A Question of Stability

Stability is found within our closest loved ones and nurtured by the works of our hands. People are social creatures and they rely on each other for survival—both physical and mental survival. By leaning on one another we stand, but we have to have to build our own foundation. Without hobbies or some kind of regular mental/physical stimulation people deteriorate. The saying is that "idle hands are the devil’s tools," I believe that this means that when people don’t consciously make decisions to be productive with their time, then at some point they will stray from their normal path and hinder others. But stability cannot be found only by having someone to lean on or by being productive. In the novel, A Question of Power, by Bessie Head, the main character Elizabeth has friends and work to be done but she is unable to focus on them alone. Only when she loses sight of why they brought her comfort does she lose what was left of her weak foundation and fall from her friends.

Elizabeth came to Botswana as an exile with a feeble foundation for her life but she had a job teaching. That job was not stabilizing for her in her weekend state, the adults around her in that job seem to have been radiating the feeling and expressing the truth of Medusa’s record: "Dog, filth, the Africans will eat you to death." It is not until Elizabeth comes to build the foundations of the garden for the co-op that she has work for her hands that is free from negative feelings. She finds she has a talent and love for gardening. But "if such a beauty and harmony built up in her outward circumstances it was at total odds with the tormented hell of her inner world." Though she had a happy and productive job, she could not be stabilized from that work alone.

Kenosi was first to come to Elizabeth and be more than just co-worker. Kenosi visited Elizabeth, just after her horrible bout with Medusa. Despite the fact that Elizabeth looked very sick, Kenosi sincerely spoke that Elizabeth "must never leave the garden," that Kenosi cannot work without her, and that its their special garden. After hearing this from her friend, Elizabeth seemed to be revived without her fully realizing what had brought her out of mental anguish and steadied her.

Her "soul-death" was not to be stopped until after the intervention of compassion by another loved one, Tom. After Elizabeth’s stay at the "loony bin," Tom came to bring her food and comfort. He spoke to her with an arm around her, reminding her with a smile that she is full of "love, not only for people but vegetables too." She had forgotten who she truly was, without her foundation and balance Elizabeth had fallen into the trap of her inner darkness and lost hope.

Elizabeth finds her way out of hell not just because she made friendships or worked a pleasing job but because she was unconditionally loved. Sello said, "love is two people mutually feeding each other, not one living on the soul of the other like a ghoul." When looking back upon her gardening job and her two closest friends, the bonds are made with love. Elizabeth nurtures the vegetables by helping them grow (and be visited by the people looking around) and the vegetables give Elizabeth purpose and fulfillment. But she has also been nurturing Kenosi and giving her fulfillment. Elizabeth rises from her bed feeling revitalized because Kenosi loves and needs her to lean on and Elizabeth loves her and therefore must mutually need Kenosi. When they give mutually to each other through there work in their garden then they are equal in love and compassion. The moment when Elizabeth’s "soul-death" ends is brought about by the goodness that Tom sees in her. It is important that she sees the love within and the love surrounding. Love is unconditional, balanced, and stable. As long as she does not lose hope and lose sight of what is good around her she cannot fall and crumble.