Desperation

Desperation: A mother's love goes without saying, especially for their child.

Cordelia was a woman who, from her very introduction into the novel, was in desperate need of help. She appears to be a woman who has fallen prey to much misfortune. According to Jesmina, she had taken care of her in younger years acting more as a mother than a sister. This indicates that much responsibility was placed upon her at a very young age. The probability, therefore, of their being a lack of youth and joy in her life is very great. According to her dialogue with Jesmina, Cordelia has become depressed and even sick. On page 40, the author states, 'Cordelia's man had been taken up for peddling ganga, and it seems to change everything and bring a cloud over her life'. Cordelia was not an independent woman. She depended upon others for her happiness. Her 'man' Jonas, her sister Jesmina, Bra'Man, and her son. Her son became sick soon after she did. After this development, we see a change in her character to one of constant desperation and need. Cordelia is seen engaging in several different 'strange' acts even involved in Obeah. At first, she exhibits faith in Brother Man and his Christian beliefs, but after his 'faulter' in failing to heal her son, Cordelia turns 'crazy'. After consulting with the Obeah man in the village, Bra'ambo and he too fails, alternately, she kills both herself and her son. She loved her son very much and had a strong connection with him. His lack of health was the ultimate turning point in her life. On page 162, Cordelia has killed her son. At this point, she has become taken over with the pin and terror that she has become numb. While she lets negativity get the best of her, she resorts to killing her son to stop her pain and his. Immidiately afterwards, she contently kills herself, this is Cordelia's end.