The Life Story and Impact of Abel Shingange: Essay Sample

Abel Shingange: A Story of Violence

Trevor Noah rose to fame as an entertainer, a TV host, and a stand-up comedian who made the audience enamored with his hilarious sketches and pointed outlook on global issues. However, the public might not know that behind the smiling exterior and the nature of a carefree comedian who always has something to laugh about, Noah has a steel will and a history of trauma that defined his earlier life. When the comedian published his book Born A Crime, even his fans were shocked: the man’s childhood was far from the idyllic pictures he painted in his earlier monologues and earlier appearances. Noah’s childhood experiences, however, did not hinder his success and determination to become a survivor rather than a victim who rose above the circumstances and conquered the TV screens.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

Abel Shingange and His Role in the Life of Trevor Noah

Abel Shingange was a notorious figure in Noah’s life. Noah did not know of the man’s existence until he married his mother, Patricia Noah, who had a vibrant personality that was impossible to ignore. At first, Noah recalls, Abel seemed like any other doting stepfather. He would talk to the boy about his own childhood years and even appeared caring to a fault. However, the peace in the family did not last. Abel suffered from what Noah described as severe paranoia, throwing baseless accusations at Patricia and threatening to harm her if she did not bend to his will.

Noah recalled living in fear of his stepfather’s outbursts and unpredictable mood swings that defined the atmosphere in the household and often led to Noah hiding in his room or trying to protect his mother at all costs. His memoir recounts the history of a childhood trauma that eclipsed with one shocking episode. One night, Abel came home inebriated and shot his wife in the head. Patricia survived, but this was the moment when little Noah realized that the justice system in South Africa was helpless to protect the citizens against people like his stepfather.

The Impact of Domestic Violence

The experiences endured by Noah highlight the damaging effects of domestic violence in households across the world. Despite the ironic tone of the book and the author’s attempts to sound light-hearted in most of the chapters, the readers can feel the weight of Noah’s childhood struggles shaping his upbringing. The book provides a first-hand account of how domestic violence can impact the child’s view of the world. Some key themes include:

• Control and power. Abel’s violence was rooted in his need to establish control over the household and maintain a semblance of dominion over his family, even though the fragile peace was falling apart at the seams whenever his moods flared up.
• Fear and silence. Noah and his family could not report the instances of abuse to the officials and were forced to experience it in silence. According to Noah’s childhood recollections, the legal system in South Africa did little to safeguard its citizens against casual household abuse. Such cases were often neglected, with the court allowing Noah’s stepfather to escape with no consequences, even though his crime could not be categorized as minor.
• Systematic failure. The legal system was powerless against the influence and wealth of Noah’s stepfather, which led to him taking no accountability for his actions. This strengthened Noah’s belief that significant reforms needed to be implemented in the judicial system in the country in order to improve the situation.

The fact that Noah was able to distance from the trauma during his childhood years and build a career on television is a great sign for abuse survivors. It indicates that one can rise above the trauma and avoid letting it define the course of one’s experiences throughout life. The memoir serves as an inspirational story of overcoming obstacles and struggles and achieving success despite societal factors.