iBet uBet web content aggregator. Adding the entire web to your favor.
Link to original content: https://www.scribd.com/document/688536483/A-Silent-Song-Other-Stories-Guide1
A Silent Song & Other Stories Guide1
A Silent Song & Other Stories Guide1
A Silent Song & Other Stories Guide1
If you have read and understood the setbooks, answering questions 2 and 3 in English paper 3
should be easy. After understanding the question, you will need to determine relevant points,
characters, or episodes to use in your essay. Take the first ten minutes to analyze the question
and make brief notes. A high-scoring KCSE essay should have an introduction, four to five
body paragraphs and a conclusion, and should be around 450 words.
1
In conclusion, the true gospel is the action of an individual because it is more practical than
mere words. Actions work and satisfy the heart more than proclaiming the word of God.
OTHER KCSE TIPS
Remember to use simple language in your essay. Proofread your essay to check for spelling,
grammar, and textual errors. We will be posting more sample essays to illustrate the kind of
essays that KCSE examiners expect to see.
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3. Ninema………………………………………………………………10
4. A Silent Song……………………………………………………..…14
5. Ivory Bangles……………………………………………………..…17
8. Talking Money………………………………………………………40
9. Ghosts …………………………………………………………….…47
12. December……………………………………………………………76
13. Boyi……………………………………………………….………….84
3
1. A MAN OF AWESOME POWERS (NAGUIB MAHFOUZ-EGYPT)
POINTS TO GUIDE INTERPRETATION
How Tayyib acquires his power?
Use of power by Tayyib:
For selfish interests
For the good of all
To harm others
How power changes Tayyib?
The role of the media
What causes Tayyib to lose his incredible power?
SYNOPSIS
A Man of Awesome Power is an intriguing story about Tayyib al-Mahdi, who lives a
comfortable life after retiring from many years of service abroad. His current life is peaceful and
uneventful. He spends time watching television, reading newspapers or listening to the radio in
the comfort of his apartment that he shares with his wife since his daughters are already married.
The story captures how an individual who is empowered when least expected utilises the power
given to him. His illusions of desire for a better country lead to his dream of power acquisition.
One night, Tayyib dreams of a visitation by a man of radiant appearance who speaks to him in a
kind tone, informing him that God had willed him the power to order things to be and they would
be. Although he dismisses the dream like any other dream, its frequent recurrence makes him
give it more thought. Tayyib confirms its reality when he orders his television to switch channels,
and it happens. Endowed with the newly acquired power, he sets out to reform his country and
the entire planet as he had often wished.
He utilises his power both for good and bad intentions. He starts by hitting back a taxi driver
who ignores him by wishing him an accident. He also causes a man who had physically attacked
a woman in a bus to suffer stomach cramps. We see him engaging in meritorious deeds such as
filing a gaping pothole, locking an electric box and removing a pile of rubbish that he trips on.
The media does not escape his wrath as he causes one radio announcer to suffer massive sneezes
after making an announcement that gave false hopes. As the story progresses, Sulayman Bey al-
Hamalawi, a political leader who had evaded tax, is ordered by Tayyib to go and pay the tax that
he had been avoiding for a long time.
An unfortunate incident occurs when Tayyib is busy planning to effectively utilise his power for
the good of all sectors in the country. He notices a beautiful woman at the entrance of the tea
garden and uses his ability to satisfy his desires for her. Their intimacy costs him his incredible
power.
He pays this price for misusing the power that God had freely given him. The story ends with his
sad realisation that he no longer has power. His attempts to order the television channels to
change do not bear fruits. He experiences a tremendous sadness that will haunt him for the rest of
his life.
4
CHARACTERS
A. TAYYIB AL-MAHDI
He is the main character in the story, and the story revolves around the awesome power that he
miraculously acquires sometime after his retirement.
He does not reveal to his wife that he had been bestowed with such power. His initial intention is
to use the ability to change his country and the entire planet like he had always wished.
He is portrayed as religious, ambitious yet emotional and vengeful.
