The quest for living: resilience and coping mechanisms in Sindiwe Magona’s Beauty’s Gift

Abstract

The article examines the theme of hope and coping mechanisms in Sindiwe
Magona’s novel Beauty’s Gift (2008). The research addresses the issues and
concerns raised in the text through analysing the traumatic experiences of
women living with HIV and AIDS and how they deal with their challenges.
Different forms of coping mechanisms employed by female characters in
Beauty’s Gift are captured. Additionally, the article demonstrates the characters’
resilience and their agency in overcoming their traumatic experiences. The
article will rely on textual critique and close reading of the text, in order to
illustrate the structure, functions and content of messages contained in the
narrative. This article aims to contribute to the understanding of HIV and
AIDS from the standpoint of creative voices which have the ability to imbue
meaning and signification to the experiences of HIV positive individuals.