• . Mainini suggests that Nyasha is plagued by "Englishness," though Tambu persists in her studies.
• Tambu narrates the tale
• her brother died,  Nhamo's death and that allowed her to write this story Nhamo dies when Tambu is thirteen
• Remember that the novel is narrated by a much older Tambu looking back on her younger self. Insights like this show that Tambu has grown up and developed critical thinking skills, even if she does see that her younger self was righteous in her indignation.
• Mainini calmly insisted that womanhood is a heavy burden
• She explained that Tambu needed to learn to carry the burdens of blackness and womanhood with strength. these conclusions reached, Tambu announced that she'd go to school.
• Tambu's desire to earn the money herself shows the strength of her convictions: she believes fully that education will save her, as well as that she can overcome the barriers set out because of her gender if she does it herself and doesn't defer to men.
• Nyasha, however, looks very English: she's wearing a tiny dress that barely covers her thighs and looks concerned. Tambu turns away, disgusted by Nyasha's inappropriate dress
• The women dish up dinner for the patriarchal relatives.
• Babamukuru and Maiguru ate with their hands. Nhamo insists that they eat with silverware and individual plates at home.