EPISODIC ANALYSIS OF KEY ISSUES
Man of Awesome Power' is founded on several pillars determined by the various
episodes:
Tayyib's dream pg 1-2
Utilising the awesome power -pg 2-4
Losing the awesome power- pg 5
Nide to a silent son and other stories
Some key issues arise from the episodes:
ACQUISITION OF POWER
How Tayyib acquires his power teaches several things:
ONE CAN GAIN POWER AT ANY STAGE OF LIFE.
Tayyib believed that he had completed his mission in the world. Before acquiring power, he lives
a peaceful life as he enjoys the fruits of retirement. The writer notes that 'He had generous
insurance and more than adequate pension' pg 1 which do not prevent him from being given
power by God.
POWER IS GOD-GIVEN.
Tayyib's power is bestowed on him by God. As seen from his words, "All praise to God, Lord of
the Worlds", and listening to radio channels devoted to the Quran (pg 1), his religious nature is
one reason God willed to grant him power. The man who visits him in the dream tells him that
starting that moment and as long as God willed, he had been bestowed with the power to order
things to be and they would be. (pg l)
UTILISATION OF POWER
Tayyib utilises the power given to him in different incidents:
Encounter with the taxi driver (pg 2)
In the bus, to deal with the conflict between a man and a woman (pg 3).
Performing memorable services along his way to the cafe (pg 3).
The radio announcer (pg 3).
Tayyib's wrath on Sulayman Bey al-Hamalawi (pg 3-4).
GOOD UTILISATION OF POWER
The episode shows how a person bestowed with power should utilise it. Tayyib's soliloquy
during his encounter with the taxi driver captures the need to use power for the well-being of
5
others and to make things better. 'Whoever is granted with power like mine, must utilise it only
for good.' (pg 2)
He uses the power to do several good deeds. Some of the outstanding services that Tayyib
performs include filling a gaping pothole, locking an electric box that was open and hanging
dangerously, removing a pile of trash and draining sewer water that was flooding an alley. Many
people in the neighbourhood appreciate these services. (p 3).
He also does a good deed of making Sulayman, who has been evading tax, go to the taxi
authorities and pay them millions of pounds he owed them. (pg3).
MISUSE OF POWER
Tayyib utilises the power given to him for vengeance- The act of causing the tire burst of the taxi
since the driver had ignored him is vengeful.
Tayyib ignores the noble voice that reminds him not to use power for wrong purposes and lets
his anger get the best of him. (pg 2)
Tayyib causes harm/pain and suffering to the man who had slapped a woman on a public bus.
Severe cramps strike the man, following Tayyib's anger focused on the man's stomach. (pg3)
He uses power to satisfy his lustful desires when he sees a beautiful woman and makes her notice
him making them surrender to fate. (pg 4)
ROLE OF THE MEDIA
The media is seen to fail in its role. It dwells more on giving false promises/hope instead of
telling what had already been achieved.
When Tayyib gets into the café, he listens to a radio announcer expounding on promising
developments expected in the future (pg 3).
Tayyib's fury is directed at the announcer, causing him to suffer massive sneezing, forcing him to
end the announcement and play a song.
The song- 'Walk Around and See' is ironically used to satirise the media for highlighting and
emphasising what is yet to be seen (prophesies) instead of dwelling on the reality that can be
seen.
IMMORALITY
Sexual immorality is seen when Tayyib utilises his power to make the beautiful woman he
notices in the Tea Garden fall for his advances.
The woman barely notices Tayyib when she gets to the garden, but Tayyib shifts her attention to
himself through the power he has. He forgets his faith and his life (Lack of self- control) and
surrenders to fate.
Tax evasion is another immorality that is seen in the story. Many leaders use their powerful
positions to evade paying their taxes, such as Sulayman Bey al- Hamalawi.
When Tayyib notices him, he commands, "Sulayman Bey, go straight to the tax prosecutor's
office to repent and say you are sorry up the millions of pounds you owe." (pg 3)
LOSS OF POWER
If power is not utilised for 'good', it will be lost. Tayyib loses his awesome power when he comes
back to his senses and realises that he had made some mistake.
6
Although he had been secretive about his power, his wife Haniya keenly observes that he was
not in his usual mood that evening.
