Symbolism in I Will Wait by Bertha Msora
The play I Will Wait by Bertha Msora uses symbolism to bring out the key issues affecting the main characters.
Dreams
Central to the play is the dream motif, which has led to the main character, Rudo, being forced into an arranged marriage with a man she does not love. Rudo continually dreams of her sister, Tambu, who on her deathbed had instructed her husband to marry her younger sister. As such, in the play, dreams and interpretations play a large role in dictating people’s lives. For instance, in Act 1 Scene 1 when Rudo tells Atete Rutendo that she dreamt of her late sister, Atete says to her, “I think Tambu wants you to join her family. You know what she said five years ago before she died?” When Rudo insists that she does not love Togara, Atete Rutendo tells her, “Your choice is limited.” Dreams therefore symbolise unbreakable bonds and ties for the main character Rudo.
In addition, the dream motif is seen in Act 2 Scene 2. Here, Rudo’s dream of Tambu’s instructions symbolise the conflict that she is facing. This is because the dream is forcing her to get married to a man she does not love. To further, compound the conflict, Rudo says in an interior monologue, “The day is spent debating your wish and you spend the night haunting me.” As such, the dream affects her daily activities.
Shattered Glass
Several symbols are also used throughout the play to symbolise a broken family. In Act 1 Scene 2 when Atete Revayi throws Tambu’s pictures onto the floor and the frame of the glass breaks, there is the symbolism of a broken family and broken relationships. This is especially so when two women do not get along within a family. In Act 2 Scene 3, while Rudo is admiring the parcel that she received from her ex-lover, Ruvimbo takes the glasses that were used by Atete Rutendo and Rudo into the kitchen. The stage directions highlight, “Sound of glass breaking is heard from the kitchen.” This symbolises the breaking apart of a family. Nyasha also picks up a card from Leo-James that Rudo mistakenly left lying on the floor. This symbolises a break in the marriage between Togara and Leo.
The Green Cup
Another symbol that represents both love and death in the play is the green cup. The audience is introduced to this cup in Act 2 Scene 3. He tells Rudo, “Your sister bought this for me just before she died. It was her last gift and I value it tremendously. No other person here uses the cup except me.” The cup therefore symbolises both love and lost love. In Act 3 Scene 3, the green cup is used as the murder weapon, and this is also symbolic. This is because the cup had been the last gift from Tambu to Togara and is therefore a symbol of love between the two of them. No one else could drink from the cup, and this helped to make the murder easier. However, in the scene, the cup no longer symbolises love but also stands for death.
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