REDEMPTION ROAD - BY ELMA SHAW.docx

**Redemption Road** **Background** Elma Shaw\'s redemption road is a post-civil war novel that deals with the aftermath of civil war in Liberia. The quest for peace and justice in Liberia provides an important model for thinking through creative possibilities for individual and collective justice...

**Redemption Road** **Background** Elma Shaw\'s redemption road is a post-civil war novel that deals with the aftermath of civil war in Liberia. The quest for peace and justice in Liberia provides an important model for thinking through creative possibilities for individual and collective justice in Liberia after the civil war from 1989- 2003. The protagonist of the novel, Bendu Lewis is a victim and perpetrator of crimes during the war who works to find justice for her community by founding b NGO - a Non - Government organization and reclaiming her lost daughter. **Setting** The novel is set in Liberia particularly in Monrovia during the administration of Charles Taylor, Liberia\'s former president. The story focuses on recovery, atonement, and the continuing quest for peace and justice in a nation plagued by conflict and inequalities since its founding by free blacks and former American slaves. Life in war-torn Liberia is not easy, and it is especially challenging for Bendu Lewis, a young woman who counsels traumatized survivors of Liberia\'s civil war while struggling silently with memories of her own war-time experiences. When the warlord who once held her in captivity suddenly appears in town, she decides that for her own healing, and for the voiceless victims of the war, she must bring him to justice for his past atrocities. In her pursuit of Commander Cobra, Bendu finds much more than she bargained for, including the courage to finally confront and make amends for her own painful war-time secret. Written with compassion, honesty and clarity, Elma Shaw\'s Redemption Road helps us to finally begin to make sense of what has often been termed a \'senseless\' war. The novelist is a new but mature voice that shows remarkable insight into both the causes of civil war in Liberia and the cure for healing the wounds and averting further conflict. **Plot Summary** The novel unveils the quest for peace and Justice in Liberia. It is a redemptive story of Bendu and other victims of the Liberian civil war as they navigate the murky waters of a traumatic past they shared with their country, in pursuit of closure, justice, and peace. The story begins with an encounter with Bendu Lewis who is in her late twenties. Her family is having the ten years remembrance of her grandmother, Granny May, who died at Charlue Town during the war. Bendu was the only one with her when she died. In the story, she gives the reader a graphic description of the circumstances surrounding her grandmother's tragic death. She, however, can't tell her family how her grandmother died, partly because of the blame she has apportioned herself and because this would mean she has to relate her wartime experiences at Duluma camp: the atrocities she committed and several others committed against her. Close to a decade after these horrible experiences, Bendu is still scarred by this traumatic past. She now runs an NGO, Peace in Practice, where she helps victims of the war in their rehabilitation process. However, she still can't get over her past which she finds hard to disclose to anyone, not even to her family and friends. Bendu's encounter with Commander Cobra who is now Moses Varney changes the narrative about the secrecy of her past. Varney was the villain of her Duluma experiences. She remembers her experiences in Duluma as the memories came to her as nightmares. She tells her family about her meeting with Moses Varney. She makes effort to bring Varney to justice for his war crimes and a lot of murders he orchestrated during the war. She follows the path of justice and accountability as she approaches the police, against the advice of Agnes, her friend and co-director of Peace in Practice. She will soon realise the futility of going to the police as she is technically unable to pin any crime on Varney. When Moses Varney is informed that Bendu is instituting a lawsuit against him, he plans and executes her kidnap. He takes her blindfolded to a lagoon where he assaults and threatens her severally. He threatens to reveal her dark secrets from the war to her family and friends, who till then are oblivious of the roles she played during the war. When he sees that Bendu is not ready to stand down on her case against him, he threatens to kill her but Bendu manages to escape before he could carry out the threat. Bendu finds her way to Calvin's house, from which she is taken to a hospital to be treated of the injuries she sustained from Varney's assault. It is at the hospital that she reveals to her family and friends the things she did and endured during the war. She does this to prevent Varney from leveraging on the secrecy of her past. As part of her expose, she tells them she had a daughter while at Duluma camp whom she had abandoned barely months after she was born. The revelation gets her family shocked. However, they choose to support her by standing by her to overcome her trauma. Sietta takes her in into her house where she would stay to recover from her injuries, until she read about the death of Commander Cobra. Her mother, Bendu's mother Eva Lewis, returns from the United States of America to help boost her confidence, self-worth, and help ease her healing process. Eva also expresses her optimism and faith that Bendu's long-abandoned daughter will be found. She helps Bendu transition into a mother even when her daughter hasn't been found. Calvin and Agnes become more supportive than ever. By exposing her secret, Bendu's has started her path to recovery and healing. She would also set out to search for her daughter, whom she eventually reunites with through the International Committee of the Red Cross at the end of the novel. She also enquires about how her brother, Benji, had died during the 1980 coup d'état and realises that her brother, even at that tender age sacrificed his life for them- Bendu, Siatta, and Calvin to live. She makes her redemption journey more meaningful by finally deciding to write a symbolic letter to all the people that hurt her during the war to ease the pain away. Other characters find their closure from their war experiences through different ways. Calvin finds his when he travels to Sierra Leone to cover the Sierra Leone war crimes tribunal for World Journal in Freetown. He returns to Liberia to set