Tayyib's deceitful/ dishonest nature is depicted when he easily lies to his wife that he had a cold.
Unfortunately, for Tayyib, he loses his power due to his mistakes. 'The miracle was gone - like a
dream.' (pg 5)
CHANGE
Tayyib confirms that he has been bestowed with power by ordering television channels to change.
Changing the television channel from a religious one to a foreign one foreshadows the changes
that happen to Tayyib once he acquires power.
He is initially described as 'A good man; his sins were forgivable he was a lover of virtue.....' (pg
2). However, power ones changes him. He becomes vengeful, lustful, deceitful and inhumane.
He forgets his faith and life and lets passion and lust control him, which had never happened
since he married Haniya. (pg 4)
Power also helps change the risky living condition of the people gaping potholes dangerously
hanging an open electric box, Sewer flooding on alleys and piles of rubbish on the way. All these
are rectified through Tayyib power.
SYNOPSIS
The incident in the park, by Meja Mwangi, is a contemporary episode set in the city park and its
environs where most citizens, hustlers and workers, spend most of their time as an Outdoor
recreation centre. We know it is the popular Uhuru Park in Nairobi through its vivid description.
Metaphorically described, the park is seriously affected by the drought in August. there is a dirty
lake at its base, and to the west, up the hill, a cathedral, modern fortresses and ministerial Offices
overlooking the park below, and across it is the city itself. A highway, Uhuru highway, separates
the park from the city, and on it, there is heavy traffic. In the east, parliament and two city clocks
are seen.
Therefore, the park provides a relaxing haven (chilling point) and a source of solace for the
misplaced, lost Or frustrated masses flocking the city daily. This has attracted many people.
including peddlers trying to make ends meet and idlers killing time here. The city hungry office
workers also buy cheap snacks during the lunch hour and return to their stations. Others rush
down to River Road to buy chips and roast meat as the loiterers watch the Spectre in a jiffy.
Soon, the park is left With a few idlers and peddlers. Under the slightest shade lie men sheltering
from the scorching sun. Watchers watch rowers paddling, reacting to the maxim that spectating
7
is the next best thing to participating. A loafer keeps dropping debris to the fish pond despite the
warning inscription on a board. Another man joins him, and a dialogue ensues, and they share a
cigarette.
An incident erupts when two city constables demand to see the licence Of the ice cream man and
a fruit seller. The Old man helplessly searches and realizes he doesn't have it. Worse. he has no
identity card, so he offers the five shillings he has, for he fears the judge and going to jail. He
begs for forgiveness, offering all the fruits in vain.
On seeing they are unimpressed, he flees to find refuge in the crowded city, and the cops chase
him. He is nabbed by a man on the highway and eventually falls into a ditch. There, the poor
man is condemned unheard of for being a 'thief'.
TITLE OF THE STORY
What is the significance Of the title Incident in the park?
What is ironic about the two constables' behaviour at the park?
How else do the people spend time at the park?
THEMATIC CONCERNS
With evidence from the text, discuss the urban problem that leads to the destitution of the masses.
How does the city's jobless population escape their wretchedness?
Compare and contrast the city workers and the jobless masses.
What are the harsh realities of city life and the illusion of a better, promising life?
How does the rural-urban influx affect people's lives?
What does the presence of butts, used matches and stubs at the park tell you?
How does the lack of identity cards and license affect peddlers?
Juxtapose the kind of identification the police demand from the fruit vendor and one that awaits
him at the mortuary.
Referring closely to the fruit-seller show how the mob and the legal system administer justice.
Why does the merchant resort to flight and fight for his life instead of overcoming his fright for
the justice system?
Who is to blame for the death of the fruit-seller, the constables, the public, or the
vendor himself?
What lessons can be taken from the incident at the city park?
What does the fruit seller's mention of the 'tyrant judge' tell us about the justice system?
PROBLEMS OF URBANIZATION
Urban population growth, driven by migration and searching for jobs, has become a significant
issue in cities like Nairobi.
However, the masses end up frustrated due to a skills mismatch in the labour market, dwindling
economy and poor governance. But every now and then, a misplaced person rose with a start...
