3.0.   Introduction.

This chapter focuses on thematic study in “Neria”. It aims at analyzing the different themes that rise up from the character’s actions, reactions and interactions.

3.1.    Analysis of different themes.

In Neria, Dangarembga has dramatized a lot of themes however, this analysis of themes of the narrative “Neria” is centred on the themes of cruelty, family, heroism, justice, Parenthood, feminism, and tradition.

3.1.1. Cruelty.

The idea of cruelty calls to mind actions or behaviours that inflict suffering in ways that are especially cold-hearted, depraved or indifferent. Acts a word that are considered to be cruel seem to go beyond what is merely unkind or simply violent (the complete Encyclopaedia of themes in literature 2011: 21).

As Jennifer Mc Clinton supports, cruelty can be physical or mental. It can take the form of large-scale horror or it can involve only two people as in care of domestic abuse. This is the case experienced about Phineas’ cruelty as involved with domestic abuse.

This is the case of Phineas who abuses of Neria domestically. He steals all what belongs to Neria and her family after Neria’s husband’s death, stopping her and her children from continuing to live a normal life.

Phineas’ cruelty also pushes him to occupy Neria’s how as his own, considering Neria as a visitor in her own house. Phineas profits from Neria’s absence to came with his wife and install themselves in Neria’s house.

Cruelty stops people from having good thoughts in their mind; in fact, when a person is cruel, all what passes through his mind is a harmful ideas, harmful plans. That is how

Phineas always plans bad things to harm his sister-in-low. He steals all the home furniture, he steals the bank book, he steals the children …

3.1.2. Family.

According to the Oxfam Advanced Lerner’s Dictionary a family is a group consisting of one or two parents and their children. It also is a group consisting of one or two parents, their children and close relations.

As Lew Tolstory (1954) in Anna Karenina writes “Happy families are all alike unhappy family is unhappy in its own way”. Likewise Patrick’s death, his family is very happy like whichever other happy family. The children are in school and are happy and well taken care f by their two parents.

After Patrick’s death, his family passes from a happy family to an unhappy one. Neria and her children undergo a very difficult life. They pass through what is called “the ups and downs of life”. Their relatives, instead of helping them, they reject them and loot them all what Patrick had left to the family.

In the same family, there are always good persons and bad ones. This is the case of Patrick’s extended family. One of his brothers fights against Neria for properties although Joel, another brother of his is ready to help Neria face her hardships.

3.1.3. Justice.

The oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines justice as the fair treatment of people. It is also defined as the legal system used to punish people who have committed crimes. The fundamental human impulse we seek is to be treated fairly and to see other finds treated fairly.

This is what Neria lays on when she finds her right menaced. She finds herself stroked as unnatural and fails to tolerate it. Neria learns all the legal procedures she has to follow for her fair treatment. She finds a lawyer who helps her. Thanks to justice she appears to be a hero for she fights for a valuable reason and recovers her rights.

3.1.4. Heroism.

The term hero is mostly applied to different persons who perform different big acts. For example, extraordinary acts of physical strength and courage such as saving a human life from a dangerous event are thought of as “heroism”.

Neria is said to be a hero for all the courage and risks she takes for fighting for her children’s welfare; Neria, despite her politeness, happens to reply badly to her brother in_-low and to bring him to the court.

Heroism is well-defined in “Neria” by the fast that Neria succeeds to regain her husband’s properties for her children. He courage and strength push her go on up to the end of the struggle.

3.1.5. Parenthood.

Parenthood had has been defined in The Complete Encyclopaedia of Themes in Literature (2011: 79) as a process of rearing children.

According to the Contemporary standards, parenthood involves a number of daily responsibilities, financial and affective obligations such as the education and instruction of one’s children. It also presupposes an active concern for one’s children’s welfare and physical and intellectual development.

This is the reason why Neria was fighting for her children’s cause. Her need, her concern was not in money or furniture but in the way to raise her children. Parenthood pushed Neria to struggle so as to get her husband’s properties back. If ever Neria ware alone, the loss of all these properties would mean nothing to her. All what pushed her to fight was her children’s schooling and instruction, their physical and intellectual development, and their welfare in general.

3.1.6. Tradition.

Tradition is defined by the oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary as a belief, custom or way of doing something that has existed for a long time among a particular group of people; a set of these beliefs or customs.

Generally, tradition is the grand parents’ lifestyle life evolves, realities change. People experience new life; they come across different cultures and things change.

In Neria, traditional life is still carried out in village. In the city, people lead a different life style. This is seen by the fact that in the city, women can work but in the village a good woman is the one who stays at home.

3.1.7. Feminism.

Feminism is defined the belief and aim that women should have the same right and opportunities as men. It is also the struggle to achieve this aim.

Feminism is a reality that allows women to work. It is in contradiction with tradition which called good woman the woman who spends all her days at home, waiting for her husband’s money.

With feminism, the wife brings him contribution to the family expenses. In the feminist’s ideology, a woman is not a mouth to be fed, but a partner who need to contribute to the general management of the family including feeding, clothing, schooling, assuring case, etc.

Women of the women’s crocheting Cooperative are the first feminists presented in “Neria”. These women have a source of money which at their work. They are able to support their family.

Feminism is not only concerned with women. There are also men, feminists. This is the case of Patrick, Neria’s husband. Patrick is said to be a feminist in the way that he allows his wife to work. Patrick finds it normal to work. He understands that Neria is human and has the same right as him as regarding, working and earning something from work. Neria sometimes earns more than Patrick does, as Patrick explains his younger brother Phineas, but Patrick does not made it a problem. He finds it as normal as he could earn more than Neria does.

Feminism enables women not to be shy; not to be afraid of men their immediate companions. This is seen when Neria secedes to bring her problem against Phineas, her late husband’s young brother to the court. Neria puts her shyness and politeness aside for _the defence of her rights;

3.2. Partial conclusion.

This chapter has dealt with the “Thematic analysis in “Neria”. It has analyzed seven major themes developed in “Neria” including cruelty, family, heroism, justice, parenthood, feminism and traditionalism. The choice and analysis of these different themes were based on the number of times they appear in the narrative under study.