up a scholarship scheme for Liberian children. He becomes less indifferent to the plight of native Liberians in and after the war. Tenneh achieves her redemption, first by writing a letter to her mother who had pushed her out to be raped by soldiers and had refused to accept her after she managed to escape from the soldiers. She then reveals her status of being infected with HIV and follows this revelation with an embrace of her condition. Peace in Practice organizes HIV-awareness programmes and helps her ease into that phase of her life. She also becomes a full-time Peer Counselor where she derives the same positive energy, she instils in others to keep herself going. Siatta also comes to terms with the realities of a post-war Liberia after she witnesses, firsthand, the fighting that took place at Gardnersville. She also divorces her unfaithful and conniving husband Terrance, whose infidelity she had previously chosen to turn a blind eye to. Her mother, Eva Lewis, also reveals the agony of losing her son, Benji, to the 1980 coup. She readjusts when she learns that her daughters have misunderstood her devotion to her dead son as her preference of him over them. But she clears the air by informing them that she would have done the same if it were any of them. At the end of Redemption Road, Elma Shaw manages to resolve the conflicts her characters are enmeshed in. **Themes** **Theme of Resilience** The theme of resilience is one of the dominant themes in Redemption Road. It manifests in a number of ways in the novel. One manifestation is evident in Bendu's unwavering commitment to stay with her sick grandmother, Catherine May Tyler, during the chaos of the war. She refuses to leave her grandmother's side even when she is urged to do so for her own safety. Bendu's resilience is further reinforced by her decision to help war-affected women through her NGO, Peace in Practice. She is beset with her own trauma too but her bitter experience does not stop her from helping other survivors of the war. Even when she has to struggle to get funds for her humanitarian efforts, she remains committed to her work and maintains a positive outlook. She actively engages in counselling sessions, shares her own experiences, and offers support and guidance to others facing difficulties. Also, Bendu's refusal to drop charges against Varney, even after a near-death experience in the hands of Varney at a deserted beach demonstrates her resilience. Even after the advised to drop her charges against Varney for her own sake. She remains steadfast in her pursuit of what she believes is right. Similarly, resilience is portrayed through the character of Tenneh. Her revelation of her HIV-positive status depicts her resilience in confronting stigma and fear. Despite her concerns about rejection and harm, Tenneh bravely shares her story and expresses a desire to help others by raising awareness about HIV/AIDS. Her willingness to confront challenges head-on and seek support from her community reflects a resilient spirit that refuses to be defined by circumstances. **Theme of Loss and Grief** The theme of loss and grief is demonstrated through the characters in the story. Eva Lewis lost her son, Benji to the 1980 Coup d'état. It is clearly shown in the novel that she hasn't gotten over the loss of her child, which is why she goes to his grave every April to commemorate the death of her son. Bendu, Calvin, Eva, and Siatta all mourn Benji in their different ways. The main character, Bendu, is not left out of this web of loss. She still mourns the death of her fiancée, Jonah, who suddenly died some months before their wedding. This loss complicates her love life, as she can't seem to entertain the thoughts of being in a serious romantic relationship with another man. For what seems a fleeting moment in the novel, Bendu mourns the fate of her daughter, whom she only knows as "Baby Girl," and had abandoned at the Duluma camp several years back. Even as the search for her daughter intensifies, this grief lingers. She is particularly worried about what has become of her daughter; whether she is dead or still alive. Several other characters suffered loss in one way or the other. Ma Musu's husband was killed by the soldiers; her sons were taken away; and her sister died of Cholera. The whole gamut of loss extends to Commander Cobra, who lost both parents as a child to motor accident. Besides, the novel begins with the commemoration of Granny May's death. Of all the family and friends present at the burial ceremony, Bendu is the most affected because only she is privy to how horrible her grandmother's death was. The others have not the least idea, except that they know that Granny May's body wasn't found, which is why they have to represent it with precious items that could as well do for it. There is a lingering sense of loss and grief all through the first chapter of the novel. Rosetta also experiences the loss of a loved one. She is embittered that her husband was murdered on tribal grounds. Her bitterness no doubt says something about the fact that she is still mourning the loss of her husband, which explains why she hasn't let go of the hate she harbours against the killers of her husband. **Theme of Redemption** This is the central theme in the novel. This is evident in the title of the book and the concept the book represents. The novel is a story of the journey of some fictional post-war Liberian characters from a state of post-war trauma and guilt to one of forgiveness, healing and renewal. Each war-affected character wants a fresh start. Moses Varney's journey in the novel is characterised by his desire for redemption and a fresh start, which explains his change of name from "Commander Cobra" to "Moses Varney." His aspirations for a new life and advocacy for the oppressed reflect a desire for personal and societal transformation. Bendu also helps the survivors of the war take the redemptive path with the counselling sessions organised by her non-governmental organisation, Peace In Practice. This provide them with the space to confront their trauma. The idea of victims reading a letter, addressed to people who have betrayed them or inflicted them with violence during the war, helps them talk about their hurts from the war. In addition to this, Agnes' idea of the Truth Project, where both victims and perpetrators share their experiences, helps characters find closure and move forward from past traumas. It shows their possible redemption. Most importantly, Bendu's founding of Peace in Practice is one step towards atoning for some of the things she did during