Friday 2 March 2012
Edgell's Minor Characters
We mustn't forget the role and function of minor (also called satellite) characters such as National Vellor, Mr. Rabatu, the British soldier, the Mother Provincial, Mr. Gordillo, Father Nunez, Miss Arguelles, Mrs. Villanueva, Father Mullins, Thomasita Ek, Stella Beaufort, Nurse Palacio, Uncle Curo, et al in Beka Lamb. These - and others not listed here - are minor, but not insignificant, characters. So, select any minor characters of your choice - at least two - and evaluate the part they play in this Belizean story.
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ReplyDeleteI think that the novel highlights mainly the culture of Belize and most importantly, it's people and this was Zee Edgell's main intention.
ReplyDeleteThe unity and the special relationship which the people shared is portrayed in the episode with Mr Gordillo and Beka where he offers her a chocolate bar as solace for her having failed. She refuses it because she is embarrassed. Mr. Gordillo says, "I offered a special mass at the Cathedral, Beka, and every night for one week, the beads." This shows how much support and faith that people offered Beka.
Throughout the novel, we see many other characters having faith in Beka and motivating her to excel. Sister Gabriella sought to bring out the best in Beka as she persuaded her to enter the essay contest and encouraged her to help her compile folksongs for Mother Provincial's visit. Beka receives further encouragement from a girl in her class named Thomasita Ek who showed her support by giving a note which read, "Hope you win." Thomasita Ek is a Mayan girl and she represents how Edgell creatively weaves an indigenous presence within the narrative. It is significant that Beka gains Thomasita as a new friend as it demonstrates how people of different cultural backgrounds are brought together.
Nurse Pallacio is another member of the Belizean society who exhibits support and guidance to Beka's friend, Toycie. She also adds to the heavy, independent female presence within the narrative.
Edgell's decision to have two polar opposites in the school administration (Sister Virgil and Sister Gabriela) served a very significant purpose in the novel. Sister Virgil is symbolic of tradition while Sister Gabriela portrays a shift from strict adherence to tradition. The former is stuck with her views and unable to think of and accept alternative ways to deal with Toycie's situation although Mr. Lamb offers a few options. She also does not deny the accusation that had it been another student with connections, the punishment would have been different. Sister Gabriela however, is a beacon of hope. Despite the presumably accepted reality that Beka could not have won the contest, Sister Gabriela still encouraged Beka and saw what she could gain from the process, whether she won or not - a greater sense of self. In similar ways the sisters personify the state of Belieze, a country torn between the norm or traditional ways of governance and the hope for something better.
ReplyDeleteEmilio Villanueva: This is probably a strange analysis of Emilio, but in my reading of Beka Lamb Emilio's relationship with Toycie serves as a microcosm the effects of colonialism on the colonial subject. That is, the way Emilio (colonialism) seduces Toycie (colonial subject) into a quick way out of her life of poverty. He represents the prosperity of the social hierarchy established by colonial rule, something that is revered in most colonial and postcolonial states. The colonized (Toycie), even though on a road to a successful life, falls to the promises of colonialism (Emilio)
ReplyDeleteMiss Eila: Keeping with the idea of Toycie as representative of the colonized people of Belize, Miss Eila serves as freedom fighter in the novel. In the beginning of the novel Miss Eila clearly feels partially responsible for Toycie's death. The guilt of Toycie's death coupled with Miss Eila's frustration with the evolution of a social hierarchy in Belize results in her commitment to political and social change. Further, Miss Eila does not blame Toycie for her "downfall," but rather her disposition in Belize.
GREAT GRAN STRAKER was one of the minor characters who really stuck out for me. The parallel in the relationship between Lilla and Great Gran Straker and between Beka and Granny Ivy portray the deep familial love inherent in the special bond between grandmothers and granddaughters. (Although there is hardly any interaction shown between the former pair, a sense of closeness and loss is revealed in Lilla’s reaction to her Granny’s death.) In a broad sense, we see in these relationships the mechanism by which familial and communal traditions are passed on: that is, via the interaction between the younger and older generations. But even more, Great Gran Straker’s death highlights the passing of an old way of being, juxtaposed against Beka’s development, which showcases the heralding of a new time and a new era of development. Also notable is Granny Straker’s funeral which further reveals the traditions of the Belizean community; in the way that they come together to celebrate and pay tribute to her life.
