Elma Shaw wrote “Redemption Road” to put some information across to the people and teach some lessons. These are embedded in the themes of the novel.
Themes
The Effects of Injustice: There can never be peace in a society that is lacking in justice. The government of Samuel Doe in the first instance was born out of injustice.
The government also became infamous in Liberia because of its unpopular policies like tribalism, nepotism and corrupt practices.
These are the injustices that invited Charles Taylor, who also wore the toga of injustice and toppled Samuel Doe’s government.
The incursion of Charles Taylor into Liberia resulted in the country’s civil war hence, the country was bereaved of peace for several years.
Inhumanity: There are various inhuman treatments of fellow human beings during the war. Many of these were witnessed and experienced by Bendu Lewis, the protagonist of the novel.
Many people left their loved ones and ran, especially the old ones and children. Bendu saw many of them by the roadside while pushing Granny May in the wheelbarrow.
She refused to leave the old woman and ran for her life as advised by the people. They told her, “Old Ma time is finished! She’s old, you are young. Come, let’s go!
When she was captured and taken to Duluma, she witnessed the unnecessary killing of fellow human beings by Commander Cobra. Ma Musu also told her about Commander Cobra, and how he used to waste people’s lives, especially when he has taken drugs.
Duluma camp was formerly a school and meeting hall for the elders of the village. The buildings were forcefully taken over by Commander Cobra and his men. Many of the villagers were then locked up in the buildings and burnt alive, this is gross inhumanity.
Bendu also narrates a scene, where the soldiers made a game or joke out of a pregnant woman. They would bet on whether she’s carrying a boy or a girl. They would then cut her open to know the winner.
The trauma of war: Many people have their various experiences about the war which affect their lives and the way people look at them.
This is made known through the PIP; the NGO managed by Bendu Lewis and Agnes. Many people are invited to their counseling session and some open up to share their experiences. Some of them are Rosetta, Josephine and Tenneh.
Rosetta is bitter about losing her husband to ethnic violence during the war. This makes things uninteresting to him and stereotypes everything. Josephine on her own is friendly and opens up to the counselors and encourages the younger women to emulate her.
Tenneh is a cook at Siatta’s place and she has been complaining about her. Bendu asks Siatta to send her to PIP twice a week. It’s there that it is discovered that the lady is suffering from depression which results from the trauma of the war.
Bendu discovers that Tenneh is the most positive and fun-loving person when not depressed.
Betrayal: There are instances of betrayal during the war among the people. One of such is the betrayal of Tenneh by her mother during the war.
This is revealed in the assignment given to them to write a letter to the person who had caused them the greatest pain.
Her mother pushed her away to the fighters to take her away and shielded her baby-boy from them.
Another instance of betrayal is from Terrance, Siatta’s husband. He betrays Bendu, his sister-in-law by giving the police information about her.
Siatta discovers from his call logs that he has been communicating with Kesselly when he tells them that he has not spoken to the police chief for ages. He is also linked to helping Cobra avoid the writ of arrest.
Bribery and Corruption: Money changes hands to legalize some illegalities. Judge Solomon Dagoseh is presented in the novel as the most corrupt character in the justice department. He is being used by Moses Varney and his group to achieve their inordinate ambition.
The police are also presented as a corrupt entity in the way Bendu’s case with Commander Cobra is treated in the novel. They nearly nailed her for the murder of Cobra in her quest to bring the deceased to face justice for his past atrocities.
Epidemic: There was a breakdown of diseases during the war which led to the death of many people. Some that were not killed by gunshots were killed by diseases.
This is caused by the breakdown of infrastructural facilities, low standard of living, malnourishment and bad economy. The most affected here are children and old people. Ma Musu tells Bendu that her sister died of cholera on the 4th of March.
HIV Enlightenment: There is enlightenment on HIV in this novel. The author makes use of Tenneh to achieve this. She tells the people at the workshop that she doesn’t have AIDS but the virus that causes AIDS.
The people also learn from her that someone can’t get HIV from another person by being friendly with them. It can only be transmitted through sexual fluids or infected blood.
Child-abuse: Children are abused severally during the war. Some of them are abandoned by their parents, run for their lives and left to die of hunger.
Some of them are seen by Bendu by the roadside while pushing Granny May in the wheelbarrow. Some are used as child soldiers by the fighters and trained to kill mercilessly.
Recovery and Atonement: The novel underscores the importance of recovery and atonement to achieve peaceful co-existence.
Bendu establishes the PIP; an NGO that is saddled with bringing together the traumatized people and bringing succor to their lives. This is achieved through assistance from the people and grants from international communities.
It also points out the importance of taking responsibility for one’s actions and being ready to make amends for past mistakes. It explores the process of accountability and justice for the victims of war.
This is why Bendu insists on bringing Commander Cobra to justice to heal her wounds and other traumatized people. In conclusion, when there is forgiveness and reconciliation, a just and peaceful society is built.
Death: The war consumes many Liberians, both young and old. Bendu lost her lovely brother Benji in the hands of the coupists.
Calvin’s parents were also killed by the soldiers who killed Benji. Cousin Orlando where about is not known, he might have been killed and dropped somewhere.