An eating disorder such as Nyasha’s can be characterized in a number of ways. It is certainly an affliction that goes against our sensibilities as Americans, because in the world which we live, harming one’s self because of the dangerous realities of the world is not a problem that we are typically confronted with. It brings to mind the question of how to stand up to a force over which you have no control, another aspect of life which can be hard for us to relate. I feel like Nyasha, who at the outset of this story was so strong-willed and in control of her life, has lost her power over the events that shape her life, and as such, turns to something that she can control, like her food intake. Maybe it is a little bit of a stretch to compare this to colonialism, but in the end, I can understand how it is easier for someone to control the things they can, rather than fall into despair over a world that is literally and figuratively collapsing around her.
Perhaps that is a message from this novel, that people have always, and will always, focus on the things over which they have control. Its in some ways similar to Tambu’s garden, her will to better her life through education, and even her reaction to the death of her brother. Focus on the things that you can change, and let God sort out the rest.
I totally agree. I think Nyasha's eating disorder is not just a way to rebel against her family. Like you said,I also think that colonization causes people's lives to become so disrupted that they resort to doing things over which they can finally have control. I find that I feel sorry for Nyasha but I don't feel extremely sad over what happened to her just because I found her to be a brat.I mean you feel pity for Nyasha's condition but you don't like her as a person. I wonder why Dangarembga portrayed Nyasha in this way...
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