A Question of Power by Bessie Head

The book A Question of Power by Bessie Head

Introduction

Bessie Head explores the topic of mental health challenges that a main character named Elizabeth experiences caused by various factors including biracial identity, cultural differences, political issues (Apartheid), and patriarchal power. Head aims to reveal how oppressive forces can be barrier to an individual’s liberty such as ethnic and sexual prejudices, and racial discrimination. Therefore, through effective exploration of oppressive factors and mental health illness, it helps readers to gain new awareness that strives to make the society a better place through restoring humanistic values of liberty and justice.

Analysis

The passages that I will be analyzing from the reading include analysis of mental illness that affects Elizabeth’s weak psychological state, a gender analysis based on patriarchal power, and a colonial analysis based on apartheid. These passages include:

“Your mother was insane. If you’re not careful you’ll get insane just like your mother. Your mother was a white woman. They had to lock her up, as she was having a child by the stable boy who was a native, (Head, 16).” I chose this passage as I find it disturbing because mental health illness has become a public health concern affecting millions of people worldwide caused by various external and internal factors. In this case, Elizabeth’s mental breakdown started after this cruel revelation about her origin. Elizabeth battled with this revelation her entire life that led to her mental trauma. Elizabeth’s father was black and her mother was white, which made her true identity unstable. In addition, due to this identity, Elizabeth faced mental torture, poverty, and inhumanity during apartheid. She moves to Botswana to escape apartheid violence but she faces further discrimination due to cultural and language differences. These aspects makes Elizabeth struggle with mental illness.

“You’re going to commit suicide,” (Head, 186). I chose this passage because I identify with it. Due to the patriarchal power, women in the society are dominated by men. In this context, Dan, a character in the book is destructive, he is sexually perverted, and tortures Elizabeth. Dan represents male domination and the power of patriarchy over the female gender in South Africa. Elizabeth faces oppression due to the male power. Dan instructs Elizabeth to take her own life but she learns how to encounter the male power.

“The people are never going to rise above the status of ‘the people”. They are going to be told what is good for them by the ‘mother’ and the ‘father’. And she made wrong kinds of attacks on Elizabeth. (Head, 63). I chose this passage because I find it thought provoking since it exhibits the reality of colonialism and apartheid, which are very destructive.  Since historical times, the white people colonized African continents and have experienced enormous oppression from the white supremacy. Elizabeth endures significant suffering as a victim of evil power.

Metatext

I believe Elizabeth’s mental challenges reinforced her power and association with the political and social issues that eventually resulted to the reconciliation of her soul and body. Despite Elizabeth’s mental illness which made her experience the physical and mental trauma, she acquired a deeper understanding of her illness that provided her with peace and freedom in life. According to Head, mental illness and insanity are not a sign of weakness for Elizabeth, rather, they are perceived as forms of resistance, which allowed Elizabeth to think about the challenges of human life. She has the ability to solve these challenges and make the world a better place. As a reader, I believe it would be difficult for me to cope with the traumatic events experienced by Elizabeth. She experiences mental torture due to lack of her identity, poverty, and inhumanity. She leads a life of isolation from the society after escaping to Botswana due to apartheid violence in South Africa. Therefore, in our reality, Elizabeth developed the ability to overcome turmoil and torture that emanated from various social issues such as patriarchy, social class and hierarchy, and conflict with the native people. She is able to overcome these challenges and cope with her struggles.

The patriarchal power exposes women to exploitation and oppression in the hands of men. Women are perceived as subordinate members in the society and this illustrates the level of oppression and exploitation that destroys women. Men dominate the public sphere and are often perceived as superior to women. It is crucial for the society to empower women and put in place legislative laws that will allow women positions in power. This will help to fights against gender inequalities and improve the lives of women.

Colonialism and apartheid symbolizes the tortures that millions of blacks in South Africa experienced during that era. The whites oppressed the black people both mentally and physically. Some black people like Elizabeth made the decision to escape to other countries while some died or became insane. Elizabeth manages to confront the struggles of apartheid, she leaves South Africa and seeks refuge in Botswana, where she settles and becomes an activists. This illustrates the power that the society has to change the reality from the apartheid system.

Questions

What measures can be put in place to address issues of gender inequalities and the effects of patriarchal power in our society?

How can we end racial/ethnicity prejudice and discrimination in our society today?

How can we empower women to become powerful and gain leadership positions in our society?

How can we end apartheid in South Africa?

Work cited

Head, Bessie. A question of power. No. 149. Heinemann, 1974.