Nelson started as a naive boy from some rural area in Africa. But thanks to his root where his ancestors had some sort of power in the tribe, he had connections that had helped him along his early years. After his father died, he was sent to live with a quite well known person called regent. From there he was being further educated. The family there treated him like their own son. He had another "sibling" called Justice who was their true son. Before coming here, Nelson did go to a school which was by the church. So from there he became a Christian. He fared well in terms of education. From the second home, he was slowly exposed to the world.
Nelson and Justice ran away from their house when the regent arranged marriages for them. I think this was the part where the marriage was so necessary in shaping Nelson. They seeked help from their father's connection but each time they knew that they ran away, Nelson and his brother had to run away. So in the end, Nelson learn for the first time that he couldn't depend on connection anymore to survive. Nelson was very hardworking. Justice not so though. So Nelson did really well in his studies. He pursued law.
During their uni working life, they were slowly eased into a world where there was unequal treatment given to the Africans by the Whites. Funny thing was most of the Afticans actually did all that was asked by the Whites and they would feel out of place if they didn't. It's like they know it's what expected of them and so it's only so natural to do it. For example like not entering certain places, helping (but actually they can't decline) the Whites with tasks when they are asked, then got tipped for that. Well, Nelson was also just following this flow until he met certain men which made him think more about it. During his early years, he was quite in between of which side to take. Between the Communists, the all Africans only, or to mix in people who support freedom. At certain point, he was afraid that by letting the Indians and Coloured and Communists to join their cause would somehow shift the end credit to them. So he was pretty adamant not to let them. But in the end he did let after reading about Marxism.
After being banned twice by the authority which had restricted his movement, and after the ban was expired, he went back to his hometown. And met his mother. He felt guilty for leaving his mother in such a bad living condition and offered to let his mum stay in the city. But his mother rejected. He thought about whether it was okay to sacrifice his family for the sake of the people's freedom and then he thought that these two matters are completely different. So I find this pretty human of Nelson because this is the common thing that people would face when they are striving for something bigger than themselves.
Up to 38 years old, he faced a lot of situations that require his quick thinking. Sometimes making bad choices along the way. But he didn't let that hinder him from correcting himself and move forward. When he went back to his hometown, you can see that a lot has changed in him. He still enjoyed the place a lot but the thinking was opposite of the Chiefs there.
