The theme that is developed is communication is key. If Mrs. Tafa and Chanda’s mother told Chanda that her that Lilian had AIDS then it would of saved all the travelling and worrying. This would have saved Lilac and Chanda from travelling to Tiro. It would of saved Soly, Iris, Mrs. Tafa and Chanda from worrying. The author developed the theme by making the secret only between Lilian and Mrs. Tafa. This starts Chanda having the feeling of curiosity and suspicion, of are they hiding something or not. Another message is people have different perspectives on things. One person could think it should be one way and the other person could think it should be done a different way. Mrs. Tafa thought it would bring shame if everyone in Bonang knew if Lilian had AIDS. Chanda did not care if everyone knew her mother had AIDS as long as she died with her family that loves her. Two different perspectives of AIDS, it is the right choice if it feels right. Chanda had a lot of courage of not caring what anyone thought of her, or her family. She stood up for what she believed was right. It worked out great for everyone in the end of Chanda’s choice. “We are paying you back. The whole community came to the burial feast. For once nobody had to lie about death. We could breathe freely,” (Stratton 190). Clear communication helps make the right choice, which affects the whole town.
The theme of Chanda’s Secrets that is refined by the author is “Stand up for what you believe in.” The theme is often expressed in the thoughts of the protagonist Chanda. It is not until after the trigger incident and in the conclusion in which the character literally, “stands up for what she believes in”. [“We have to get you to a hospital.” “I’ve already been. The doctors were busy. A nurse sewed me up. She said I was lucky I didn’t lose an eye. But there’ll be scars.” A terrible sob. “They should have given you a bed.” “There weren’t any. Besides, I’m just a whore.” “No, you’re not. You’re my friend. My best friend.”] (Stratton 139-140) The quote cited above is from when Esther has been raped and physically abused by a group of men. She comes to Chanda’s house and Chanda takes her in. The author develops this message of “standing up for what you believe in” when Chanda tells Esther that she is not a whore, she is her best friend. Others in the community might think that Esther is a slut and that Chanda is insane for keeping a whore in her home, but Chanda does not care. She believes that Esther is her friend, she needs to be cared for, and that this is the right thing to do. This aspect of theme is also displayed at the end of the novel when Chanda defeats the society by persuading them that she is “not ashamed of AIDS”. (Stratton 181) The author has thoroughly developed his message throughout the story and has changed the atmosphere in times of tragic.
Chanda’s Secrets contains many themes and morals; however one of the most important themes is ignorance. The first indication of ignorance has to do with the entire community of Bonang and their secrecy about AIDS. “Officially it’s because of pneumonia, TB, and cancer. But that’s a lie, and everyone knows it. The real reason the dead are piling up is because of something else. A disease too scary to name out loud.” (Stratton 35). The disease Chanda is talking about is AIDS; this quote displays her community’s ignorance to the lethal disease and therefore their endangerment. When Esther’s mother becomes sick with ‘cancer’, she calls for a doctor to come examine her and when he implies the true nature of Mrs. Macholo’s sickness, AIDS, Esther says, “Don’t insult my mama. Don’t insult my family.” (Stratton 37). This displays Esther’s ignorance in not wanting to hear the truth about her mother’s condition and ultimately her demise. Another important display of ignorance is Lilian’s ‘simple’ headaches. When Mrs. Kabelo gets really sick and tired, Chanda wants to send for a doctor but Mama won’t let her in fear of shaming the family. “‘Don’t you dare!’ Her eyes blazed. ‘There’s nothing the matter with me. It’s just a headache.’” (Stratton 68). She continues this act of being fine so she doesn’t have to deal with AIDS, and becasu of her ignorance towards the disease it causes her untimely death. So as one can see, the ignorance displayed throughout this novel cause much disaster and despair within the community, all because no one wants to talk about it, preferring to “hiding behind the curtain” (Stratton 35). If this huge distaste for AIDS were not in play, people would have been able to tell the truth and live without lying and dishonoring the deceased with lies, preferring to remain ignorant to the subject.
Brandon D’Amato Mrs. Russell END1D1- 06 05-11-09 The theme of this story is that "God never gives us more then we can handle". Chandra is a strong person who believes in many things, but the one thing she didn't believe in was hiding the fact that you have AIDS. For example when her mother knew that she had AIDS she didn't want to tell anyone because she thought people would think different of her and her family. When her friend Esther got AIDS Chandra knew right away and they went to the doctors to get treatment. Mrs. Tafa on the other hand was the opposite of Chandra. Mrs. Tafa believed that people with AIDS were dirty and deserved to be treated differentially. With Chandra’s little sister dead, her mom dead from AIDS, her fathers dead from AIDS and now her best friend with AIDS Chandra is one strong person to be able to deal with all of those issues in such a short period of time.
