Redemption Road by Elma Shaw tells the story of the traumatic experiences of the victims of a war-torn Liberia and their attempts at healing, with the novel suggesting forgiveness as the way forward. The novel follows the story of Bendu Lewis, the protagonist heroine, and how she deals with and helps others deal with their haunting past.
Some of the characters in Redemption Road are Bendu Lewis, Commander Cobra/Moses Varney, Siatta, Terrance Clarke, Calvin Daniels, Agnes Jallah, Tenneh, Rosetta, Josephine, Judge Dagoseh, Ewa Lewis, May Davies, and Lieutenant James Tarpeh.
In this post, we are going to examine the roles and relevance of these characters in Elma Shaw’s Redemption Road.
Bendu Marie Lewis
Bendu Marie Lewis is the protagonist in Elma Shaw’s Redemption Road. She’s a young Liberian woman grappling with past traumas of war and losses. She is deeply affected by her brother Benji’s death and the trauma of her past experiences during the war in Duluma. She is the co-director of Peace in Practice, a local NGO that is dedicated to the peace education and vocational training of victims of war.
The novel follows the trajectory of how Bendu comes to terms with her traumatic past. In this process of reconciliation, the novelist gives us insights into some disturbing events from Bendu’s past. For the past nine years, she has tried to suppress her past and keep it locked somewhere in her mind while she helps other victims of war overcome theirs. She struggles with the weight of her experiences and the burden of her grief, unable to fully articulate her ordeal to others.
However, this changes when her path and that of Commander Cobra cross again. Her past experiences with Commander Cobra resurface. She starts having nightmares about her horrible experiences at Duluma Camp, commanded by Cobra. Bendu is hesitant to forgive Cobra, who has now changed his name to Moses Varney, for his actions, as she feels it would betray the victims who cannot speak up. She decides to press charges against Commander Cobra for his war crimes and bring him to justice through available legal means.
She remains resolute in her pursuit of justice, even when she is kidnapped and harassed by Cobra afterwards. Bendu eventually finds the courage to narrate her war experiences to her family and friends when Commander Cobra threatens to reveal what she did during the war if she does not drop her charges against him. She intimates them of how she was married off to Samson, a rebel soldier, by Cobra and forcibly enrolled in the Women Auxilliary, a combat training group in Duluma camp. She tells them of the hardships she endured, which included beatings from Samson. She ends the expose with the shocking revelation that she had a daughter whom she abandoned in the camp.
Her unburdening of her traumatic war experiences marks the beginning of her healing process and redemption journey. She then visits the ICRC office on Bushrod Island to initiate the process to locate her daughter after nine years of separation. Her emotional turmoil is evident when she is unable to provide her daughter’s real name while filling out the tracing request form. She only remembers her as “Baby Girl.” By the end of the novel, she has reunited with her daughter and learned to make peace with her past.
Bendu is depicted as a resilient, resourceful, and compassionate young woman. She showcases her compassionate nature through her unwavering commitment to her grandmother, Granny May. She refuses to abandon her frail grandmother in the heat of the war, despite people advising her to leave Granny for the sake of her safety. She opts instead to push her in a wheelbarrow to safety and remains steadfast in her decision to stay by her side.
She again exhibits her resilience and resourcefulness when she manages to escape from Moses Varney, who had kidnapped her. She uses her wit and physical prowess to outsmart her captors and escape from a life-threatening situation. She employs the skills she acquired in Duluma camp to knock out Moses Varney.
Bendu is also portrayed as a very hard-working woman. This is demonstrated in how she remains dedicated to her work despite her emotional turmoil and challenges. She is actively involved in PIP activities and does not allow her personal problems to get in the way of the enormous workload in the office. As a counsellor, she demonstrates empathy and understanding towards Rosetta, Josephine, and Tenneh, who are grappling with the aftermath of the war. She shows sensitivity to their individual experiences and provides a safe space for them to express their emotions and confront their past traumas. Bendu’s role extends beyond the counselling sessions as she continues her work to support survivors in areas such as advocating for HIV/AIDS awareness and working on grant proposals for projects aimed at aiding recovery.
Undeniably, she plays a crucial role in facilitating healing and support for the survivors of war trauma through PIP. In fact, it was she who advised Siatta to send her cook, Tenneh, to counselling sessions at PIP twice a week to help address mental health issues such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. This goes to say that Bendu is committed to improving the well-being of others.
She is also portrayed as a determined and inquisitive individual. She was concerned when she read the news of Moses Varney’s death. Against the advice of Terrance, she wants to get to the root of the matter. It was this resolution that made Terrance covertly arrange for her arrest by the police in connection to the murder of Moses Varney. She is depicted as someone who values justice and is willing to take risks to achieve it.
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. If we connect the dots, the only logical explanation is that he was killed by those he was working for, so his exposure and the attendant legal cases would not implicate them or jeopardise the covert mission they assigned him in the first instance.
Siatta
Siatta is Bendu Lewis’s big sister, and she shares the same light skin as their mom. She’s married to Terrance Clarke, who works for the Liberian government.
She offers Bendu a temporary home when Bendu’s house gets broken into and her safety is at risk. She engages Bendu in conversations about relationships and struggles. She is thus portrayed as a very supportive sister.
Siatta wasn’t in Liberia during the war; she was in America. So, she doesn’t know much about the war firsthand and its impact on its victims. She has to learn about it from others. 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.
Siatta 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.
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 PIP to the global limelight.
Calvin has a deep-seated 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.
Premium PDF
There are 2,919 words left in this article and a total of 26,272 words in our premium PDF. Download the entire Redemption Road study guide as a printable PDF now!
Further Reading:
Join Our Social Media Channels:
- WhatsApp: Literature PADI
- Telegram: Literature PADI
- YouTube: @literaturepadi
- Facebook: Literature PADI
We also have two WhatsApp chatrooms with a little above 1,300 like-minded members. You can join any of them for further literary discussions:
Ensure you join one at a time to allow others to be part of our wonderful community.
I love 💕 the novel