How Does Beverly Naidoo Use the Theme of Truth in the Novel “the Other Side of Truth”

How does Beverly Naidoo use the theme of truth in the novel “the other side of truth” In the novel ” The Other Side of Truth” there are several themes, however one of the most important themes is the theme of truth. Both Sade’s mother and father believe that telling the truth is very important. Although Folarin believes telling the truth is good, this brought him harsh consequences, the death of Mrs.Solaja, and it separated him from his children. Even Sade and Femi believe in the truth, but end up lying to a lot of people. To begin with Folarin was one of the few journalists in Nigeria who wrote the truth. He believed that, “the truth is the truth. How can I write what’s untrue.” Even their mother believed that saying the truth was important, ‘ truth keeps hands cleaner than soap” and “tell a lie play with fire but don’t complain of the smoke”. The lies and threats began when Folarin wrote about the university’s massacre and the killing of Ken Saro-Wiwa, and then decided to write an article called “our children’s Future”.

The government were angry at Folarin so they tried to shoot him, however his wife; the children mother, was shot instead of Folrian. This gave Sade an impression that sometimes telling the truth is not always the right thing to do. Theios shows Naidoo is trying to show the lesson that one must tell the truth at all costs. Sometimes the cost seems terribly high, but in the end telling the truth makes life easier event though it may be hard in the short term it works out best in the long term. Telling the truth has cost Sade’s mother her life, but, on the other hand, it means that the children remained untraceable for longer than is necessary and for their father it means that he is unable to find his children, with the result that they all suffer longer than is absolutely necessary. This also shows that sometimes fear can force people to hide the truth: Fear is like the early morning mist in the forest. You can lose sight of the truth in the mists of fear. Since Mama had been shot, Folarin and Uncle Tunde decided that it would be wise to send the children to England.

However, this brought more lies into Sade’s and Femi’s lives. They used other children’s passports, bribed an officer and had to call Mrs.Bankole their mother. Moreover, in England they lied about their surname being “Adewale” not “Solaja” and their home being “Ibadan” instead of “Lagos”. Frist because she is terrified that the same people that killed her mother will trace them to London and kill them: ‘If we get the family first what does it matter’. Secondly, that the British authorities might realize that they came in on fake passports and send them back into danger. Furthermore, they said they did not know Mrs.Bankole’s name. Sade told these lies so the “Brass Buttons”. The “Brass buttons” are what Folrian calls the army. After all these lies Sade felt very bad, so much so that she felt sick and tired. The lies they said had huge consequences: their father could not find them. Her mother had warned her that not telling the truth is dangerous. However, experience has taught her that telling the truth is also dangerous, because her father told the truth and her mother paid with her life. Sade is in a dilemma. What is the right thing to do? Lie and be safe?

Or tell the truth no matter what the consequences, because it is the right thing to do Moreover, Folarin arrived in London using another man’s passport, “You know how much I hate cheating and doing things underhand. Yet I myself used another man’s passport,” since his passport has been taken. As he entered in the country using a false passport he was arrested. To save him, Sade and Femi went and told the truth to Mr.Seven O’clock News, which then became news. It was thanks to this that Papa was saved. Sade does not reveal their real names and surnames for two reasons. Frist because she is terrified that the same people that killed her mother will trace them to London and kill them: ‘If we get the family first what does it matter’. Secondly, that the British authorities might realize that they came in on fake passports and send them back into danger.

All in all, the novel teaches us that telling the truth may have some consequences but it is better than lying. The “other side of truth” is what is happening in Nigeria, which the Brass Buttons try to keep a secret from all of us. The lessons we learn about truth in this novel are that one must tell the truth at all costs. Sometimes the cost seems terribly high, but in the end telling the truth smoothens one’s path. Telling the truth has cost Sade’s mother her life, but, on the other hand, it means that the children remained untraceable for longer than is necessary and for their father it means that he is unable to find his children, with the result that they all suffer longer than is absolutely necessary. We also learn that sometimes fear can force us hide the truth: Fear is like the early morning mist in the forest. You can lose sight of the truth in the mists of fear.

Her mother had warned her that not telling the truth is dangerous. However, experience has taught her that telling the truth is also dangerous, because her father told the truth and her mother paid with her life. Sade is in a dilemma. What is the right thing to do? Lie and be safe? Or tell the truth no matter what the consequences, because it is the right thing to do?

Sade does not reveal their real names and surnames for two reasons. Frist because she is terrified that the same people that killed her mother will trace them to London and kill them: ‘If we get the family first what does it matter’. Secondly, that the British authorities might realize that they came in on fake passports and send them back into danger.

Sade forces herself to face the bitter truth that her mother’s death is partly her fault. If she had not loitered with her packing they would not have been there when they gunmen came.

Mama Appiah and Aunt Gracie, each in their own way, try to help Sade and Femi but the children are trapped in a web of lies and fear and so both efforts are almost fruitless. The lies the children tell eventually makes it impossible for their father to trace them. They are only reunited because of the quick-wittedness of Mrs. Appiah who says: ‘sometimes people don’t tell the truth because they are desperate’ – she excuses the children and their father.

Sade says in her letter to her father that she has made things worse by not giving their proper name. In his letter to Sade, Folarin admits that he himself has used another man’s passport. In Sade’s letter to her father informing him of the conversation she has overheard from Mrs. Appiah and Mrs. King that the Nigerian police want him for Mama’s murder and have asked the British police to send him back to Nigeria – Sade regrets that she and Femi have not told the truth about everything when they first arrived in England as their father will not be having these problems with the British authorities and they would be processing his request for political asylum. They must face the challenge of danger from political assassins and the risk of losing their father forever.

Finally Sade learns that truth may bring personal suffering but ultimately truth saves lives: ‘…….. you actually saved your Papa …..’ If she hadn’t taken their story to Mr Seven o’clock News, there could have been a very different ending.