(p7).
In a few seconds, the thousand or so strong swarm had been swallowed up by the yawning
concrete jungle... (p7).
8
Urban poverty is also witnessed as many remain loitering and idling reminding the park loungers
just how many hours they had wasted lying idle.' (p7).
'A shaggy thin man sat under a shrub...' (p7). ' hairy loafer' (p8). ' The idler seated on the bank...'
(p8) torn trouser legs.' (p8) 'horny toes. (p9L
There is also evidence of poor hygiene. The park is littered with debris, cigarette ends and butts.
(p8,9). The two gentlemen share puffs on the cigarette. One offers a full cigarette, and smoking
in this zone could be a form of escapism from their poverty. (p10).
The fruit seller has only ten shillings which he offers to the constables to spare him. He cannot
afford to pay for the licence, or even the fine has on another case. (pl 1).
CONFLICTS BETWEEN CITY AUTHORITY AND STREET HAWKERS
When the two constables accost and demand licences from the ice cream man and the fruit
peddler, they tell the merchant that he will only explain to the judge.
The fruit seller already has a case and is trying to sell to afford a fine. (pl 1). The fruit seller
pleads with the constables, who say nothing. 7hefruit seller cursed them and their wives and
children... (PI 1).
MOB JUSTICE / SOCIAL INJUSTICE
The fruit seller is lynched unknowingly by the park people. By the time the constable ran up, the
fruit-peddler lay like a broken and twisted ragdoll at the bottom of the ditch. (p12)
He cries and pleads for mercy in vain.. had drawn thick red blood over the sparsely bearded face.
Dead' was his verdict (p12)
The word 'thief' hovered over the assembled crowd. mob universally condemns him, and it is
impossible to tell from which mouth the condemnation is issued. (p12)
Ironically the mob had had what was right. Justice fairly quickly and completely administered ...
(PI 2).
CHARACTERS
THE FRUIT SELLER
He is a poor old man who sells fruits at the park. He has no licence or identity card. (pl l)
He is a responsible man as he remembers he has a family which depends on him when accosted.
I have a wife and children and... (PI 1).
He is hardworking because he sells fruits (two baskets) to earn his living despite being unable to
afford a license. (PIL)
He is afraid and fearful that he will be fined or be castrated by the tyrant judge. (pl
STYLE AND LANGUAGE USE
What figures of speech does the writer use to describe the park and events in the park?
Why is it ironic for the fruit peddler to flee from the constables and lose his life?
Explore the use of dialogue in Meja Mwangi's Incident in the Park.
Urban centres are riddled with frequent conflicts with innocent Citizens. Discuss the truth of this
assertion based on Meja Mwangi's Incident in the Park. (20 marks).
9
3. NINEMA -VRENIKA PATHER- SOUTH AFRICA
ABOUT THE AUTHOR VRENIKA PATHER
Vrenika Pather is mainly known for her acting prowess since she started her career as an actress
at the age of eighteen.
The Indian lady of South African origin has also written a few short stories, one of them being
Ninema. Her stories mainly tell the life that many Indian ladies live and their everyday's
encounters.
POINTS TO GUIDE INTERPRETATION
Tough life of a market vendor:
Rising early
Poor meals
Poor/lack of proper grooming Dealing with different customers
Caste and relationships.
Sexual harassment/immorality.
Need to remain principled and focused.
CHARACTERS
A. NINEMA
She is one of the market gardeners who serves as the main character in the story.
She is focused, ambitious, organised and strong-willed.
Her admirable trait is seen in how fond the other ladies are of her
A comprehensive and detailed guide to a silent song and other stories and how many of her
customers remain loyal.
B. MR CHINRAN
He is a white man who is a loyal customer of Ninema.
He admires Ninema, but both know that their relationship is prohibited since they are from
different castes. While Mr Chinran is a wealthy lawyer from a Brahmin caste, Ninema is a poor
girl from a low caste.
He supports Ninema's business by buying more than enough herbs from her.
C. MRS SINGH
She is a wealthy older woman who is a loyal customer.