the war. Her insistence on holding charges against Varney is another way she thinks she can find closure from her past. She wants Varney to be held for his past actions. However, after the latter was murdered, she regrets not forgiving him while he was alive. In her redemption journey, she comes to terms with the fact that she is loved by her family members and that she has long been forgiven by those she believes she had wronged. She learns to forgive herself too. Her reunion with her long-abandoned daughter is the greatest joy of her redemption. By the end of Redemption Road, many of the characters emerge as better versions of themselves. They are able to forgive themselves for the things they did, and others who wronged them. They are free from the burden of their dark pasts, and get second chances to make amends and start anew. **Theme of Justice** Redemption Road explores the concept of justice and its lack in the society. Starting with Varney, he is determined to confront societal injustices and initiates meaningful action. He laments about the lack of justice in a society where peace is prioritised over equity. He believes that there is an inherent connection between justice and lasting peace. Justice is needed to achieve true peace. It is, however, ironic that the same Varney would object to Bendu's pursuit of justice. Justice also manifests in Bendu's determination to prosecute Commander Cobra for his war crimes, especially in the face of recurring nightmares where the one she seeks to prosecute is the villain. This drives much of the narrative. Besides, Bendu's perception of justice is different from Calvin's or Varney's. Bendu, in her pursuit of justice against Varney, believes in involving the police and following proper legal channels. She adheres to due process and holds onto the hope that the authorities will bring Varney to justice. But Calvin's approach to justice is different. Contrary to Bendu's insistence on legal recourse, he has inclination towards vigilante justice which allows him to handle matters himself and take laws into his hands. As for Varney, his own idea of justice in the novel involves the bribing of judges to get his way and infiltrating the system with people that will do his bidding. Another angle to the theme of justice is that it is at first Bendu's way of seeking closure from her past trauma. She believes that by holding Commander Cobra accountable for his heinous crimes during the war and the role he played in the ruination of her life, she will get redemption. However, after the death of Commander Cobra, she begins to regret not forgiving him, instead of pressing charges against him during his lifetime. **Theme of Corruption** Corruption is one of the central themes in Redemption Road. In the text, we witness the pervasive corruption in the justice system. Judge Dagoseh epitomises this corruption. He accepts bribes from Moses Varney in order to do his bidding and provide him with immunity from the law. Justice now becomes more of he who pays the piper dictates the tune. In other words, Dagoseh is used to perpetuate a system that oppresses the people. Varney's informants placed within the police system also add to the overriding corruption in the text. They not only subvert the system but also alter the course of justice. A good example of this is when he receives a call from one of his comrades within the system that he is being followed. This, and the subsequent call from his boss, simply identified as Chief, allow him to escape being arrested. **Theme of Post-War Trauma** The theme of post-war trauma is one of the recurring themes in Elma Shaw's Redemption Road. The novel shows the lasting impact of war trauma on individuals and communities. It portrays how survivors grapple with grief, guilt, and psychological distress long after the war has ended. Tenneh, Rosetta, Josephine, Bendu, and perhaps, Agnes all grapple with the aftermath of war, one way or the other. They all have to contend with painful memories. For Tenneh, it is hatred towards her mother who pushed her into the hands of soldiers who assault and sexually molested her. Rosetta still harbours hatred and resentment towards the tribal bigots who killed her husband. For Bendu, it's her frequent nightmares about her horrible experiences in Duluma camp. She also drowns in an endless pool of grief and guilt. Grief for the ones she has lost, and guilt for the death of Granny May, the disappearance of Cousin Orlando, and the abandonment of Bébé Geh. While the author does not explicitly mention anything about Agnes' war experience or the consequent trauma, her commitment to PIP and care for children most likely atone for her sins during the war, and might as well portray things she endured during the war. Even Moses Varney is troubled by his past. He changes his name. But the more he runs from his past, the more his present actions bring him closer to it. He gets high on hard drugs to perform some of his heinous acts in the present, take for example, his kidnap of Bendu. **Theme of Dehumanisation of War** Dehumanisation of war is one of the themes discussed in Redemption Road by Elma Shaw. It portrays the brutality of war, in respect to how people kill each other without a second thought; how they abandon people dear to them in bid to survive; among many other things. Let's take a good look at Commander Cobra for example. His gruesome killing of people exemplifies the brutal nature of war. He for one tested his weapon on two men and commanded the removal of their dead bodies without remorse. And from the following conversation between Bendu and Ma Musu, we realise that this was one out of several other instances, that random killings like this were a norm in Duluma camp and elsewhere. Commanders killed a lot of times under the pretext of discipline when their real intent was to exert control over their subordinates and others through fear and intimidation. In other words, they maintained their authority by killing people like flies at the whish of a broom. Men were killed while women were raped and forced into marriages. There are other instances of dehumanisation of war in the novel. Bendu was forced into a marriage with Samson; Tenneh was raped; Ma Musu's and Rosetta's husbands were murdered. Bendu describes better the extent of this dehumanisation when she alludes to some of the atrocities she witnessed during the war, while travelling with a group of people who were "trying to escape from the rebels who were going around looting and killing near the area" (p. 127). She narrates how fighters cut open a pregnant woman just