After guiding her students through numerous Literature classes, assistant professor in Literature at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), Dr Carol Andrews-Redhead, decided it was time to teach those she was mandated to educate a lesson of her own. Earlier this year Dr Redhead launched her novel, Ruptures Into Silence, a publication which she said was done with students in mind.
"When I was writing, I was constantly thinking of my students and the need to provoke critical thinking and an evolution of the mind," she said, adding that the book contained a number of pertinent and real life issues that could be addressed by teachers of Literature. "There are the issues of HIV and Aids, religion, rape, murder, teenaged pregnancy, and so many other things raised by this book that a teacher could address in a classroom without being judgemental. I am hoping the book could be included on the syllabus," she said.
As the story goes
The story revolves around the life of the protagonist, Margaret Vivian, who was born and spent her adolescent years in a small rural community on the island of Taringa. The beginning and the end of the story is told as seen through the eyes of her niece, Olivia. The middle are flashbacks of the way Margaret Vivian's life unfolded. Rebellious, precocious, and extremely intelligent, Margaret Vivian lived her life the way she wanted to, in spite of how other people, especially her mother Viola, sometimes viewed her eccentric decisions.
When she accidentally discovered a damning secret about her conception and paternity, at the same time as her mother does, the psychological effect catapulted her love/hate relationship with her mother and her rebellion to a new level. Feared by those who did not understand her, Margaret Vivian became a legend in her own right among those with whom she interacted, and could only be controlled by the nature she loved. As she made her trek through life, her encounters with friendship and love were few, but her disappointments and losses were many. And it was only at the time of her death and her entrance into the spiritual realm, that she was able to grasp the roles that the love and sacrifices of others, especially that of her mother, played in her life.
Purely fictional
According to Dr Redhead, Margaret Vivian was someone who no one seemed to understand. She made her own rules, and was introverted and egocentric. "Trying to figure out Margaret Vivian requires a psycho analytical approach," Dr Redhead said, and although she admitted she could sometimes identify with some of Margaret Vivian's traits, she insisted the piece of work was just fiction.
"I used to be a guidance officer and I have counselled many children, so I guess I have used some of those experiences to build her character. But it was not as if I sat down and decided to do that. When I started to write the ideas just flowed." She said she gave the two main characters two of the greatest weapons women possessed. "Margaret Vivian had the power of words. She always articulated just what was on her mind, no matter how much it hurt others. And Viola (her mother) had the power of silence, something she developed after she was raped," she explained.
In an appropriate language
Although the story is mainly based in a rural village, Dr Redhead said she deliberately chose to use standard English as opposed to dialect. "I believe in and love dialect, but I wanted to point out the importance of not stereotyping. Because you are from the country it doesn't mean you can't speak proper English."
"Also, although students are always confronted with dialect, when it comes to doing exams they are required to write in standard English. I just wanted them to be comfortable with the language in which they have to do their exams," she said. In addition, she said she opted not to base the story in an actual location because she wanted readers to get their creative juices flowing. "I left it up to the readers to create their own environment and place the characters there," she said. Ruptures Into Silence is easy and interesting reading, with an intriguing storyline and quite a few surprises.