I am responding to Jen and Rida’s responses about theme. I agree with both of there responses and they are similar to mine but worded in a different way. My theme was communication is key. Jen’s theme was ignorance of the town and Rida’s was stand up for what you believe in. All of us have the idea of ignorance of the town with AIDS, standing up for AIDS, and the communication that could have been made about AIDS. If you noticed all the themes relate to AIDS, how you can deal with it, what is right, and how you can prevent the secret of having AIDS. “People may think you have AIDS too. So what? I don’t care what people think anymore,” (Stratton 191). This quote shows what communication and standing up for what you believe in is the best way to go.
The theme developed by the author is facing the truth, no matter how much you want to avoid it. The truth can’t be avoided forever. The author helped to develop this message throughout the novel using the fact that society was ignoring the problem with AIDS. Chanda’s community saw AIDS as a family disgrace and curse. They refused to accept that this was a medical condition, which needed to be dealt with. Meanwhile, AIDS was continued to be spread without recognition. However, towards the end of the book, Chanda stood up to society and accepted her mother had AIDS. She also accepted the fact that she may have them, and got her and the rest of her and her best friend’s families to get checked out. As soon as she accepted the truth, and found out her best friend had AIDS, they were able to look for solutions, such as visiting a centre with others with same problem, as well as signing up for drugs, which may help her. “Mama said I should save my anger to fight injustice. Well, I know what’s unjust. The ignorance about AIDS. The shame. The stigma. The silence. The secrets that keep us hiding behind the curtain. The Welcome Centre throws back that curtain.” (Stratton 192) After facing the truth, Chanda discovered there were many other people affected by this illness, and a whole new world opened up to her; a world with people recognizing the problem, with people opening up about what they’re going through and a world of solutions and possibilities.
Interesting point Brandon, "God never gives us more then we can handle", another book I just finished reading had the same line. I don’t believe that is true though, some people like Mrs. Kabelo do get more than they can handle, I mean she got AIDS right? “‘I am trying,’ she weeps. ‘I’ve been trying as hard as I can.’”(Stratton 105). So this goes to show that ‘God’ can give a person too much to deal with since we know Lilian dies at the end. You are absolutely correct about Chanda being a strong person, the fact that she could live through her sister’s AIDS related death, her mother’s death due to AIDS, her father and brothers dying in the mine explosion, the death of M. Dube, and now Esther having AIDS must really put a lot of pressure on her. “I want to! I want to tell him about Mama, Esther, Mrs. Tafa, Iris—how I'm so scared I can’t breathe, and I don’t know what to do.”(Stratton 154). This displays how confused and hard it is for Chanda to remain silent when she has so many problems and no one to help her with. I don’t agree with you on Mrs. Tafa however, I don’t think that she believe that people with AIDS are dirty; I think that she is just lying to cover the truth. Inside she is tormented and wracked with the grief of her son, who killed himself because he had AIDS. Mrs. Tafa isn’t heartless Brandon; she is just a confused and hurting mother trying her best to keep her secret that Chanda helps her get off her chest. “‘As part of the physical, his doctor gave him an AIDS test. The test came back positive. Emmanuel borrowed a rifle from a friend. He went into the bush, put the rifle in his mouth and blew his head off. You see, he didn’t know how to tell us, my husband and me. He was afraid we wouldn’t understand. He was afraid we wouldn’t love him anymore.’” (Stratton 186). This displays Mrs. Tafa’s grief and that she is finally able to open up and tell the truth, however horrid it may be.
Brandon D’Amato Mrs. Russell ENG 1D1- 06 05/17/09 I am responding to Rida’s statement about the theme. I agree with her response because it has some of the facts that I put in my response. Rida’s theme was stand up for what you believe in and mine was God never gives us more then we can handle. When Rida explained how Chanda helped Esther in her time of need, and I said Chanda was a strong person to be able to help her family and friends when they needed it. The main idea in Rida’s response was how to stand up for people with AIDS and not to be afraid to get help instead of hiding it.
I agree with Jen’s statement. The society is exceedingly ignorant when it comes to AIDS. “She told me everything. If they couldn’t hide the disease in Tiro, you won’t be able to hide it here.” (Stratton 181)However, I feel like the people suffering from AIDS are not ignorant. They are scared, fearful, and probably terrified. When Mama did not want Chanda to take her to the doctor, maybe, she was aware that she had AIDS and just did not want her loved ones to be humiliated by her. I also feel the same way about Esther and her parents-she probably knew but she just did not want to face the reality of the situation which is that her parents will die and so she is scared. I agree that ignorance caused the tension throughout the novel and that if it did not take place the society would be truthful to one another and the issues of AIDS surrounding them.
