Essay Questions

What makes Liza Kemp unique from the rest of her siblings?

Liza Kemp has thirteen siblings, and their mother is an alcoholic who does not take her time to look after the family. The family is poor and has several challenges because even getting an education is an uphill task. Therefore, the general mood of the family is sad. However, Kemp stands out from the other siblings because she is always happy, focused, and optimistic. Liza refuses to allow her family's problems to put her down.

What is the main irony in Liza of Lambeth?

The main paradox in the novel is love. Tom pursues Liza's love, but he is left disappointed and disoriented. Liza is in love with Jim, a man she finds one day when she leaves work. On the other hand, Tom is in love with Liza, but she does not love him. Even after realizing that Jim has a wife with five children, Liza still pursues him. Jim and Liza decide to have a secret love affair without the knowledge of Jim's wife. One day, Liza realizes that Jim is not the man she knew because he physically abuses her when she is late for one of her dates with him. Liza is already pregnant with Jim but does not care when he beats her. Tom rescues Liza, and he takes good care of her until she recovers. Tom still loves Liza and proposes to her even if she is pregnant with Jim. Ironically, Liza still refuses the proposal, and Tom is left disoriented. Unfortunately, Liza has a miscarriage, and she dies from excessive bleeding.

What is the main theme in Liza of Lambeth?

The main theme that emerges from the novel is sorrow. The sudden death of Liza disheartens Jim and Tom. Jim is sad because Liza was carrying his child, but she lost the baby in a miscarriage. On the other hand, Tom is sorrowful because the only woman he has loved passionately throughout his life is dead. Liza's family is also bitter because of the premature death of their family member, who was also a breadwinner.