to see whether she was carrying a boy or a girl. She also mentions how a child soldier, whom she describes as the most dangerous kind of fighter, had killed a woman in the name of wanting to help her get faster to the border. These instances show the monsters men become during the war. They depict the callousness and total disregard for human life that often characterise wartime environments. **Characters** **Bendu Marie Lewis** is the protagonist of the novel and most of the scenes are seen through her eyes. She is a young woman and an Americo-Liberian. She is the daughter of Mr.Ben and Mrs. Eva Lewis. Bendư\'s grandma is Catherine May Tyler also known as Granny May. Bendu is a humane character, she refuses to abandon Granny May despite the advice from many people. She had feelings for the children and the old people abandoned by their people along the road. She is a patriotic Liberian who seeks for peaceful co-existence in the war-torn country. This why she founded an NGO, Peace in Practice, where the traumatized Liberian\'s civil war survivors are counseled and assisted by her and Agnes. She had her own war time experiences. She encounters challenges and is courageous enough to overcome them. She dealt with Solomon, her rebel husband, after she was captured and taken to Duluma. She escaped from the camp eventually. She escaped from the camp eventually. She is a very decent and lovely character. It takes time before she decides to fall in love again. **Catherine May Lewis** She is Benjamin Lewis\'s mother- Bendu Lewis\'s paternal grandmother and she is also called Granny May. The book opens with her memorial program. Bendu and her granny had gone to visit cousin Rebecca at Sumoville when the war erupted. She had passed away on her way to Monrovia after visiting some relatives in Sumoville. Her body was never recovered, so her family used a casket and some of her favourite items to symbolise her during the memorial. She is lovely, generous, and has a sense of humor. The comments at her memorial program reveals her personality. **Siatta Terrence** Siatta is Bende Lewis elder sister, she has light skin like their mother. She is married to Terrence Clarke who is part of the government in Liberia. In order to support her sister, she accommodates Bendu in her house when Bendu's house is broken into and her security is threatened. She engages Bendu in conversations about relationships and struggles. She is thus portrayed as a very supportive sister. Siatta was not in Liberia during the war. She was away in America, so she could not say much about the war and the impact. She relies only on the information she gets from the people. Consequently, she has a rather belittling view of them for how they enabled their fellow countrymen to subject them to human degradation in the name of war. She also does not subscribe to the idea of taking blame for the sins of our ancestors. Siatta, however, changes this perspective when she experiences the chaos and panic caused by the escalating fighting in Monrovia at Gardnersville. She tries to contact Bendu and Terrance during the turmoil, but she is unable to do so due to jammed phone lines. She is observant and assertive. She reveals Terrance's involvement in Bendu's arrest for the murder of Moses Varney. She confronts Terrance about his actions. She later files for divorce from Terrance for his betrayal, deceit, and unfaithfulness. **Commander Cobra (Moses Varney)** Moses Varney is the antagonist in Redemption Road. He is a 54-year-old man who has come to Monrovia to procure arms for his principal and bribe Judge Dagoseh to enjoy protection from the judiciary. He is a character torn between his desire for a better life and his recognition of the corrupt system in which he operates. Varney is frustrated by the injustice he sees around him but feels compelled to participate in corrupt dealings, such as giving money to Judge Dagoseh, in order to survive and improve conditions for himself and others. He reflects on his past experiences and dreams of a day when justice will prevail in Liberia. His encounter with Bendu in the text brings to light who he was during the war, before his name changed, and who he still is. During the war that brought Charles Taylor to power, Moses Varney was a ruthless and cruel rebel leader who oversaw dehumanising atrocities like extrajudicial killings, rapes, torture, and forced marriages. In other words, Cobra is depicted as a brute who committed a lot of atrocities during the war. We are informed, through the author's introspection into Cobra's thoughts, that Cobra did not suddenly become the monster that he is. He had a troubled upbringing and faced mistreatment in his uncle's home after his parents died in a ghastly motor accident. He was subjected to abuse and exploitation. However, this is no excuse for his cruelty. As a rebel soldier, he kills for fun and in order to be feared by others, especially under the influence of drugs like marijuana. There is a particular instance during the war when he slaughters a prisoner of war because he wants the man's skull as a trophy. This obviously shows his callous disregard for human life. As the post-war Moses Varney, he is involved in clandestine illegal activities such as arms dealing and diamond smuggling. He also goes about bribing judges like Judge Dagoseh for immunity and protection from the law. He breaks into Bendu's home and later abducts her, in connivance with his driver, when he becomes aware that she is seeking retribution against him. He tries to harass Bendu into dropping her war crime charges against him. It is apparent that he would have killed Bendu if she hadn't initiated her escape plan. Bendu's escape meant more legal trouble for Varney, as she accused Varney of assault and battery. His boss, Chief, could no longer cover his tracks or help him evade the authorities. Consequently, the Chief confines Varney to Paynesville House. The next thing we hear about Varney is his death. His lifeless body was discovered in the St. John River, with reports suggesting he was shot in the head. The only logical explanation behind his death is that he was killed by those whom he was working for, so that his exposure and the attendant legal cases would not implicate them or jeopardise the covert mission they assigned him in the first instance. **Terrance Clarke** Terrance Clarke is Siatta's husband and Bendu's brother-in-law. He works as a politician for the government in Liberia. He serves as a foil to Siatta's character. Terrance is portrayed as manipulative and deceitful. He orchestrates Bendu's arrest and is