In Danai Gurira’s Eclipsed, she tells the story of five women during the Second Liberian Civil War. One of these women, Maima, runs away from the camp where she is a sex slave to go fight in the war. This decision, and her chance meeting with another of these sex slaves, seriously affect her relationships with Bessie and The Girl. Maima’s character is proud and seeks a better life for herself, yet her motives, usage of The Girl as a child soldier and abusive relationship complicate her character, making her a fascinating example of war’s effects and its contradictions. Maima’s usage of the Girl as a child soldier appears to be a misguided attempt to help her avoid the mistakes that she made, but ends up seeming like a brutal indoctrination
…show more content…
The sense of pride is revealed when Maima brings in a bag of rice, which is enthusiastically accepted by Bessie, but rejected by the matriarch, Helena. Maima responds to this statement by saying “Dat when you forget de past and give people new chance. You can’t do dat, hah?”(17). In this quote, some of Maima’s inner motivations are revealed. In order for her to give the women the rice, she must receive unquestioning fealty in return, something that the women will not give. Additionally, her motivation for bringing the bag of rice back to the women is fascinating as well. She is trying to be magnanimous, but her pride gets in the way. Another scene in which this relationship is exemplified is fwhen Maima shows up while Bessie is listening to the radio. Maima says “Don’t stop for me Number Tree, you having disco all for yourself oh!”(23). Maima appears to almost be mocking Bessie here, making fun of her obvious discomfort at seeing her. This rudeness is belied by the fact that Maima has shown up to give The Girl a gift of a dress. A hostile reaction to Bessie, in addition to generosity in the way of clothing and rice characterizes the dynamic between the two women, who seem to benefit from this relationship despite intense
The sense of pride is revealed when Maima brings in a bag of rice, which is enthusiastically accepted by Bessie, but rejected by the matriarch, Helena. Maima responds to this statement by saying “Dat when you forget de past and give people new chance. You can’t do dat, hah?”(17). In this quote, some of Maima’s inner motivations are revealed. In order for her to give the women the rice, she must receive unquestioning fealty in return, something that the women will not give. Additionally, her motivation for bringing the bag of rice back to the women is fascinating as well. She is trying to be magnanimous, but her pride gets in the way. Another scene in which this relationship is exemplified is fwhen Maima shows up while Bessie is listening to the radio. Maima says “Don’t stop for me Number Tree, you having disco all for yourself oh!”(23). Maima appears to almost be mocking Bessie here, making fun of her obvious discomfort at seeing her. This rudeness is belied by the fact that Maima has shown up to give The Girl a gift of a dress. A hostile reaction to Bessie, in addition to generosity in the way of clothing and rice characterizes the dynamic between the two women, who seem to benefit from this relationship despite intense