11 comments:
The theme that is developed is communication is key. If Mrs. Tafa and Chanda’s mother told Chanda that her that Lilian had AIDS then it would of saved all the travelling and worrying. This would have saved Lilac and Chanda from travelling to Tiro. It would of saved Soly, Iris, Mrs. Tafa and Chanda from worrying. The author developed the theme by making the secret only between Lilian and Mrs. Tafa. This starts Chanda having the feeling of curiosity and suspicion, of are they hiding something or not. Another message is people have different perspectives on things. One person could think it should be one way and the other person could think it should be done a different way. Mrs. Tafa thought it would bring shame if everyone in Bonang knew if Lilian had AIDS. Chanda did not care if everyone knew her mother had AIDS as long as she died with her family that loves her. Two different perspectives of AIDS, it is the right choice if it feels right. Chanda had a lot of courage of not caring what anyone thought of her, or her family. She stood up for what she believed was right. It worked out great for everyone in the end of Chanda’s choice. “We are paying you back. The whole community came to the burial feast. For once nobody had to lie about death. We could breathe freely,” (Stratton 190). Clear communication helps make the right choice, which affects the whole town.
Rida Ahmad
Ms. Russell
ENG-1D1-06
05/07/09
The theme of Chanda’s Secrets that is refined by the author is “Stand up for what you believe in.” The theme is often expressed in the thoughts of the protagonist Chanda. It is not until after the trigger incident and in the conclusion in which the character literally, “stands up for what she believes in”. [“We have to get you to a hospital.” “I’ve already been. The doctors were busy. A nurse sewed me up. She said I was lucky I didn’t lose an eye. But there’ll be scars.” A terrible sob. “They should have given you a bed.” “There weren’t any. Besides, I’m just a whore.” “No, you’re not. You’re my friend. My best friend.”] (Stratton 139-140) The quote cited above is from when Esther has been raped and physically abused by a group of men. She comes to Chanda’s house and Chanda takes her in. The author develops this message of “standing up for what you believe in” when Chanda tells Esther that she is not a whore, she is her best friend. Others in the community might think that Esther is a slut and that Chanda is insane for keeping a whore in her home, but Chanda does not care. She believes that Esther is her friend, she needs to be cared for, and that this is the right thing to do. This aspect of theme is also displayed at the end of the novel when Chanda defeats the society by persuading them that she is “not ashamed of AIDS”. (Stratton 181) The author has thoroughly developed his message throughout the story and has changed the atmosphere in times of tragic.
Jen Gleason
Mrs. Russell
ENG1D1-06
05-10-09
Chanda’s Secrets contains many themes and morals; however one of the most important themes is ignorance. The first indication of ignorance has to do with the entire community of Bonang and their secrecy about AIDS. “Officially it’s because of pneumonia, TB, and cancer. But that’s a lie, and everyone knows it. The real reason the dead are piling up is because of something else. A disease too scary to name out loud.” (Stratton 35). The disease Chanda is talking about is AIDS; this quote displays her community’s ignorance to the lethal disease and therefore their endangerment. When Esther’s mother becomes sick with ‘cancer’, she calls for a doctor to come examine her and when he implies the true nature of Mrs. Macholo’s sickness, AIDS, Esther says, “Don’t insult my mama. Don’t insult my family.” (Stratton 37). This displays Esther’s ignorance in not wanting to hear the truth about her mother’s condition and ultimately her demise. Another important display of ignorance is Lilian’s ‘simple’ headaches. When Mrs. Kabelo gets really sick and tired, Chanda wants to send for a doctor but Mama won’t let her in fear of shaming the family. “‘Don’t you dare!’ Her eyes blazed. ‘There’s nothing the matter with me. It’s just a headache.’” (Stratton 68). She continues this act of being fine so she doesn’t have to deal with AIDS, and becasu of her ignorance towards the disease it causes her untimely death. So as one can see, the ignorance displayed throughout this novel cause much disaster and despair within the community, all because no one wants to talk about it, preferring to “hiding behind the curtain” (Stratton 35). If this huge distaste for AIDS were not in play, people would have been able to tell the truth and live without lying and dishonoring the deceased with lies, preferring to remain ignorant to the subject.
Brandon D’Amato
Mrs. Russell
END1D1- 06
05-11-09
The theme of this story is that "God never gives us more then we can handle". Chandra is a strong person who believes in many things, but the one thing she didn't believe in was hiding the fact that you have AIDS. For example when her mother knew that she had AIDS she didn't want to tell anyone because she thought people would think different of her and her family. When her friend Esther got AIDS Chandra knew right away and they went to the doctors to get treatment. Mrs. Tafa on the other hand was the opposite of Chandra. Mrs. Tafa believed that people with AIDS were dirty and deserved to be treated differentially. With Chandra’s little sister dead, her mom dead from AIDS, her fathers dead from AIDS and now her best friend with AIDS Chandra is one strong person to be able to deal with all of those issues in such a short period of time.
