The basis of loyalty can sometimes create controversy within a community. Bessie Head’s “The Deep River” tells the tale of a tribe torn after the death of their leader, especially upon discovering Monemapee’s youngest wife had been unfaithful to her husband. This story clearly indicates that the tribe’s differing opinions created a division in their very existence. Throughout the story, Head shows how the tribal elders stuff to older conventions, whereas Sebembele’s followers held loyalty to their rightful leader (1708).
Head brings her theme of loyalty and division to fruition with a good dose of conflict and some minor foreshadowing. She presents the conflict of Sebembele admitting he had an affair with his father’s youngest wife and was the true father of his youngest “brother” Makobi (Head 1705). This conflict creates the conflict of his two younger brothers suddenly realizing their youngest “brother” has now replaced them in line to the throne (Head 1705). The village counselors create conflict for Sebembele by posing the ultimatum that he renounce his lover and his son, which brings about foreshadowing that he will give up his throne to remain loyal to Rankwana and their son (Head 1706). These literary devices show a loyalty to family while also conveying the division of a tribe who either sides with the rightful heir or disagrees with his “unmanly” ways (Head 1706).
Although the tribe eventually splits, the Talaote people accept Sebembele’s decision and follow him to a new tradition. The younger brothers succeed in drumming out their competition while also dividing their tribe into two factions.
Works Cited
Head, Bessie. “The Deep River.” The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Gen. ed. Martin Puchner. Shorter Third edition. Vol. 2. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2013. 1704-1708.
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