Review of Easterines ‘A Terrible Matriarchy’

A Terrible Matriarchy

A grandmother (Vibano) still wanting to retain customs from her generation is determined to continue instilling her beliefs into her granddaughter (Dielieno) who has been ordered to leave her own family home to help support her grandmother with home duties. Dielieno has dreams of gaining an education, but the grandmother shows contempt toward any custom allowing girls to expand knowledge and although Dielieno does not mention it directly to her grandmother, she openly states to her parents and close friends that she is being controlled by a terrible matriarchy.

Easterine Iralu has given us the opportunity to relive the life of Dielieno from a very young age until the death of her grandmother with three generations clashing as strong antiquated beliefs are being broken down because of the social culture rapidly changing. Through Dielieno’s dialogue, she gives her grandmother utmost, but begrudging respect without wanting to go down the path of her teaching, and at times this does cause conflict. Dielieno feels aggrieved at the favours offered to her brothers and male relatives for she believes that women should be treated with the same respect, so on occasions her outspokenness and questioning has her chastised for fighting her grandmother’s beliefs.

Dielieno’s story takes the reader through the highs and lows of new life, saddening deaths, continuing customs of the Naga people, Religion, alcoholism, political frustration, and all noted through her very keen mind at a very young age. One chapter on achieving womanhood amongst ignorance is particularly strong for her knowledge is received from a friend (Vimenuo) who is around her own age.

Easterine has given the reader a wonderful, and impressive picture of everyday life in the changing social structure of a small village in Nagaland through the eyes and mind of Dielieno, The dialogue Easterine has used fits beautifully with the storyteller’s straightforwardness, using words and quotes expected to match the age of a young girls vocabulary. Easterine has written many passages pertaining to innocence of a child, and a number that a child should not be expected to understand, but through Dielieno we take her journey with her family, friends, acquaintances and a terrible matriarchy.

Review by Laurie Lindsay