Bitterness (An African Novel from Zambia) by Malama Katulwende

Author:Malama Katulwende
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: love story, africa, south africa, zambia, african literature, african students, student revolts, romance africa, zambian life
Publisher: Mondial

Chapter 11

Concerns entries in the Journal, that is all

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February 24

Feeling much better after a week of illness, thanks to Shantiee and my roommate, Muma, both of whom have been taking care of me. They swear, however, that I am a difficult patient – often argumentative or simply ‘impossible’. He reveals that whenever his patience gave out my girlfriend would take over and eventually have her way with me through gradual approaches and firmness. ‘For all her efforts to have you take a bath, medication or food, you repaid her with indifference, resentment, insolence and sometimes even aggressive behaviour, resisting her all the way. I told her that the moment you felt well again she deserved a present of some kind from you.’

February 26

Lunched with Shantiee at her favourite restaurant in town. She’s a remarkable woman. I slipped into a Jewelry shop and bought her a beautiful engagement ring I presented in the evening at her place, and fled from her room: didn’t want to witness her reaction the minute she unwrapped her parcel.

‘Where are you off to, my dear sir?’ her voice called at my back, a glint of mockery in her eyes. She glanced at the ring already glistening on her second finger and smiled. ‘You’ll have to excuse me just this once, mister Ferio. Please cancel all your appointments for this evening because you and I will have a little chat. I want to know what this is all about.’

In her room we embraced for a long time, and I didn’t have to explain much because we understood that we would always live for each other…even as man and wife.

March 4

There are basically two sorts of students. Those who are syllabus or examination oriented (or those who will do anything to earn good grades) and those for whom assignments, tests and exams are not as important as the acquisition of knowledge for its own sake. The former are merely concerned with passing and consequently restrict their studies to what they suppose may appear in the examinations. The latter, on the contrary, being more adventurous and curious, desire to explore the landscapes of knowledge. They are exemplars of Goethe’s verse: ‘I declare myself to be of those, who from the darkness to the light aspire.’

March 5

This contrast in intellectual attitude as to the ends of formal education defines us forever (and reminds one of the reasons for existence in general), since it leads to the types of lives people choose. On the other hand, does it really matter whether someone embraced opinion and conjecture (or lived like prisoners in Plato’s Allegory of the Cave?) or chose to live a life in which the contemplation of metaphysical realities of existence (like every philosopher does) becomes the reason for living? Does it matter (ultimately, that is), whether one lived this life or the other?

March 6

I think it does. I agree with Aristotle in Virtue and Rationality, though the principle of the golden mean is contentious.

March 9

After learning that I

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