I am responding to Jen and Rida’s responses about theme. I agree with both of there responses and they are similar to mine but worded in a different way. My theme was communication is key. Jen’s theme was ignorance of the town and Rida’s was stand up for what you believe in. All of us have the idea of ignorance of the town with AIDS, standing up for AIDS, and the communication that could have been made about AIDS. If you noticed all the themes relate to AIDS, how you can deal with it, what is right, and how you can prevent the secret of having AIDS. “People may think you have AIDS too. So what? I don’t care what people think anymore,” (Stratton 191). This quote shows what communication and standing up for what you believe in is the best way to go.
The theme developed by the author is facing the truth, no matter how much you want to avoid it. The truth can’t be avoided forever. The author helped to develop this message throughout the novel using the fact that society was ignoring the problem with AIDS. Chanda’s community saw AIDS as a family disgrace and curse. They refused to accept that this was a medical condition, which needed to be dealt with. Meanwhile, AIDS was continued to be spread without recognition. However, towards the end of the book, Chanda stood up to society and accepted her mother had AIDS. She also accepted the fact that she may have them, and got her and the rest of her and her best friend’s families to get checked out. As soon as she accepted the truth, and found out her best friend had AIDS, they were able to look for solutions, such as visiting a centre with others with same problem, as well as signing up for drugs, which may help her. “Mama said I should save my anger to fight injustice. Well, I know what’s unjust. The ignorance about AIDS. The shame. The stigma. The silence. The secrets that keep us hiding behind the curtain. The Welcome Centre throws back that curtain.” (Stratton 192) After facing the truth, Chanda discovered there were many other people affected by this illness, and a whole new world opened up to her; a world with people recognizing the problem, with people opening up about what they’re going through and a world of solutions and possibilities.
Jen Gleason
Mrs. Russell
ENG1D1-06
05-18-09
Question #4 Theme: Response to Bandon
Interesting point Brandon, "God never gives us more then we can handle", another book I just finished reading had the same line. I don’t believe that is true though, some people like Mrs. Kabelo do get more than they can handle, I mean she got AIDS right? “‘I am trying,’ she weeps. ‘I’ve been trying as hard as I can.’”(Stratton 105). So this goes to show that ‘God’ can give a person too much to deal with since we know Lilian dies at the end. You are absolutely correct about Chanda being a strong person, the fact that she could live through her sister’s AIDS related death, her mother’s death due to AIDS, her father and brothers dying in the mine explosion, the death of M. Dube, and now Esther having AIDS must really put a lot of pressure on her. “I want to! I want to tell him about Mama, Esther, Mrs. Tafa, Iris—how I'm so scared I can’t breathe, and I don’t know what to do.”(Stratton 154). This displays how confused and hard it is for Chanda to remain silent when she has so many problems and no one to help her with. I don’t agree with you on Mrs. Tafa however, I don’t think that she believe that people with AIDS are dirty; I think that she is just lying to cover the truth. Inside she is tormented and wracked with the grief of her son, who killed himself because he had AIDS. Mrs. Tafa isn’t heartless Brandon; she is just a confused and hurting mother trying her best to keep her secret that Chanda helps her get off her chest. “‘As part of the physical, his doctor gave him an AIDS test. The test came back positive. Emmanuel borrowed a rifle from a friend. He went into the bush, put the rifle in his mouth and blew his head off. You see, he didn’t know how to tell us, my husband and me. He was afraid we wouldn’t understand. He was afraid we wouldn’t love him anymore.’” (Stratton 186). This displays Mrs. Tafa’s grief and that she is finally able to open up and tell the truth, however horrid it may be.
Brandon D’Amato
Mrs. Russell
ENG 1D1- 06
05/17/09
I am responding to Rida’s statement about the theme. I agree with her response because it has some of the facts that I put in my response. Rida’s theme was stand up for what you believe in and mine was God never gives us more then we can handle. When Rida explained how Chanda helped Esther in her time of need, and I said Chanda was a strong person to be able to help her family and friends when they needed it. The main idea in Rida’s response was how to stand up for people with AIDS and not to be afraid to get help instead of hiding it.
Rida Ahmad
Ms. Russell
ENG-1D1-06
05/16/09
I agree with Jen’s statement. The society is exceedingly ignorant when it comes to AIDS. “She told me everything. If they couldn’t hide the disease in Tiro, you won’t be able to hide it here.” (Stratton 181)However, I feel like the people suffering from AIDS are not ignorant. They are scared, fearful, and probably terrified. When Mama did not want Chanda to take her to the doctor, maybe, she was aware that she had AIDS and just did not want her loved ones to be humiliated by her. I also feel the same way about Esther and her parents-she probably knew but she just did not want to face the reality of the situation which is that her parents will die and so she is scared. I agree that ignorance caused the tension throughout the novel and that if it did not take place the society would be truthful to one another and the issues of AIDS surrounding them.
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