Chapter 5 

The third-person narrator describes Sonny’s imprisonment. Sonny was permitted infrequent visits from his wife, during which they were only allowed to discuss “family matters.” Landing in custody did not surprise Sonny—he had anticipated it since he decided to lead his students across the veld. What he did not expect was a visit from Hannah.

Sonny’s conversation with Hannah provided him with the intellectual stimulation that was missing from his meetings with Aila. Though political topics were not permitted in prisoners’ visits, Hannah found ways to figuratively convey political updates about arrests for speaking or acting against apartheid. As a result, Sonny expected to be formally charged soon.

When Sonny stood trial, both Aila and Hannah attended. During the trial, Baby became upset, and Hannah tried to comfort her. Sonny marked this, in retrospect, as the moment he started to “need” Hannah. Sonny was sentenced to five years behind bars, but an appeal minimized the sentence to two years. Despite the lengthy sentence, Sonny was relieved to know that there was an endpoint—he had hated the unknowns of the pre-trial detention period.

The narrator then compares Sonny’s reactions to his wife’s letters and Hannah’s letters once his official sentence began. Sonny fixated on a phrase from Hannah’s letter—“happy for battle”—and felt captivated by her intellect. Aila’s letters, on the other hand, didn’t provide him with anything profound.

Will resumes narration, wondering how long his mother was ignorant of Sonny’s affair. Sonny had good excuses to be away because of his political involvement and the confidential nature of that activity.

Will reveals that his sister Baby attempted suicide by cutting her wrists, identifying this as the moment he realized Baby knew about the infidelity. He also assumes that, from that point, Aila knew about her husband’s indiscretions. Though Baby deals with Sonny’s betrayal in different ways than Will, her suicide attempt proves to Will that her life has also been upended by the knowledge of the affair.

Chapter 6 

After his release from prison, Sonny became more aware of small moments of joy in his life. He took pleasure in talking with Hannah, in looking at her, and in her “approval” of him. They discussed the phrase “happy for battle,” and she reveals it was from Rosa Luxemburg’s letter to Karl Kautsky. He felt joyful to discuss “ideas” with Hannah.

Sonny learned about political resistance strategies from his fellow prisoners. Once he was released, he was again a strong voice for the anti-Apartheid movement. After one event at a church hall, he happened upon Hannah in the crowd as he was leaving. She gave him one of her scarves, and they went to her home where they made love for the first time.

From then on, Sonny felt a thrill when he saw Hannah by chance at a public event. Sometimes, an acquaintance would introduce them, which gave the couple “secret pleasure.” After spending most of their time in isolation, they dared to attend a cinema across town where they, of course, saw Will. 

Despite feeling like he had figured out how to manage both of his lives at once and reveling in his happiness, Sonny was shocked to return home from his time with Hannah to the news that Baby had attempted suicide.

Chapter 7 

As Will explains, Sonny returns and learns of Baby’s condition. Speechless, he only asks if Baby will have scars. Will is outraged by his father’s behavior, not least his unreachability at such a pivotal time. Will cannot understand how his father does not react more strongly to the near-death of “his favorite child.”

Baby...