Nervous Conditions Chapter 10

Tambu leaves for the convent school, but her feelings are bittersweet. She is excited by the prospect of taking another exciting step towards success and freedom, but also believes that this is a point that marks the end of her friendship with Nyasha. She knows that Nyasha is following a different path, and with the physical distance between them, and the resultant lack of daily communication, she realizes that they will never be close again.  

The grounds themselves are fabulous, better than Tambu had even imagined, with beautiful buildings, and impeccably manicured lawns and plants. However, she is apprehensive about noticing immediately that all of the other students, and the families bringing them to school, are white. Tambu and her uncle and aunt are the only black people visible to them, other than porters working to carry bags. Another sign of concern is that Tambu is placed in a room containing six beds, which she is told will be filled by other African students, while the white students are afforded only four beds to each room. Tambu has no choice but to simply accept the conditions.  

As the school year progresses, she excels. Tambu receives letters very regularly from Nyasha, but Tambu does not respond. She is too busy to take the time to write letters, and simply does not feel the strong motivation to continue communicating with Nyasha.  

At the end of a semester, Tambu returns to the mission to find Nyasha emaciated and perilously thin. Her bulimia has ravished her body, leaving her weak and unstable. Her mental capabilities suffer as well, as she loses cognitive abilities.  

One evening, Nyasha lashes out against her parents, the school, and whites. She goes on a violent rampage, breaking things and intentionally cutting herself. She is frantic and upset over the belief that the whites have taken too much of her soul and background, and that the Englishness has poisoned them all. Tambu is disturbed by this display of seeming madness.  

Nyasha is immediately taken to a mental health facility, and over the next few days, begins to recover from the physical damage done by her eating disorder.  

Later, Tambu’s mother re-asserts that Nyasha's condition was indeed caused by the influence of white culture, and that Tambu must be aware of it. Tambu’s resolve to not allow this to happen is strengthened by her observations, and by the validations of others. She vows to not allow this to happen to herself.  

Analysis:  

The ‘nervous conditions’ of the many females close to Tambu have motivated her to seek an escape by attending the convent school. She has seen her mother’s condition deteriorate, due to the stress and difficulty of a lifetime of subservience to Jeremiah. She has seen Maiguru’s attempt to break free, but questions its efficacy. She has seen Nyasha’s struggles, as the unsure teenager tests the waters of independence, often with negative results. Nyasha’s mental breakdown shows Tambu how difficult the struggle has been for her.  

Tambu resists Babamukuru’s “plan” that Tambu strive towards the goal of becoming a good wife to a decent man someday. Tambu has higher aspirations, and to obey the will of Babamukuru, Jeremiah, and traditional roles by just being a dutiful wife is a repulsive path to Tambu. She aspires for more, but uncertainty always remains in her thoughts… a nervous condition.  

Tambu believes that all of the discomfort and mental anguish can be overcome by the pursuit of higher education, leading to wealth, leading to a better way of life for all. She wishes to find a way to help her own family climb out of the rut of poverty, and believes that she has the ability to do so if she can get an education. She is aware that she will face struggles, as she will be expected by the nuns to become a “good African,” by accepting the ways of English culture. She is determined not to lose sight of her heritage, though. She will be faced with many forces that will attempt to reshape her, and while she wants the education, she remains committed to maintaining her own heritage. She desires the new, and must find ways to reject some of it, and embrace other facets. This is the same with holding onto the old ways as well, where she must find the parts of it that are worthy of saving, while changing the bad things. All of this leads to uncertainty for the future, her own nervous condition.