Nervous Conditions

Nervous Conditions is a fascinating story of self-discovery and how much any one person can and will endure.  This story is told from Tambu's very naive point of view and how the experiences of others within her family shaped the woman she would become. 

She learns from her mother to develop a sense of self-worth, although I feel this was an indirect lesson.  Her mother never truly encouraged her, telling her that being a woman was just her burden in life, even suggesting that her father let her "see what things cannot be done".  By convincing her father to let her sell her mealies, Ma'Shingayi allowed Tambu to realize that she should not give up if she believes in herself.  In turn, she later reminds her mother to have a little respect for herself, by reminding her to keep a clean toilet.  That is about as low as your self worth can fall when you stop keeping your toilet clean.

Jerimiah, Nhamo, and Takesure show her that being born a man does not make you superior to women.  There is nothing about any of those men that she felt made them any more important than anyone else.  They were lazy, often rude and did nothing to provide a better life for anyone at the homestead.

Lucia was the woman who gave Tambu her voice, she showed how even an ueducated woman could be strong and stand up for herself.  And in asking for a job on the mission, what sacrifices a mother will make for her child and it is never to late to get an education. 

From Maiguru, Tambu would learn that educated women who chose family over self will have to make extraordinary sacrifices in their life.   What the novel doesn't tell us outright (that Tambu's adult self will learn) is that this balance of work and family takes a lot more that any one woman would ever admit.  I found it interesting that Tambu's punishment was the thing that made Maiguru stand up to her husband and not Nyasha's.

Babamukuru was who she called the closest to God a human could get.  She saw him as her benefactor and would be grateful for his charity, so in her young mind, he could do no wrong.  However, I would like to think that the adult Tambu will come to learn that he gave up his identity to give to provide to others.  He had no love in his heart, only obligations and social expectations to uphold.

The relationship with Nyasha and Tambu was the most profound.  They were at every point throughout the book the opposite of each other, the only time they were in complete agreement was when they were alone in their bedroom.  Nyasha made Tambu realize the person she wanted to become.  Above all else, it was Nyasha's weakness that gave Tambu thestrength within herself to fight against what was expected and to question that with which she did not agree.    I was almost expecting at the end of the book that we would find out that were born twins.