She is known for haggling over prices, thus being difficult and troublesome. She spends time
negotiating with Ninema as a way of passing the time.
D. THE STRANGE MAN
He is the man who accosts Ninema on her way from the market. He is immoral, vulgar and
lascivious.
SYNOPSIS
Vrenika Pather's story Ninema', is about the harsh life of market gardeners as represented by
Ninema and the other ladies. The story explores the hustles that Ninema goes through on a
typical market day, starting from rising at the wee hours of the morning to closure time which is
10
late in the evening. Her home life is simple, suggesting the poor living conditions of such
vendors. She has to prepare before going to the Indian market where she makes her sales. She
only washes her face and feet with cold water from an outside tap since she cannot afford
running hot water. This affects her grooming as she takes a bath once a week. She puts on her
Chumpal, symbolising the poor condition and the only source of protection for her feet while on
the way to and from the market.
Ninema remains focused and does not let her beauty and attention from both men and women
control her. Once in the market, Ninema organises her herbs appetisingly to attract customers.
The market condition is challenging as the weather is not favourable. It is hot, and
Ninema sweats until her Sari clings to her firm skin.
She handles different customers who buy her herbs with wisdom and respect. Her focus in
business enables her not to get carried away by Mr Chinran's attraction towards her. She does not
encourage his infatuation with her but treats him like any other customer. with respect and
appreciation.
She firmly handles the troublesome and difficult Mrs Singh. Many customers who visit her stall
are served well and are satisfied as she takes a personal interest in them. Her doctor, Dr Seedat,
visits too, and she takes time talking to him about her mother's ailment.
Having served her last customer, Ninema closes her stall after taking stock of the unsold herbs
and her profit for the day. The rot in society is seen when a strange man sexually assaults
Ninema on her way home. He pinches her erect nipple and laughs loudly before extending some
invitation for Ninema to follow him. Ninema does not take this abuse lying down. She utilises
the only weapon she has - her chumpal, that protect the soles of her feet and her whole self. She
hits the man repeatedly with her sandals as the other women cheer her on. The man is too
shocked to react and thus ends up being beaten by Ninema until he whimpers.
Feeling satisfied, Ninema continues with her journey home. She goes back to the poor condition
she left in the morning. She safely keeps her sandals under the kitchen table before washing her
face and feet with cold water, just like she had done in the morning. She takes a rest that leads
her to a dream of a better tomorrow.
The story ends with hopeful/optimistic Ninema, who dreams of having a home for herself, hot
water and a kitchen inside the house.
QUESTIONS
Compare and contrast Ninema and other lady marketers
What is ironic about Mrs Singh's behaviour?
Ninema is a likeable and admirable character. Do you agree? Give evidence from the story.
How effectively has Vrenika Pather used description in the story?
EPISODIC ANALYSIS OF KEY ISSUES
Living conditions of Ninema - Pg13 and 16
Ninema's skill of trade - Pg 14-15
Journey home - Pg 16
Several issues are addressed in these episodes:
11
THE HARSH LIFE OF A MARKET GARDENER
As a market gardener, Ninema faces a tough life that calls for her principled, hardened(iron-
willed), focused, firm, hardworking and determined.
She has to wake up very early to reap the herbs from her garden - 'Four o'clock on Monday
morning'. Page 13
Sighs of acceptance always accompany her work - she faces many challenges and is winning.
Page 13 Ninema lives a poor life - she cannot afford running hot water. She only washes her face
and feet with cold water from an outside tap Page 13.
She has to carry the basket containing the herbs on her head as she walks the long journey to the
Indian market 'It is a long walk' Page 14
She only wears her sandals when going to the market. The kind of meals she takes points to the
poor life she takes a few sips of tea she brought with her Page 14 (breakfast)
Some sandwiches that she packed from home are her only meal for lunch Page 15.
Time is limited for her she only affords a weekly shower on Saturday after boiling water on the
open fire Page
DEALING WITH DIFFERENT KINDS OF CUSTOMERS
Mr Chinran admires her and can almost be said to be in love with her. 'The ladies teased her,
saying he was in love with her. The writer also tells us that Ninema made Mr Chinran's day.
