A theme that is developed in the poem "Bush Medicine," by Konai Hely Thaman is the following:
- The poem develops the theme of respect and acceptance of old traditions and practical knowledge.
What is theme?
- First, we need to understand that theme is the message underlying a literary work, the idea an author wishes to transmit to readers.
What is the idea in "Bush Medicine"?
- In "Bush Medicine," Tongan author Konai Hely Thaman talks about her grandmother, who was a healer.
- She used her knowledge of plants to heal the women who came to her in order to treat their ailments.
- Thaman's grandmother would chew leaves to release their juices, which she would apply to the sores of the women.
- Thaman mentions "wise men," the doctors of modern medicine, who say "there might be something / to my grandmother's cure." She says she hopes one day they will be sure, like her grandmother was.
- Her grandmother was not a doctor, but she knew what she was doing. She had practical knowledge that a certain plant would treat a certain sore. That is more than the knowledge many modern doctors have.
- The women in their village respected the tradition of going to a healer, also sure that they would be properly treated.
- With that in mind, we can say the poem develops the theme of respect for old knowledge and traditions.
Learn more about theme here:
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