Issues present in 'Beka Lamb'

In the very first paragraph of the story of 'Beka Lamb',the author hints of the issue of status.Beka has upgraded from a 'flat rate Belize creole' to a person with 'high mind' by winning the essay contest at her school.The contest prizes usually went to 'bakras,panias and expatriates',showing how great her achievement was.

The status of Beka and her family is hinted by the discomfort felt,from the mosquitos and flies due to the nearby creek.This implies that they are of a lower class,and it is clear that poverty is rampant due to devaluation,and by the descriptions used by the author.Beka and her deceased friend,Toycie, yearned to live on the seaside,'where the wealthier elements of the community lived'.It was a getaway from the 'swampy hole' the existed in,where it was depressing,hopeless and full of stagnation.Compared to the seaside where there was the possibility of a better life and new prospects.

Many other characters had the same desire to gain higher status,such as Lilla,Beka's mother,by planting her rose bushes.

The discontent of the political situation of the country is revealed by the characters when discussing devaluation,and by Gran Ivy,Beka's grandmother,attendence to a meeting about the imprisonment of two significant men in the politics of the country.Also by Guatemala's plans to take over the country,discussed by Beka and her father.

During the first chapter,the author sets the mood of discomfort,leading up to the revelation of the death of Toycie,Beka's best friend.Due to poor circumstances,Eila,Toycie's aunt,was reluctant to have a wake for her,so Beka kept her own personal vigil for her friend.Her accomplishment of winning the contest,however,softens the pain and anguish of losing her friend.She reminisces of times when they went for walks on Sunday evenings,remembering all the good times they spent together.

In this story,many changes occur within the character of Beka.Her dream,in chapter two,revealed Beka's fear of failure.Her unheard calls for help shows her voicelessness.Crossing the bridge can be inferred as representing a journey,from one stage of life to another,childhood to maturity.But she is afraid to fall into the creek,full of 'excrement' and 'filth',representing failure,and she is afraid to jump,meaning a risk to be taken.

In the following chapters,Beka recaps to a few months before,to the point where she decided to stop lying.She had lied to her parents about passing her exams,and in an attempt to redeem herself of their disappointment,she tries to take up her responsibilities maturely,showing changes from the lying childish girl to a responsible young lady.