involved in illegal activities, including helping Cobra evade arrest. Siatta's revelations expose Terrance's betrayal and unethical behaviour. Siatta suspects that Terrance isn't faithful to her because of his strange behaviour. He often comes home late without explanations or apologies, and Siatta finds evidence of him communicating with other women. She also discovers that he has been in contact with Chief Kesselly, the police boss, even though he claimed otherwise. Terrance is sneaky and keeps secrets. He knows about Moses Varney's murder from a newspaper he bought but doesn't tell anyone until Bendu finds out when she asks to read the newspaper. He dismisses Bendu's curiosity and attempts to dissuade her from investigating further. His behaviour also hints at underlying guilt and discomfort regarding the situation. **Calvin J. Daniels** Calvin J. Daniels is a freelance journalist who works for the World Journal. He is tall, with greyish hair and dark eyes. He grew up with Bendu and was a close friend of her late brother, Benji. He has a history with Bendu, having been in love with her since they were children. He is also genuinely interested in Bendu's work at the NGO, Peace in Practice. As a result, his interview with Bendu, featured in the World Journal, brings Peace in Practice to the global limelight. Calvin has a great desire for justice, which stems from the trauma of witnessing violence during the 1980 coup. He has a different understanding of justice from Bendu's. He prefers to handle matters himself, rather than involving the authorities. He expresses doubts about the effectiveness of the police and is confident in his ability to address the situation independently. Calvin is portrayed as supportive figure in Bendu's life. He helps Bendu in her quest to bring Commander Cobra to justice. He takes practical steps to ensure her safety, such as arranging security and promising to get her a phone. He also intervenes during Bendu's confrontation with the police. He expresses romantic interest in Bendu. His love is shown by sending her flowers and surprising her with a romantic dinner. He also takes proactive steps to address her needs, such as arranging a lawyer for her. When Bendu's daughter was found and returned to her, Calvin takes up the role of Baby Girl's godfather. However, Calvin Daniel has a hardened perspective about the war. He expresses indifference towards war stories and justifies his past actions during the war. Calvin's dialogue and actions contribute to a debate about accountability and the consequences of past atrocities. This, however, changes when he covers the Sierra Leone war crimes tribunal for the World Journal. He returns from Sierra Leone and initiates a scholarship programme for war-affected youth. **Agnes Jallah** Agnes Jallah is the Co-director of Peace in Practice. A survivor of the civil war herself, Agnes helps in the rehabilitation of other survivors of the war through the local NGO she and Bendu run. Despite lacking formal education beyond high school, Agnes is portrayed as passionate about her work and committed to the organisation's mission. She demonstrates innovation and leadership within the organisation. She contributes, in no small measure, to its growth and impact on the community. In fact, Agnes is credited with the idea of the Truth Project, which proves successful in Peace in Practice as a channel to facilitate healing for both victims and perpetrators. She advocates for forgiveness as a means of healing and repairing relationships. Agnes's role extends beyond administrative duties; she serves as a confidant and sounding board for Bendu's thoughts and emotions. Agnes proves to be a worthy counsellor and advisor to Bendu several times in the novel. She advises Bendu to not let her past affect her decisions and to embrace new possibilities, such as a potential relationship with Calvin. She also cautions Bendu about the potential dangers of pursuing Cobra's case and expresses concern for Bendu's safety. She doubts the feasibility of prosecuting Cobra. She nonetheless respects Bendu's determination and stands by her friend's side despite her concerns. Her visit to Bendu's home after noticing her absence from work further demonstrates her concern for Bendu's well-being. Her presence during Bendu's trying moments also speaks volumes of her concern for her colleague and friend. **Tenneh** Tenneh is a young survivor of war trauma whose character embodies resilience, courage, and vulnerability. At the age of 22, she works as a cook's assistant at Siatta's house. Despite her young age, Tenneh carries the weight of profound emotional scars from her experiences during the war. She is described as being affected by various symptoms of post-traumatic stress, including depression, which sometimes leaves her bedridden for days. This is why Bendu recommends she attend Peace in Practice counselling sessions so she can heal from war trauma. Tenneh is grateful for the help she receives from Peace in Practice. In one such session, she reads a letter she has written to her mother as part of the activities at Peace in Practice. She writes in the letter that her mother gave her to the soldiers to save herself and her baby boy. The soldiers sexually assaulted her. When she managed to escape from them and returned home, her mother denounced her and pushed her out instead. The letter reveals the betrayal and abuse she suffered during the war. Her courage to share her story demonstrates her resilience and determination to confront her past, despite the pain it brings. Tenneh unapologetically refuses to shy away from expressing her pain and condemning her mother's actions. Tenneh contracted HIV as a repercussion of her past experiences. She surprises everyone by revealing her HIV-positive status. She expresses a desire to help others by sharing her experience, regardless of the stigma and fear associated with HIV/AIDS. This revelation increases Bendu's respect for her to the extent that she views her as a strong and truthful person. Tenneh helps teach others about HIV, how it spreads, and how to stay safe. She becomes a full-time peer counsellor at Peace in Practice. She is mentioned as a subject of concern, with Bendu and Agnes discussing her well-being and the stigma surrounding her HIV status. Tenneh's situation serves as a backdrop for discussions about community awareness and support. **Rosetta and Josephine** Rosetta and Josephine, like Tenneh, are victims of the war. They are beneficiaries of the Peace in Practice counselling sessions. They actively engage in discussions about forgiveness, past