ReplyDeleteAnother character poignant to me was THOMASITA EK. Through this character Edgell draws another parallel between Thomasita and the protagonist Beka. She(Edgell) shows us, that despite their differing cultural backgrounds they are very much the same girl-similar in their ambition, desire for education and social mobility and in their general disposition. In the narrative, Thomasita plays an important role in making Beka feel comfortable amongst her new classmates whom Beka might have felt uncomfortable around, because she was a ‘repeater’. Additionally, Thomasita also fills a role as Beka’s companion after Toycie’s breakdown.
Minor characters through their attitudes and actions support the project of the novel. These caracters also support the binary oppositions in the novel. For every character there is its opposite for example Sister Virgil and Father Nunez are in opposition to both Sister Bernadette and the Mother Superior. The former pair embodies all that is repressive in the colonial structure and education as the institution which perpetuates the dominant ideology. Nunez and Virgil are the ones who uphold the “artificially and unreasonably high bar” for the girls to perform their mental acrobatics. On the other hand, the latter pair embodies an attitude of sincere learning towards the colonials.
ReplyDeleteAn homogenous pair in National Vellor and Toycies’s unnamed and absent mother represent the colonial situation of Belize. They do not represent either the future or the present of a Belize on the brink of independence and decolonization, new opportunities and development strategies. But rather they represent the pervasive “breaking down” of which Granny Ivy speaks. National Vellor is instrumental in attempting to save Toycie when she “falls” off the bridge into filth, another metaphor for her situation into which she has fallen from grace as a result of her pregnancy. National Vellor, bereft of opportunities and in response to Beka’s scrutinizing gaze in her residence: “You see…No mother, no father, no school. What can I do?” Further her later admonition to Beka to “Please…you go now and run!” may also speak to a metaphorical admonition to maximise those opportunities which have been presented to Beka by the changing political climate as well as those natural advantages which she possesses, unlike other creole families, in the presence of her entire loving and supportive extended family including her mother, father, grandmother, great-grandmother and best friend. We must note the primacy of the mother in Vellor’s litany of absentee figures. We should also note National Vellor as an object of humour and ridicule and even contempt, for even Mrs. Lilla Lamb threatens Beka were she to be caught conversing with “that half-coolie woman”. National Vellor is greeted by the young men with loud laughter and cries of “soldier taffee”.
Toycie’s unnamed and absentee mother is a representation of the current and past colonial situation where Belizeans are forced to migrate in order to do better economically. This is a Caribbean reality which perhaps still obtains today. Both Toycie’s parents in fact travel out of the country to earn money: her father to Panama and her mother to the United States. However, whereas this reality is usually accompanied by remittances to support the child who remains in the physical and emotional care of other relatives whose economic circumstances are eased somewhat by these remittances, this does not happen in Toycie’s case and Miss Eila is forced to work doubly hard in her advancing years to ensure that the basic necessities as well as relatively expensive education tuition are paid for.
For me the character of National Vellor is very interesting. Whereas we see her as the object of ridicule and sexual attraction earlier in the novel we see how her true compassionate character emerges in how she deals with Toycie after her fall. Her care and compassion for me contrast with the authoritarian attitude of Sister Virgil. I think her there is a distinct comparison being made about things like esteem and compassion.
ReplyDeleteAlso Mr. Gordillo to me is also a kindly and compassionate figure who is the object of talk for the rest of the villagers in the same way that National Vellor is. In the novel it is said that he is a mestizo man who had neither wife nor child. It was also said that people whispered strange things about him part of the reason for this perhaps was his friendships with children in the neighboorhood. We are told however that he has been nothing but nice to Beka and it is Granny Ivy who says that people's rumblings may be due simply to jealousy. We do see him being nice to Beka and I think in him as with National Vellor, we see how people of different races (Vellor being of East Indian descent) occupy this single space called Belieze.
In my opinion a minor character pertinent in the novel is that of Mrs Villanueva. Mrs Villanueva may be seen as a metaphor that represents the false promises made by the different political parties. Just as the political parties gave false hope and promises, Mrs Villanueava gave fake affection and acceptance to Toycie. However when her affection and acceptance is necessary though,it is not available, just as the promises made by the politicians are not available.
ReplyDeleteAnother important minor character in the novel is Ms Arguelles. Ms Arguelles's passion for change and progression represents the passion for change and progression among Belizeans. Also the manner in which she confronts Father Mullins represents the conflicts and disagreement among Belizeans.
