Themes!

In the first six chapters of the novel “Beka Lamb” several main themes have already been highlighted. On the first page it was evident that the novel would be centred around Beka’s life, and the events leading up to her winning an essay contest. It was understood that this was a great achievement for Beka as she would not have won this contest unless she focused herself on her studies, thus introducing the theme of maturity.
In the beginning of the story, Zee Edgell creates a mood of despair and gloom. With the use of phrases such as “mosquito whining” and “insistent grumblings of frogs,” the writer paints a picture of death. It is clear that something is amiss. By this time, Toycie, Beka’s recently deceased friend has been introduced. It was clear that Beka was still grieving for her, and that her death had had a great impact on Beka’s life. Beka finds herself struggling to come to terms with her death. The death of the polar bear also mirrors the hopelessness and sadness of her impoverished village.
Another theme shown in the story was that of politics and political turmoil. During Beka's time, Belize was struggling to gain independence. This played a great part in Beka's life. Beka seemed to be aware of what was going on around her. This was shown when she inquired about her father trading with other countries that were said to be at war with Belize. This shows that she was interested in the politics of her country. This is a sign of Beka's maturity.
Tying in to the theme of maturity is the theme of success and failure. Chapter two begins with a dream that symbolized fear of failure. In this dream, Beka must cross a bridge, which is a symbol of the transition she must make in order to become a young adult. The murky waters below the bridge symbolize failure and the disappointment attached to failure. The sailors standing on the decks of their ships symbolize obstructions in the path of her achieving success. Beka was determined to move forward and do away with her old ways. Success has a great impact on Beka. It helps lessen the grief and pain caused by the death of her friend.
Finally, is the theme of racism which has surfaced numerous times in the first six chapters of the story. Before winning the essay contest, Beka was cautioned several times. It was understood that only 'bakras' (local whites), 'panias' (Spanish speaking people) or 'expatriates' (foreigners) could win these prizes. Blacks were thought of as the inferior race.