasingly determined he will be to further his honorability. Experimentally, Nyasha pushes Babamukuru’s limits. Upon acting against Babamukuru’s principles, Nyasha receives a physical and verbal punishment from her fuming father. After striking her, Babamukuru states that “[he] is respected” (116). In any sort of argument, even against his own daughter, Babamukuru finds it necessary to boast about his reputation. Not only does he prove the importance of his honor, but he also shows it is more important than Nyasha by telling her “[he] will kill [her]” (117). Babamukuru’s serene and wise facade has been tested to the point where he has revealed too much of his intentions, and shown that his own reputation is of more value that Nyasha’s