From the beginning of the novel Zee Edgell has used many different techniques the represent the different themes. One of the first themes coming out of chapter 1 is one of Beka reaching the stage of maturity meaning puberty, physical changes and also mental chages, where her mother no longer thought about her as a "flat rate Belize creole" to a person of "high mind." Out of the joys of her success in her academics by winning the essay contest we also see racial discrimination and prejudice coming into play where her paternal gran Ivy told her those prizes usaually went to"brakas, panias and expatriates.
Another theme is one of education where she was constantly reminded by her gran "long befo' time she wouldn't be at no convent school" this shows that Beka is one of the few fortunate black children to recieve higher education. We not also see change in Beka that is her maturing but the growth and transformation of The People's Independence Party, this is a political theme showing the gradual change of Belize from a colony to independant status. Death is another prominent theme coming into play when we are given some insight into one of Beka's friend Toycie whom is deceased. Also the slappig of the mosquitoes shows death.
Zee Edgell uses the "whinning mosquitoes, shrilling crickets and insistent grumbling of frogs" shows that even the smallest creatures aren't happy with their environment. In chapter 2 the writer uses the dream technique where the bridge she is balancing on shows the long path of fully maturing and the filthy water shows her fear of failure. A switch now we are taking a look into Lilla, Beka's mother we see she struggles to produce rose bushes and refuses to plant the local plants showing she is striving for the finer things in life trying to identify with the European culture.
In chapter 3 we see that death plays a vital role when gran reminisces about a polar bear that came to Belize and it died showing us nothing prospers here and the final outcome is death. Another intertwining theme is where the Belizean doctor goes thethe Mother country to study knowing there are vast opportunites over there for him rather than staying in Belize we see the Brain Drain. Beka lying to her parents is a important theme in chapter 4 and her struggle to build i better relationship with them and overcoming the whole lying "thing"
Perseverance is the way to a better life when Lilla tells Beka to stop crying "our men in London are fighting for our independence"
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ReplyDeleteI will be sure to do that Miss
ReplyDeleteI generally agree with this post. However, I'd like to say that I don't really think that the reference to gran Ivy saying, "long befo' time you won't be at no convent school" was a good example to portray Beka as one of the few fortunate black children to recieve higher education. I think that that example refers more to Beka's change and development toward maturity. Two good lines from the first six chapters that would describe Beka as one of the few fortunate black children to receive a good education was,"How you passed the entrance examination to St. Cecilia's I'll never understand" and "The money you wasted could feed a poor family for six months" both in chapter 5.
ReplyDeleteWhat do the others think? Maybe we could get a few more responses.
ReplyDeleteThe last example that Crisalee gave Ainka was better than the line Ainka used but I do not agree with Crisalee. How could that line show maturity? A better example is the phrase "gave you a better start than anyone in this family on both sides ever got." The last example should have before it "One of these days, I want you to take a good look up and down this street." That line would make it more straight foward.
ReplyDeleteArvinder I don't think you understood what I wrote. I was trying to say that "long befo' time you won't be at no convent school" was more suitable for the theme of maturity because the line itself shows that obviously over time something had to happen for Beka to change from not being to go to convent school to being able to go. However, Ainka used that line to portray Beka as being one of the few fortunate black children to receive higher education. The two lines I used afterward were examples which I think Ainka could have used instead of the one she did.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Crisalee that the reference line I chose to back up the statement of Beka being one of the fortunate blacks was inaccurate and the one she used was better suited Arvinder.But I do see where you were coming from with your statement.
ReplyDelete