Toward the end of the novel, Bulawayo brings Darling, the protagonist, to the realization that America is not and can never be her home. Darling, however, does not have another choice but to stay in America. She is an illegal immigrant, and she feels that America is a home she has to endure because she cannot return to Zimbabwe.
Darling experiences alienation because she finds it difficult to fit in with Americans, and she struggles to maintain connections with her friends back at home. Although America satisfies her hunger, it presents other challenges to Darling. Bulawayo creates a clear description of the experiences of illegal immigrants. They encounter culture shock, struggle to fit in the new environment, feel entrapped in the new country, and tend to have difficulties in forgetting their past memories.
Bulawayo creates a scene where Darling has an edgy chat with her friend Chipo. Chipo remains alone at home while other friends in their childhood gang scatter to different parts of the world such as Dubai, South Africa, and America. Chipo criticizes Darling and other emigrants for neglecting her country when it is on fire and expecting others to put it out. Chipo feels that it is not appropriate for Darling to run away from the country that needs her.
Bulawayo ends on a heavy note to show that emigration does not usually result in a happy ending as her protagonist, Darling, had naively imagined. Darling, her uncle, and aunt thought that they would find a wonderful life in America. Contrary to their imaginations, they get stuck in America. Darling discovers that America has its own problems just as Zimbabwe.
Darling and other immigrants find that the American dream is not accessible to them. Furthermore, their home countries do not offer any solution. The immigrants in the novel experience mixed feelings of guilt and happiness in America about their loss of touch with cultural and family ties and gaining opportunities. Bulawayo suggests that life should go on despite the challenges presented to the characters.
Bulawayo is trying to relay to the readers the fact that emigration does not solve all problems. Bulawayo’s novel seeks to give hope to victims of Zimbabwe’s hellish decay. Darling witnesses the universal problems of loss, hunger, and poverty. Through Darling’s relocation, Bulawayo shows that there are many people of Darling’s kind who need help across the world. She expects her audience to acknowledge the presence of girls lost in this world, such as Darling, who need help in discovering their identity and worth.
Bulawayo boldly depicts Africa as a continent with very many problems, particularly dictatorial leadership. She compels the readers to look at the wounds within their own countries and act responsibly to heal them, no matter how gruesome. The writer suggests that it is not proper to run from the problems facing their own home country.
Patriotism requires that one stays in the country and take part in solving the problems. The writer appeals to the readers to help in promoting good leadership in African countries to protect the interests of children such as Darling. Darling could not have become an illegal immigrant if the Zimbabwean government effectively protected the universal needs of children such as shelter and food. Bulawayo appeals to people all over the world to show concern towards the needy and lost people such as Darling.