A theme that is developed in the poem "Bush Medicine," by Konai Hely Thaman is the following:
- The poem develops the theme of respect and acceptance of old traditions and practical knowledge.
<h3>What is theme?</h3>
First, we need to understand that theme is the message underlying a literary work, the idea an author wishes to transmit to readers.
<h3>What is the idea in "Bush Medicine"?</h3>
In "Bush Medicine," Tongan author Konai Hely Thaman talks about her grandmother, who was a healer.
She used her knowledge of plants to heal the women who came to her in order to treat their ailments.
Thaman's grandmother would chew leaves to release their juices, which she would apply to the sores of the women.
Thaman mentions "wise men," the doctors of modern medicine, who say "there might be something / to my grandmother's cure." She says she hopes one day they will be sure, like her grandmother was.
Her grandmother was not a doctor, but she knew what she was doing. She had practical knowledge that a certain plant would treat a certain sore. That is more than the knowledge many modern doctors have.
The women in their village respected the tradition of going to a healer, also sure that they would be properly treated.
With that in mind, we can say the poem develops the theme of respect for old knowledge and traditions.