Mr. Gordillo's character is significant in that it shows the different types of prejudices that exist in the Belizean society, where although he is portrayed by the narrator as someone who worked hard for his income, he was still viewed by his fellow villagers in a negative light because of his coming from a very impoverished background. To me this is a reflection of the mentality of the population, hinting that this type of thinking is what may be contributing to the lack of progress socially and politically.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Villanueva is also essential to understanding the state of Belize. she is insight into the restrictions of progress in the community with relation to religion. It is because of her connections to the church her son is unable to see beyond what his mother would think of him to do what is right for Toycie. Also, she is a representation of the higher society in the community
For me the minor characters in the text support the themes that are explored in relation to family and by extension communal ties in the village. The saying that "it takes a village to raise a child" comes to mind in reading the text also as both Beka and Toycie though not parents in the text, are portrayed as the care takers of Chuku and Zandy. We see both young ladies taking the boys for walks, bathing,grooming and caring for them like mothers would.The importance of Chuku and Zandy in the novel therefore is to emphasize the adult roles given to both Beka and Toycie despite the presence of their biological mother.The young boys are also used as a method of measurement in the text, children and childhood interest juxtaposed to young adult females and their interest.They (Chuku and Zandy) help to develop the main character, Beka, and her story as well as in the development of Toycie's story in the novel.
ReplyDeletei think by using two plar opposites in the novel toycie and baka shows the importance of family while beka has a family and toycie does not you can tell the out come of these individuals. it is unfortunate that toycie frverts to a man to feel as though she has a family, it goes to show the fundemental importance of a family. trgically she dies before she got to know and experiene a family.
ReplyDeleteFather Nunez is a very interesting character who contributes to the overall portrayal of the ideologies of the Roman Catholic Church’s presence in the Belizean society. I like that Beka is brave enough to ask questions to the priest. Beka is caused to examine her religious growth and development. She appropriately directed these doubts to the individual who is also adapting and growing on his mission in priesthood. In Belize, like most Caribbean societies, there is a significant level of Roman Catholic parishioners, who are on the journey of discovering themselves through the church, who may or may not practice with faith in its entirety . The questioning of a priest is an uncommon thing, generally because many teachings and lessons are assumed to be comprehended. However, there may be an extent of uncertainty and the question of relevance to everyday life. The idea of being a phony is relevant also because without clear reasoning based on sound understanding, actions may become simply routine and regimental without genuine piousness.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of phoniness calls to mind Emilio’s mother Mrs. Juana Villanueva. According to the values of honor and uprightness, Mrs. Juana Villanueva has a responsibility to do what is right. This includes her son’s conduct in making Toycie pregnant. She acts selfishly without consideration for Toycie. I believe that she represents those mothers who will do anything to ensure that the lives of their son remain free from the responsibility of early fatherhood. Insight into this type of character would reveal the psyche of the mother of a son who has a child very early in life “teenaged fatherhood”. It also portrays the attitude towards young girls as opposed to the attitude to the young man. The cultural responsibilities assigned to each gender are biased and the unfair arrangements to resolve any lamentable issue based on gender can cause a sense of alienation. Mrs. Juana Villanueva’s lack of compassion for Toycie despite other social and cultural boundaries, contributes to her personal devastation.
Mrs Villanueva to me from the onset seemed a little shady, I think it was Edgell's way of hinting to what her character was really about and I did have her qualms about her. While she tried to come off as the perfect woman who was simply showing concern for her acquaintances at the funeral, when she embraced Toycie she had an apologetic smile. It was then I made the assumption that she felt sorry for her, in the light that SHE wanted to be with her son while it was obvious that was not a possibility. We see later on when Beka and Totcie go to meet Emilio at church just how welcoming his mother really is. She is the biggest faker in the book and is blind to doing what is right in favour of doing what is best for her family.
ReplyDeleteWhile on the Villanuevas why not look at Emilio also. I can say I had suspicions about him from the beginning, probably due to Beka's dislike of him. His promises to Toycie as repeated through her own words all seemed superficial, obviously to achieve an end. When it come to pass that Toycie is pregnant, his promise to marry her goes up in smoke. Maybe due to fear of his mother or, just his own insecurities. Whatever the reasons, Emilio to me was just a selfish boy who has no concern for anybody but himself and his future. The apple indeed doesn't fall far from the tree
Chuku and Zandy - Bekas's younger siblings - represent the posterity of the "Lamb" name, seeing that these are the only male children in the Lamb household. In my mind they are remembered for a few things: playing, not liking to bathe, accompaniment for Toycie and Beka on their Sunday afternoon walks, and innocence. Chuku and Zandy are the babies of the family and their presence demanded a nurturing role from all the other persons in the Lamb household, and Toycie.
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