What does Babamukuru represent in Nervous Conditions?
Tambu’s uncle. Babamukuru is the highly educated and successful headmaster of the mission school. A patriarchal and authoritarian figure, he uses his power and position to improve the lives of his extended family, but he does it out of duty, not love.
What is Tambu’s mother warning?
Tambu’s mother blames all the trouble on the young people becoming too influenced by English ways, and she warns Tambu to be careful. Tambu takes the warning seriously and decides to no longer accept everything she is taught at the convent without questioning it.
Who is Lucia in Nervous Conditions?
In her novel, Nervous Conditions, Tsitsi Dangarembga depicts her character Lucia as a woman who lives by her own set of rules despite being raised in a strict patriarchal society that has cultural norms set in place for a woman’s role in the family.
How is gender constructed in Nervous Conditions?
Dangarembga’s Nervous Conditions seems to follow the path of radical feminism in its portrayal of the oppressed conditions of the female fictional characters. Due to patriarchal considerations, the women in the novel are classified as the other gender together they try to surmount their common male enemy.
Why was tambu disapprove of her cousins?
Tambu feels superior because she believes Nyasha wouldn’t be able to cook such a feast. She realizes that she felt excluded by her cousins, which is a dangerous feeling—being excluded means she isn’t necessary, while cooking makes her feel utilitarian and useful.
Why does tambu feel sorry for Maiguru?
She believes Maiguru’s life cannot possibly have any downsides, given that she’s married to the wonderful Babamukuru. Though Tambu finds this sad, she again cannot truly appreciate Maiguru’s missed opportunities and oppression given that Maiguru is married to Babamukuru and therefore, cannot have a bad life.
What does tambu think about Babamukuru?
Tambu idolizes Babamukuru and continues to do so throughout the novel, especially when she sees how rich and powerful he is. Though Tambu struggles to recognize it, Babamukuru isn’t entirely good. He’s upset that his children are so anglicized.
How does tambu view Babamukuru?
Tambu idolizes Babamukuru and continues to do so throughout the novel, especially when she sees how rich and powerful he is. Tambu believes that the wedding will make a joke of her parents and is a way for Babamukuru to display his wealth, so she refuses to go.
What advice does Ma Shingayi give Tambu in nervous conditions?
While she is there, Babamukuru takes Tambu back to the homestead, where Ma’Shingayi is adamant that Nyasha is being killed by her “Englishness,” and warns Tambu to watch out for it.
How does tambu develop in Nervous Conditions?
Tambu’s nervous condition manifests itself when she refuses to attend her parents’ wedding. She feels anger towards Babamukuru for categorizing her parents as sinners, and she is simultaneously embarrassed as well. However, she cannot express her frustration out loud because she is so grateful to Babamukuru.