Essay Questions

Why is Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu depicting Beatrice Beit-Beauford as the most paradoxical character in the novel The Theory of Flight?

Beatrice is a white heir in Zimbabwe managing a large farm she inherited from her father. Instead of championing white supremacy in Zimbabwe, Beatrice does the contrary because she uses the proceeds of her farm to support freedom fighters. Beatrice believes Africans can achieve self-rule and liberate themselves from the oppressive rule of the whites. The white government discovers that Beatrice is helping Black people to gain independence. As a result, the government plots to kill Beatrice in a plane crash, but she survives.

Illustrate how sanguinity emerges as one of the primary themes in the novel.

Throughout the novel, the readers interact with ambitious characters who want to make a difference. The novel's protagonist, Golide, wants to travel to Russia to study aeronautics to become the first Zimbabwean to build an airplane. After studying in Russia, Golide comes home and makes the first airplane for a black man. The other sanguine character in the novel is Elizabeth, who wants to fly across the world and become the best singer. One of the places Elizabeth wants to perform is Nashville because she believes after the performance; she will become a global star.

What is the representative meaning of an abandoned car on the plantation?

The abandoned car on the farm symbolizes freedom. Before independence, the car belonged to a white settler who managed the plantation. Young children like Marcus and Genie realize they can play inside the car and pretend they are traveling at a high speed. Genie and Marcus's playfulness inside the car signifies freedom for the people of Zimbabwe because they are now free to do things they could not attempt during the era of colonization.