experiences, and HIV/AIDS awareness, showing their openness to learning and support. Rosetta lost her husband to ethnic violence during the war. Her character is marked by bitterness and resentment. She struggles to come to terms with her loss. On the other hand, Josephine emerges as a nurturing and empathetic figure within the group. She is described as a motherly figure who encourages younger women to open up. Josephine embodies compassion and understanding. Her role in comforting Tenneh during her emotional outburst portrays her empathetic nature and her willingness to provide support to those in need. Furthermore, their interactions with Tenneh and Bendu underscore the significance of community and solidarity in overcoming adversity. Rosetta's acknowledgment of Tenneh's pain and Josephine's comforting presence contribute to the sense of comradeship within the group. Elma Shaw uses the contrasting responses of Rosetta and Josephine to trauma to emphasise the individual nature of healing and recovery. While Rosetta grapples with bitterness and anger, Josephine offers a sense of warmth and compassion. **Judge Dagoseh** Judge Dagoseh is a judge in Liberia's justice department. He has a large belly that sticks out over his desk when he sits in his chair. He is mentioned in Varney's reflections as someone who embodies impunity. He is depicted as the embodiment of corruption within the justice system. He represents the corrupt and unjust elements within Liberian society. He exploits the system for his personal gain. He accepts bribes from Varney without hesitation to aid and abet Varney's illegal activities, which include the distribution of arms. In a particular instance, Dagoseh accepts a bribe of thirty pieces of silver from Moses Varney. He sees his action as a means to escape poverty rather than as a form of injustice. **Eva Lewis** Eva Lewis is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She is a mother who has known the loss of a child. She mourns the murder of her son, Benji, in April of every year. This makes it appear as if she loves her dead son more than her daughters, who are alive. However, she confirms that she would have done the same if she had lost any one of them. To her, losing a child is like losing a part of herself. When Bendu calls in to tell her and her husband, Bendu's father about her traumatic experiences, she doesn't know how to handle the situation. She comes home to help assuage and ease the pains of her daughter. She flies in from the USA on the high side of positivity. Eva also plays an active role in preparing for Baby Girl's arrival. While the search is on for May Davies, Eva is already assuming the role of a grandmother. She makes every decision with her granddaughter in mind. It is needless to say that she helped Bendu transition into a mother. It is important to add that Eva's recounting of Benji's sacrifice provides crucial insight into the family's history and the impact of past events on their lives. **May Davies** May Davies is the unwanted girl-child of Samson and Bendu Lewis. Her unwanted status becomes apparent at birth when she is not given a proper name. Everyone calls her Baby Girl or Bébé Geh. This is further accentuated by the fact that she is abandoned by her mother so early in life and left at the mercy of itinerant Ma Musu and her daughters, who give her the name that she answers. Her name, May Davies, is a combination of her grandmother's name and Ma Musu's last name. She is later separated from Ma Musu and her daughters in Ghana. She is later reunited with her mother in Liberia, about nine years after their separation. To Bendu, Eva, Siatta, and Calvin, May has a mother, an enthusiastic grandmother, a big aunt, and a godfather respectively. May Davies brings joy to Bendu's life and reminds her of Granny May. She observes the world around her and questions societal norms. She questions her mother about why Calvin is her godfather and not her father. May shows affection for Bendu and Calvin, and calls them "Mama" and "Father" respectively. **Lieutenant James Tarpeh** Lieutenant James Tarpeh is the police officer to whom Bendu reports to about Commander Cobra. He appears to be complicit in the leak of intelligence reports to Commander Cobra. He seems more satisfied interrogating Bendu as a suspect in the murder of Commander Cobra than bringing Commander Cobra in for questioning for his war crimes. Other characters in Redemption Road include: **Chief**: Chief is a political heavyweight with whom Moses Varney maintains direct correspondence. Moses runs errands for him in the procurement of arms. The chief issues orders to Varney regarding the operation. He was instrumental in the death of Moses, who has become more of a liability than an asset for him and his cronies. **Gabriel**: Gabriel is an official of ICRC. He is the intermediary who helps in the reunion of Bendu Lewis and her long-abandoned daughter, May Davies. He is portrayed as friendly and helpful. He also exhibits professionalism in explaining the procedures for locating Bendu's daughter and keeping her informed about the progress of the search. **Granny May**: Catherine May Tyler Lewis, also known as Granny May, is Benjamin Lewis's mother and Bendu Lewis's paternal grandmother. The story begins with a memorial programme commemorating her death. She had passed away on her way to Monrovia after visiting some relatives in Sumoville. Her body was never recovered, so her family used a casket and some of her favourite items to symbolise her during the memorial. People who attended the memorial describe Granny May as a kind, generous, and humorous woman. **Benjamin Lewis**: Benjamin Lewis is the father of Siatta, Bendu, and the late Benji. He is the husband of Eva and the grandfather to May Davies. While not much is mentioned of him in the text, there are snapshots of him in the first chapter of the novel, when a burial ceremony is arranged for Granny May and when Bendu calls her parents to confess her traumatic experiences during the war. **Jonah**: Jonah is Bendu's first love. He dies months away from his marriage to Bendu. His death leaves a hole in the heart of Bendu and makes it hard for her to begin a loving life, let alone sustain one. Jonah is remembered fondly by Bendu through their engagement photo and past conversations. His presence in Bendu's thoughts reflects her ongoing struggle with grief and longing for closure. **Weah**: Weah is Moses Varney's driver. He is a war survivor who wants to get away from the violence and the attendant madness of war. He just wants a simple, pedestrian life. However, his