There are two themes that really stuck out to me in this novel. To be honest I don't really know if we can call them themes but the subject of religion and how Africans have worked numerous values of the American social culture into their own lives.Christianity seems to fill these characters hearts and beliefs for even when they are at their darkest moment there is some sort of biblical reference or comparison made. The most powerful bibical reference I found was when Lomba was taken out of solitute to help the warden but in return the warden doesn't release him for his own selfish reasons. "He was just man. Man is his basic, rudimentary state, easily moved by powerful emotions like love, lust, anger, greed and fear, but totally dumb to the finer, aquired emotions like pity, mercy, humour and justice."(pg. 41). We all have a self vain running through us and we can see this in the quote made, we are just man.
In the chapter, "The Angel," we are given many glances as African Christian views there is even reference to the winged angel with flight. The man who is shot and killed talks about death and the beliefs of christians as if he could feel no pain, as if the angel were blocking him from the harshness of reality." He made his death out to be heroic or christian like, he compared it to the christians in the Colosseum. Thought I disagree with the idea of waiting for death, asking for it, I found his faith to be inspiring.
Religion wasn't the only thing that stood out to me it was America and Europe in Afr
ica. African people, or at least the ones in this novel seem to be seeking the comforts of other coutries achievements. They were finally able to dream, to obtain their desires. Bola's sisters wanted jobs (broadcasting for CNN, a fashion designer) that not to long ago Africans could only dream of. It gives me hope hearing these dreams. Because now, unlike a time not to long ago, they have a chance at reaching them. Though there are still not every family is as well off as Bola's but it's a start.
ica. African people, or at least the ones in this novel seem to be seeking the comforts of other coutries achievements. They were finally able to dream, to obtain their desires. Bola's sisters wanted jobs (broadcasting for CNN, a fashion designer) that not to long ago Africans could only dream of. It gives me hope hearing these dreams. Because now, unlike a time not to long ago, they have a chance at reaching them. Though there are still not every family is as well off as Bola's but it's a start. 
2 comments:
It is interesting to see how values that were originally American or European are now integrated into many African's lives, it makes me wonder when we can stop calling Christianity a "European religion" and when can it become an "African religion" too. The English language would be something interesting to look into as well, there were lots of references to people speaking broken or poor English.
I also noticed their inspiration to follow their dreams and goals. It gives some hope for us as well, to follow their experience in what they had to go through and model our own lives around it
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