Nervous Conditions

The pressures of patriarchal gender roles appear as a theme both through the events of the plot and through the characterization of multiple characters, including Nhamo, the Sigaukes, Tambu, and Ma’Shingayi. Nhamo is a child, and as such, is still developing his understanding of the world and his place within it. He emulates his male role models—first copying Jeremiah’s exaggerated adulation, then following Babamukuru’s entitled and proud attitudes. Nhamo is in line to follow not only Babamukuru’s attitude, but also his path in life as the eldest son sent to a mission school with the intent to care for his family.

Babamukuru’s role in the novel is made complex by the gender role pressures he faces; he is expected to provide not only for his immediate family but for his extended family. As the head of the extended family, he is also expected to make all the major decisions. The pressure Babamukuru experiences is portrayed through his tense mood and through his fear of his family displaying signs of impropriety. The author’s empathy toward both Nhamo and Babamukuru suggests the concept that, while men possess a favorable bias within the culture in the novel, they are also negatively impacted by the pressures of patriarchal society.

The female characters also experience gender role pressures. Tambu and Nyasha both experience the pressure to marry. Tambu’s enrollment in school is initially threatened because Jeremiah felt her potential future husband would reap the benefits, and Babamukuru often cites Nyasha’s expected future marriage as an excuse for his authoritarian parenting methods and his abuse of her. After he assumes responsibility for Tambu, Babamukuru prioritizes her future marriage, too, when he worries that Sacred Heart will corrupt Tambu similarly to how Nyasha has, in his opinion, been corrupted by British culture. Maiguru counters Babamukuru’s enforcement of gender roles by highlighting the subjectivity of patriarchal standards of decency for women: “I don’t know what people mean by a loose woman—sometimes she is someone who walks the streets, sometimes she is an educated woman, sometimes she is a successful man’s daughter or she is simply beautiful” (184). The character arcs of Ma’Shingayi and Maiguru form a juxtaposition; the women’s circumstances contrast, with Ma’Shingayi being uneducated and living in poverty and Maiguru being educated and living in affluence. Despite their apparent juxtaposition, they experience similar pressures: Both women are expected to submit to their husband’s wills and to perform so-called “women’s work.” With her privileges of education and employment, Maiguru can combat some of the pressures she feels, but she resumes most of her duties upon returning home after accepting Babamukuru’s challenge to leave. Both she and Ma’Shingayi demonstrate the strength of gender role pressures despite privilege.

Although closely related to patriarchal gender role pressures, sisterhood and the burden of womanhood emerges as a unique theme given its emphasis throughout the text. Ma’Shingayi introduces the concept that womanhood is a burden when she hopes to soothe Tambu’s disappointment after being told that it is not important for her to attend school since she is to marry when she grows up. Ma’Shingayi argues that women must sacrifice themselves and says, “[T]hese things are not easy; you have to start learning them early, from a very early age. The earlier the better so that it is easy later on. Easy! As if it is ever easy” (16). Tambu believes that Ma’Shingayi experiences womanhood as a burden because she is uneducated and poor, and Tambu looks to Maiguru as an example of a woman who does not experience such burdens. Tambu’s perspective changes as she witnesses the dynamic between Maiguru and her husband and later speaks to Maiguru. Given Babamukuru’s aggression and demanding nature, Maiguru appeases her husband to keep the peace in her household. Maiguru also experiences a significant burden because her wages are paid to Babamukuru, who completely controls her income. Maiguru’s oppression serves to demonstrate that education and financial status may alter the burdens women face, but they do not eliminate the cultural struggles of womanhood.

Sisterhood stands as the counterpart to the burden of womanhood. The most significant demonstrations of sisterhood occur between Nyasha and Tambu and between Ma’Shingayi and Lucia. Nyasha and Tambu form a close bond while Tambu is staying with the Sigaukes, and Nyasha, more than once, alludes to or directly notes the impact Tambu’s presence has had on her life. Although Tambu inwardly judges Nyasha’s behavior, she offers Nyasha acceptance and support. Nyasha provides sisterhood, as well, as depicted when she offers Tambu tampons, rather than rags, when Tambu begins menstruating. The full impact of their relationship is illustrated when Tambu leaves for Sacred Heart and Nyasha’s mental state declines. Lucia and Ma’Shingayi display a similar bond; however, Lucia is far more intentional in offering support to Ma’Shingayi. Even Lucia’s seeming betrayal of sleeping with Jeremiah can be interpreted as an act of sisterhood, as she wanted to become his second wife so that she could secure a permanent residence alongside her sister. When the female characters support and commiserate with each other, they reduce their shared burdens, thereby lightening their emotional loads.