involvement with Moses brings him to the very thing he runs away from. Regardless, he proves helpful in how he quickly detaches himself from his boss when the latter has been knocked out and he is confronted by Bendu with a gun in hand. To prove that this act is not done under pressure, he also supplies intel about his boss' whereabouts to the police through a phone call. Weah comes to us as a typical Liberian man who craves a return to his normal life. **Sam Lewis:** He is the husband of Granny May; the grandfather of Bendu, Siatta, and Benji; and the grandfather of May Davies. He had died long before the civil war. He is mentioned at a passing instance in the novel. His picture is one of the cherished items placed in Granny May's casket to symbolise her unfound remains. **Benji Lewis:** Benji Lewis was the late son of Benjamin and Eva Lewis. He was the brother of Siatta and Bendu, and a friend of Calvin Daniels. He was killed during the first coup in 1980 that brought in the regime of Samuel Doe. He died that day in April, 1980, mistaken for Calvin Daniels, the son of the Daniels. He paid the ultimate price and saved Calvin and his sisters from a similar fate. Benji loved his sisters. He is mourned yearly by his mother, Eva, and his friend, Calvin. His death weighs heavily on Bendu's mind. **Ma Musu**: Ma Musu is a 54-year-old woman Bendu got to know at Duluma camp. She is a resident traditional healer in the camp. She's well-liked and respected by everyone there. Ma Musu is friendly and often smiles, showing her white teeth. She looks after Bendu when she arrives at the camp. She even massages her fingers injured by Solomon. She provides guidance and support to Bendu during her pregnancy. She shares her own experiences of loss and survival during the war. Her husband was killed, and her two sons were taken away. Her sister died of cholera, but her two daughters, Hannah and Oretha, are with her in the camp. Baby Girl was left in her care when Bendu absconded. **Hannah and Oretha:** Hannah and Oretha are the daughters of Ma Musu. Hannah, in particular, tenders to Bendu in her first days in Duluma camp. Like Bendu, these two are also given out as wives to the soldiers in the camp. They both supported Bendu during her time in the camp. Hannah is described as brave and respected among the men for her leadership in the Women's Auxiliary, while Oretha is portrayed as gentle and nurturing, particularly towards the children in the camp. Out of the camp, they both followed their mother and took along May Davies, whose care they were fostered with after Bendu left. **Cousin Rebecca Johnso**n: Cousin Rebecca is Bendu's cousin, whom Bendu and Granny May visited in the village. Rebecca advised Bendu and Granny May against leaving the village, but Bendu, in her eagerness to return to Monrovia, insisted they leave. Consequently, Bendu feels that Cousin Rebecca blames her for Granny May's death and Cousin Orlando's disappearance, and that she hasn't forgiven her for this past transgression. However, Eva disproves this by saying Cousin Rebecca has long forgiven Bendu but just doesn't know how to connect to her. **Cousin Orlando**: Cousin Orlando accompanied Granny May and Bendu to the motor park. He was abducted by rebel soldiers. His whereabouts and what became of him remain unknown. **Samson**: Samson was Bendu's abusive husband at Duluma camp. He is depicted as violent and controlling, particularly when he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. He regularly assaulted Bendu despite her protests and threatened her with further harm if she resisted. At some point, Bendu had to stand up to him one time and punch him in the face. This punch earned Bendu the nickname, ''Lieutenant TKO,'' 'Technical Knock-Out' for the rest of her stay at the camp. Samson eventually left the camp and left Bendu to face pregnancy and childbirth alone. **John Reeves:** John Reeves is the owner of the law firm contracted to take up the case of Bendu Lewis against Moses Varney. He enables Gray to take on Bendu's case. The law firm institutes a law suit against Moses Varney for abducting and assaulting Bendu. Counselor Reeves, in particular, appears in person at the police station when Bendu is accused of being a suspect in the murder of Moses. He arrives to support Bendu and challenge her arrest. **Counselor Marlon Gray:** Gray is a lawyer fully in-charge of Bendu's case against Cobra. He works under John Reeves at the Thomas & Reeves Law Firm in Liberia. He also acknowledges the difficulties of bringing warlords to justice, which makes him pass for someone indifferent towards the plight of victims of the war. It takes a narrative in the form of a rebuttal to his ignorance by Bendu about how child soldiers kill randomly and indiscriminately during the civil war for him to have an idea of the severity of Moses Varney's war crimes and atrocities. In the end, he is only able to charge Moses for the kidnapping and the assault on Bendu, though with some remorse. **Chief Kesselly**: Edwin Kesselly is the police chief introduced when Bendu is arrested for the murder of Moses Varney. Not much is said about him but we are able to establish that there was a correspondence between him and Terrance Clarke right before Bendu's arrest. What this means is that it is in fact Terrance Clarke who instigated Bendu's arrest because the latter is insistent on unearthing the killer(s) of Moses Varney. **Rhonda Cooper:** She is the owner of Rhonda's Restaurant, where Calvin orders dinner for Bendu. Her restaurant provides the setting for Bendu and Calvin's romantic dinner. **Dr. Wamah**: He is the attending physician at the hospital who treats Bendu's injuries. **Barry Diallo**: Diallo is introduced as Varney's contact for the exchange of goods, specifically rough diamonds for arms. He is portrayed as a shrewd and cautious individual, as evidenced by his insistence on a deposit and his decision to lock Varney in the room. **Joseph**: He is another rebel soldier in Duluma camp. He is ordered by Commander Cobra to bring Bendu. He is involved in a confrontation with Bendu and Ma Musu in the process of carrying out this assignment. The novelist uses his character to further illustrate the pervasive presence of violence and coercion in the fighters' camp. **Old Man**: The old man is the character who commends Bendu for staying with her grandmother till the very end during the explosion at Charlue Town. He would later intervene to save Bendu at Charlue Town from a mob who mistook her for a spy while she was trying to escape from Duluma camp months later. In other words, he