He is almost always the first customer. Ninema handles him wisely and does not let this
attraction control her. She does not encourage his infatuation but treats him with respect and
appreciation like she does all her loyal customers. (pg14)
She also has to handle demanding customers such as Mrs Singh, who though rich, will always
bargain to lower the prices. Ninema shows her masterful skills by firmly and respectively
handling her. (pg14)
She serves many affluent customers at lunch hour who steadily flow in to get herbs for their
evening meals. She pays personal interest to each as she has an ambition of living a better life
just like most of these customers. (pg15)
Time limitation allows her to consult with her doctor - Dr Seedat, only when he comes to buy
herbs from her. The two talk about Ninema's mother's illness showing that Ninema is equally
concerned about her mother.
She can entice a new customer by offering an extra bunch of mint for free. (pg15) This
generosity makes the customer happy, thus promising to always shop with her.
CLASS DISCRIMINATION
The Indian society that Ninema hails from has a strong belief in the caste where those from the
high caste Brahmin Caste, are not allowed to inter-marry with those from the lower caste.
This is seen in her association with Mr Chinran. 'As much as Ninema dismisses the teasing of the
ladies that Mr Chinran is in love with her, she is also aware that a rich lawyer from a Brahmin
caste cannot be interested in someone like her - a poor girl from a low caste (pg14).
12
Mr Chinran himself knows it too, and thus their relation can never go beyond early morning herb
buys. He further understands that his mother will soon arrange a marriage for him, most probably
to a person from his caste.
HER HARDWORKING NATURE IS ALSO SEEN IN HOW SHE ABLY
attends to the many wealthy customers who flock to her stall, especially during lunchtime. Even
though the stall is busy and Ninema is quite busy, she ably attends to all customers and takes a
personal interest (pg15).
Ninema's hard work does not go unrewarded. She has several loyal customers who visit her stall
daily. She has a steady flow of customers and feels she will need to sow more seeds to keep up
with the rising demand (pg15).
She does not let anything distractherfromherbusiness. She remains focused, which essentially
aids to success in her business. The writer points out Ninema's beauty that makes heads turn
when she walks through vivid description. 'She is a beautiful woman... her hips sway from side
to side as she moves....Her thin, chiffon sari drapes effortlessly around her perfect body as ifkept
in place by her high, firm breasts. Long, toned arms and a cinched waist cause men to stop and
stare' (pg13).
Despite receiving this attention, Ninema keeps calm and focuses on her business. 'Ninema does
not take the attention she gets to the heart. Her concern is with earning a living' (Pg14).
Her focus is further seen where while other lady hawkers chat amiably with each other as they
work, Ninema rarely talks back since she has no time to waste (pg14).
SEXUAL ASSAULT/HARASSMENT
The writer points out the sexual harassment faced by many women in society. The encounter
between Ninema and the stranger on her way home shows how women suffer sexual abuse even
in public places. The man approaching Ninema grins lasciviously at her before extending his arm
to pinch her erect nipple. As if this is not enough, he extends an invitation to Ninema "If you
liked that follow me." (Pg16). episode satirises men who assume women are sex objects to be
mishandled.
Ninema's reaction to the abuse is unexpected. The man is shocked when Ninema follows him
and hits him repeatedly with her Chumpal. She gives him 'a few extra hits on behalf of all the
women.' (Pg 6) This shows that many women have been victims of sexual abuse but end up not
fighting back. Ninema thus portrays a courageous personality as she fights for herself and even
for the helpless women who had been or would-be victims of such abuse.
NB
The story "Ninema' is a story of hope. Ninema has hope that her life will change at some point.
As the story ends, Ninema dreams of the home that will be hers someday soon: The house will
have hot water too, and the kitchen will be on the inside. She will also have her large garden to
grow herbs and some fruits for herself (pg16).
QUESTIONS
To succeed in business, one must have the necessary skills to handle customers. Using Ninema
in Vrenikas Pather's 'Ninema' support this.
13
"Hard work and determination pays", Using illustrations from Ninema show the validity of this
statement.
