In the novel "Beka Lamb", the issue of change is a major theme. Zee Edgell also presented other themes including the issue of maturity, racism, overcoming obstacles, fear and the most obvious; death.
Change is shown in the life of Beka Lamb as she goes from being a 'flat-rate Belize creole to a person of high mind'. Also, it is shown that times have changed when Zee Edgell mentions that "befo' time", Beka would not have won the essay contest; this position was, instead, usually given to bakras, panias or expancriates(persons of a higher class than creoles). Maturity, a type of change, is shown when Beka makes the decision to stop lying and prove to her parents that she she could do better if given the chance to go back to school. This was also shown when Mr. Lamb cut Beka's bourgainvillea vine, which symbolized 'all flash and no substance'; this suggested the cutting away of Beka's lies and superior airs. She also tried to prove her maturity when she cleaned the attic thoroughly; although this was a small beginning, it made Beka feel like she handled the job like a woman.
There was a simultaneous change between Beka's maturity and the country's politics.
The issue of death was also a major theme in the novel. This is evident when Toycie's death is mentioned. Also. 'the wreaths at her greatgranny's funeral', 'slapping at a mosquito', grumblings of frogs', 'nervous continuous shrilling of every cricket', 'mosquito whining around her face' and the 'Brain Drain' are evidence from the text which show some sort of discomfort/discontent in the setting of the novel.
The dream in chapter 2 is a technique used by the writer. In Beka's dream, she was crying out for help but nobody heard her; she was voiceless. The bridge represented success and the transformation; the change from one thing to another. The filth floating in the creak below represented Beka's fear of failure. The issue of race is shown when the sailors shouted to Beka, "jump, nigger gial, jump!" The crossing of the bridge also symbolizes the obstacles that Beka has to overcome.
It is also shown that success overpowers fear; Beka's academic success was her way of overcoming the obstacle of Toycie's death.
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I agree with you when you say there is change in politics and also change in Beka because she is becoming more mature.You could have also mentioned that Beka showed some of her maturity when she became interested in politics and questioned her father about what was going on her country.
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