repays her with the same kindness she showed her grandmother. **Narrative Techniques** **In Media Res:** This is a technique where the narrative starts abruptly from the middle. The past events are then related through the use of flashbacks, dreams, letter-writing and other techniques. Redemption Road starts with the ten-year remembrance of the death of Granny May. **Flashbacks**: This is a narrative technique, wherein reference is made to past events. It is imperative for the author to use this technique because of the use of media res technique in the novel. Most of the events are made known to the readers through flashbacks. The death of Jonah, Bendu\'s former fiancé, is revealed through flashbacks. Likewise, the deaths of Calvin\'s parents and Benji, Bendu\'s brother. The readers know about how Bendu is captured and maltreated in Duluma and about Siatta\'s wedding ceremony with Terrance Clarke through flashbacks. In chapter twenty-six, the childhood experiences of Commander Cobra with his uncle after the death of his parents are revealed through flashbacks. In chapter thirty, we are made to know the position of Calvin about Bendu through flashbacks. Bendu says that Calvin told her the previous day while in the police station that he loved her and would be there to help her. **Suspense**: Redemption Road is full of suspense. This is used to sustain the interest of the readers to the end of the narrative. The book opens with the death remembrance of Granny May and then shifts to Moses Varney. It moves to Bendu and Granny May which is more interesting. The author suspends the events here and shifts to Bendu\'s office and later goes back to the captivity of Bendu Lewis. This makes the book entertaining and interesting to the readers. Another instance of suspense is in chapter twenty-five when Terrance\'s phone rings in his absence. Siatta picks the phone after it stops ringing and checks the callers. She discovers some hidden facts about Terrance but it\'s not revealed until later in the novel. It moves to Bendu and Granny May which is more interesting. The author suspends the events here and shifts to Bendu\'s office and later goes back to the captivity of Bendu Lewis. This makes the book entertaining and interesting to the readers. Another instance of suspense is in chapter twenty-five when Terrance\'s phone rings in his absence. Siatta picks the phone after it stops ringing and checks the callers. She discovers some hidden facts about Terrance but it\'s not revealed until later in the novel. It is later revealed that Terrance has been communicating with Kessely, the police boss, when he said he has not seen him in ages. Siatta also discovers that Terrance has girlfriends. **Foreshadowing**: This is when a scenario is revealed to the readers earlier in the novel and the event then comes to pass later. An instance is in chapter one, during the death remembrance of Granny May. Bendu sees her friends, relatives and sympathizers that surround her. T She appreciates them but feels unbearable pain because she can\'t tell them everything. She then asks herself whether the people would understand and forgive her if they knew what she did. This state ment prepares the readers for a confession that takes place later in the novel where Bendu confesses to her family. **Biblical Allusion:** This is when an event in a novel is related to a portion of the Bible. In chapter three, Bendu compares her former fiancé, Jonah with the Jonah in the Holy Bible. Jonah in the Bible avoids his duty to God\'s people and ends in the belly of a whale. Her lover was also involved in leading protests to bring awareness to the injustices in the land. He died two months to the wedding of an unknown cause. **Letter-Writing:** Some events and information are revealed in this novel through letter-writing. The betrayal of Tenneh by her mother during the war is revealed in the letter-writing assignment given to the war survivors. In the last chapter, Bendu reveals her relationship with Benji, her brother and Granny May. She also shows her feelings to Commander Cobra in the letter. In the letter, she also tells us about the return of Calvin Sierra Leone and his launch of the Benjamin Lewis Jr. Memorial Scholarship Program. We know about the divorce filed by Siatta to divorce Terrance from the letter. Subsequent information about May Davies (Baby Girl) is revealed in the letter. She describes her physique and character in the letter. The concluding events in the novel are revealed in the letter. This includes the moves made to bring the war to an end and restore peace in Liberia. **Nightmare and Dreams:** To bring to the fore, the past events, nightmares and dreams is one of the techniques used by the author. Many things are revealed through the nightmares and dreams Bendu had. Her captivity, life in Duluma and her attempted escape are revealed through dreams. **Rhetorical Questions:** This is a literary technique wherein a statement is presented in the form of a question. Much information is revealed via rhetorical questions in this novel. In chapter twenty-five, Bendu\'s thoughts about Baby Girl after leaving the ICRC are made known through the use of rhetorical questions. She asks herself if the girl isn\'t registered or if the women keep her as their own. In chapter twenty-six, Moses Varney is in his hotel room watching the footage of the World Trade Center attacked by a group of terrorists in the United States. He asks himself if the terrorists think about the innocent people that would be killed. Or whether it is justified in front of God if done for a cause the terrorists believe in. In chapter thirty, after the security guards assure her of her safety. Her thoughts about fixing up Baby Girl\'s room are made known to readers with rhetorical questions. She asks herself the favorite thing she will like at ten, her favorite colour, the music she likes and whether she is alive. **Irony**: There is the use of situational irony in chapter thirty-two where Eva narrates how Benji was killed while hiding in Calvin\'s house. It is however ironic that Calvin\'s parents were attacked and killed by the university students he was giving scholarships to every year. The students led the soldiers to Calvin\'s house. **Classical Allusion:** Classical allusion in Literature is a reference to an art, culture, person, or event to evoke specific ideas or images associated with the classical events. In chapter twenty-three of the novel, Rosetta compares the attack of Bendu by Moses Varney with Titanic. Josephine has earlier requested to know the whole story of the attack.