Women traders experience challenges in their lives. Show how Ninema deals with these
challenges. 4. Ninema is an admirable character. Support from the story Ninema.
SYNOPSIS
A Silent Song by Leonard Kibera is a story about Mbane, a young, paralyzed, blind city street
beggar. He lives in destitution, begging from the passers-by while seething with pain and
discomfort. His brother, a wealthy preacher, 'rescues' him from the barbaric city unto the 'light of
God' after neglecting him for a long time.
Mbane painfully reminisces his street life with nostalgia at his brother's lonely hut. He is not as
happy though he is now in a more serene environment. He remembers the bright weather, lovely
morning and beautiful sunset as the city dwellers, pedestrians, dull and gay people during the day
talk. At night, the good men and women turned drunk, pimps and whore galore have their turn to
smile. He begs day and night for a living.
He is nursed by Sarah, his brother's wife, who administers bitter fluid down his throat. He
swallows it painfully, and she assures him of being well. His religious brother, Ezekiel, preaches
to him about Christ, the saved ones and sinners. He asks him whether he knows where sinners go
when they die and whether he accepts Jesus, and Mbane says he doesn't know. Before he saves
him, Mbane's strength wanes, the pain goes, his head jerks down to the bed, and he is gone.
TITLE OF THE STORY
Discuss the relevance of the title of the story, A Silent Song.
14
Brainstorm about the paradox in the title, A Silent Song.
THEMATIC CONCERNS
Explore the following themes as brought out in the story, A Silent Song.
Pain and misery of physical handicap
Religious hypocrisy
Prostitution and sexual slavery d) Alcoholism and escapism
PAIN AND MISERY OF PHYSICAL HANDICAP
In a sense, A Silent Song, an oxymoron, paradoxically echoes the moments of soul searching and
reflections that mbane has had over the period he stays on the street. This creates a more vivid
picture of his life and a cathartic emotional impact.
The miserable life on the street as a crippled, blind beggar seems less painful than in his brother's
desolate hut, where he is lonely and suffering. (p18). He has been speaking to himself in his
thoughts and for a long time on the street except for his mechanical plea of 'Yes?', he has no one
else to address but himself. (p19).
Mbanes undergoes much pain, agony, and suffering on the streets because of his life
circumstances. Being blind and lame has impaired his ability to live everyday life. 'Sharp pangs',
'savage fury', pain tore his stomach'. (PI 7 - 19). He crawled on his knees and elbows... suddenly
sharp pangs from his navel tore... He was paralyzed. Then the pain disappeared... but he knew it
had only recoiled for another attack. (PI 7).
He has heard noises, songs, and sounds of different people, but he retires to solitude, and
thoughts start going through his mind at the end of the day. It is like a dream, a song of hope, and
he sings his happy song silently to himself, secretly. (p20).
Mbane ponders the meaning of light to him... light mean to a blind man... (p19). At the point of
death, as his brother urges him to get saved, with reticence, he ponders on God's place and
meaning in his life.
People despise him on the streets. Good Christian men and women would once again curse and
call him able-bodied, only crippled more every day by the idleness of leisurely begging. (p19).
He sits there (street back lane) and waits for his journey's end. His body smells of sweat,
unwashed except in the rain, which he could but feel. (p20).
There is a wide gap between his beliefs and his brother's. His tortured body is already separated
from his free soul when he dies. (p20).
The soul has already communicated in his silent song, smiling, at peace his hosts, himself and
everyone. (p20).
RELIGIOUS HYPOCRISY/PRETENTIOUS PIETY
Mbane's brother, Ezekiel, is so devoted to God a preacher but neglects him for a long time till he
realizes Mbane is nearing his death.
He picks him up and brings him to his hut, claiming it is rescuing only for Mbane to feel lonelier
and more miserable. "I rescued you from that barbaric city so that you can see the light of God.
(p18).
The desolate hut is not a habitable place for him. It has a flea-ridden floor. (PI 7).
15
He could tell that there was meaning in his brother's silence of late... (p18).
Asked whether he knows a man called Jesus, he says "Yes", but whether he believes and accepts
him, Mbane says, "1 don't know," and his brother says Mbane is worse than a Judas. This
portrays hypocrisy, and Christians would not talk like this.
