Friday, February 19, 2010
I'm really annoyed with the way Tambu is represented in The Book of Not...and, for that matter, the way she is in Nervous Conditions. I realize that she represents a traumatized person seeking a passive state - one where she fits in and succeeds at the same time both physically and psychologically. But common - there are several things she could do to lessen the destructive nature of colonization on her person. In class, I really began to think - how did Babamakuru succeed in this system - he had to have had experienced racism, as well as functional and economic obsolescence; was his success only possible by him being a man? I don't think so - Miguru is highly educated. Tambu really does need a therapist, and this, in reflection, really has become an episode of Mean Girls - one that you want Lindsey Lohan to wake the ===== up in (Lindsey being Tambu in this case). Why not play the game - why not accept the rules and wield them to your advantage - do so well that white people allow you to transcend as much as possible (out of poverty, and out of the womanhood/african/black state of mind...if that's what you want. Over and over in class, Tambu and all the African girls have been described as minds without bodies - needing to be this way because that creates the necessary harmony within the college. If she knows the rules of the game, play - be the mind and trump the other girls - realize that your sister is not you, you are not white, the nuns are bitches, and your success depends on their opinions, your stamina is an asset that needs development to deal with complex issues, and if you want success in the world, wise up and figure out how Miguru did it. jeez.
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I have to say that she did play the game only for it to only bring further disappointment. I, too, am completely annoyed with Tambu's character but she fails in her timidity, limitation, and inability to fight back. Even when she gets the best grades, a person less qualified (falling second to Tambu) still gets rewarded the honours.
ReplyDeleteEven though we're annoyed with her, she does try to play this game of proving to those that she isn't just this "African", like the rest, as they assume her to be. This is made apparent when she goes to knit for the Rhodesian Army. Her white classmates’ parents were killed by guerillas and she hopes, in doing so, ‘we are all not bad.’
You bring to light a point that I had previously forgotten, that Maiguru too was a woman who "succeeded" in the colonial education realm. But it is important to keep in mind that Maiguru's parents might have been more supportive, and Maiguru probably didn't have to deal with the memories of a sister's leg being blown off to fight in a war against the system in which Tambu is living her life. I think it is the image of Netsai that causes Tambu the most anxiety. Plus, Maiguru has developed into a sort of flighty, ditsy character who Tambu probably does not relate to very much?
ReplyDeleteI am glad that someone is stating clearly what many of us have probably been thinking. I'm not sure if this is right, but did Maiguru get her education when they moved to England or was already well educated before they moved? Also, you stated that Tambu should try doing so well that the white people have to accept her....well she did try, but only ended up not winning the O levels trophy through no fault of her own. I think the reason the author made Tambu seem this way is to show that no matter how hard you work, the white people still wont be willing to recognize you for it.
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