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Off course

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Nehemiah kipchumba
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28 views

Off course

Uploaded by

Nehemiah kipchumba
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Off course, bella insist on being the one to tell her nephew and niece about their father’s

death.
As for valarie, bella will start by calling her mother, who will know how to locate her if anyone
can….’’
This theme is also brought up well where bella who is a accustomed to an independent life
becomes the mother and the father to her nephew, salif and her niece, dahaba. After the demise
of their father in a terrorist attack. She promises dahaba that she will be there for her and looks
after her. This is a clear indication that she will be the caregiver of salif and dahaba. This is seen
in chapter five page 55 where bella says and I quote ‘’…. You have me, darling, for one. I am
here to look after you and be with you…’’ with this, bella’s independent life comes to an end this
is evident when dahaba asks her if she will be with them for a week and bella says she will be
there forever. This brings to an end of her independent life.
In addition to, familial responsibility is seen when the only living parent of salif and dahaba,
valarie travels from where she was, kampala to be specific, to Nairobi where her children are to
be with them after abandoning them for a long time. This is seen when valarie is asked by bella
her reason for being in Nairobi and even though she says its because of Aar’s death she also
states that she’s in Nairobi because of her children. This is in chapter 7 page 78 the last bit and I
quote;
‘’ ….. what brings you to Nairobi?’’
‘’ my husband’s death has brought you here?’’
‘’ Aar’ death has brought you here?’’
‘’ that’s right.’’
‘’ but he didn’t die here.’’
‘’and my children. Off course.’’
Moreover, about family responsibility. Valarie who has a history of being immoral on the basis
of being lesbian her partner being padmini, is forced to make a good impression and be a good
example to her children. She is their mother. Valarie who has been accustomed with sharing bed
with padmini doesn’t do that at Aar’s house during her first visit to her children after many years
of abandoning them. She tries her best to hide about her lesbian relationship with padmini.
Lastly, familial responsibility is clearly evident where Bella starts to advice salif about his
responsibilities towards her younger sister, dahaba. This is during the time when bella is taking
salif and dahaba to Aar’s house, their home. Bella gives this advice to salif now that his father is
dead. Salif of course agrees and promises bella to do his responsibilities on the condition that
bella will guide her.
There are also minor themes in this book, ‘ hiding in plain sight’ such as maariage, immorality
and urbanization.
To begin with marriage as a theme is brought up the marriage between Digaaleh and Hurdo
which we see in chapter one page 2 second last paragraph and I quote ‘’… Hurdo and her
husband, digaaleh…’’ there is also marriage between Marcella and her husband who was a
collegues of Hurdo and Digaaleh. Aar and vallarie are also a married couple who got married in
mali.
Secondly, immorality is brought well between valarie and padmini who practice lesbianism. This
is immorality in the modern era. There have been accounts of padmini and valarie sharing a bed
and the fact that they were caught in the act in kampala. Bella also has a history with her various
lovers. One one in particular is the Brazilian lover who she’s making love with and when they
are about to do an org she receives news of Aar’s death.
There are instances of conflicts in the novel which is seen between salif and bella reason being
how Aar will be given burial. Bella suggest normal burial which salif disagrees and suggest
cremation as he had been told by his mother, valarie to be in his will. There is also conflict
between bella and dahaba when bella reminds dahaba that she has one living parent. This is
during the time bella meets dahaba for the first time. It is seen in chapter five page 55 where it
says and I quote ‘’ ……. At that dahaba pushes bella away and for the first time the two of them
stand apart…’’ this is after bella reminds dahaba of her living mother.
In conclusion, the book hiding in plain sight exploit various themes in east African literature.

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