In Zee Edgell’s novel, ‘Beka Lamb’, the author presents to its readers various themes throughout the story. To help it’s readers to delve further into the meaning of said themes, the author also tends to use different techniques and symbols to assist in illustrating such themes. An example of one of the themes presented in the story, particularly in the first six chapters, is Death.
In the novel, Death was one of the main themes shown by use of sympbols by the author. From the beginning of the story the aspect of death was mentioned as we were informed of Toycie’s death and its effects on Beka. The theme, Death, linked with another theme shown in the story, poverty, was expressed through elements in the environment in the area in which Beka resided. For example, the wreaths for the funeral, the slop bucket and the description of the sounds which the animals made (the whining of the mosquitos, the frogs complaining etc.) all depict the theme of death and stagnation. The description of the lampposts being slanted and the houses being crooked also go on to show the extent of the poverty suffered through by the people of Belize, particularly in Beka’s neighbourhood, and can be used to symbolize the depressed circumstances of stagnation.
Another theme shown was the theme of Change. Change was another main theme in the story and was more or less in every aspect of Beka’s life. The theme, change, was shown in the cutting down of Beka’s beloved bougainvillea plant by her father, in which it symbolizes the need to get rid of old ways and begin anew. Beka shows this by doing her chores on her own, to prove to her parents that she is becoming more mature. More had to be done, as Beka realised when no one took notice of her efforts, to achieve this process in her life.
A lesser theme discussed in the passage is the issue of race. This was shown earlier in the passage with reference to Beka’s success in winning her contest. She was being cautioned that prizes such as that would go to the ‘bakras, panias or expatriates’, which stated that certain classes and races were expected to achieve such things, which would lead to the aspect of status and hierarchy. Another example of this would be the statement made by Lilla, that Beka had changed overnight from a ‘flat rate Belize creole’ to a person with a ‘high mind’. It would seem that the point the author was trying to make would be that the issue of race, along with class, has affected the world and has established certain stereotypes and mindsets in people. Also the reference to the streets which Beka and Toycie used to travel tend to show this theme.