It is ironical and hypocritical for Ezekiel to tell Mbane, "Mbane - I want Christ to save you..."
(p20) as though he has already judged him as a sinner and that "Christ" will come down from
heaven to do the good to him while his brother watches.
There is a pretence in the way good Christian men and women curse and call him names instead
of bringing the excellent knowledge of Christ to him. '... able-bodied, only crippled more every
day by the idleness of leisurely begging'. (p19).
He could only yearn impotently beyond the reach of darkness and lameness. At times, self-pity
overcame him. (p18 - 19).
The God of the Gospel and religion are comforts beyond the reach of a wretched cripple. His
God is his only hope of deliverance from pain, destitution and despair. (p18 - 20)
PROSTITUTION AND SEXUAL SLAVERY
There is evidence of such sexual evils as commercial sex and promiscuity.(p18).
The blind man knows, sees, and recalls City Street with nostalgia. The noises, drum beating and
rhythms which Mbane calls the voices of good men and women turned drunk in the refuge of the
night brothels, pimps and whores galore. (p18).
ALCOHOLISM AND ESCAPISM
The street, especially the back lane, had taught Mbane a lot of
... good men and women turned drunk in the refuge of the night brothels, pimps and whores
galore. (PI 8).
CHARACTERS
L. Cite evidence from the text on the existence of the following character traits as portrayed in A
Silent Song.
Mbane: observant, patient, sceptical, enduring...
Ezekiel: selfish, cruel, hypocritical. ..
Sarah: reserved,
2. How can you tell that Mbane 'sees' and knows a lot in the city street despite being blind?
STYLE AND LANGUAGE USE
Why is it ironic for Ezekiel to claim to rescue his brother Mbane from the barbaric city?
Why is Mbane reluctant to accept Christ?
16
5. IVORY BANGLES BY ERIC NG'MARYO - TANZANIA
ABOUT THE AUTHOR- NG'MARYO
Eric Ng'maryo is a published poet who has written poems such as Escape and The Journey of Us.
Although he is a practicing advocate in Tanzania, he is also respected for his creative writings
which include the short story 'Ivory Bangles'
POINTS TO GUIDE INTERPRETATION OF THE STORY
The pebbles message to the old man.
The tradition that demands wife battering. What happens to the old man when he fails to carry
out the ritual beating?
Polygamy and its value — The view of the old man regarding polygamy.
The relationship between the old man and his wife
The conflict that exists between humans and wildlife.
Effects of failing to heed the advice given to an individual.
SYNOPSIS
'Ivory bangles' by Eric Ng'maryo portrays a society rooted in some traditional practices that
whoever departs from them ends up suffering some calamity. The story begins with a troubled
old man moving towards his house. Although his body moves, his thoughts are disturbed by the
seer's words.
The old man had consulted the seer after noticing traces of blood in the goat's liver that he had
slaughtered. The people believed that such an occurrence was a bad omen, so the old man
consulted the tribal seer.
17
The seer discloses that pebbles demand that he has to give his wife the ritual beating. However,
the old man is hesitant to beat his wife, whom he much loves, as is seen from the fact that he had
gifted her with twenty-four Ivory bangles that she adorns throughout.
We learn of the old man's life with his wife in the past through several flashbacks. We learn of
his refusal to marry another wife even after he is made the chief's councillor, and the chief
advises him to do so. The chief appreciates her attractiveness in another flashback as she is
adorned in twenty-four ivory bangles.
The old man tells the chief that he carved the ivory bangles for herself using the ivory he shot
from the elephant using a poisoned arrow.
When he gets home, his wife warmly receives him and his attempts to disclose the seer's
message do not succeed until much later in the night. The wife asks him to have his meal first,
and after the two enjoy an intimate moment. When he later discloses the pebbles' message to his
wife, she comes up with a scheme on how to cheat the pebbles.
The following day, the old man goes to work while the wife goes to the market, where she hears
people talking about a herd of elephants approaching the plains. She strategizes on the things she
would do before faking her beating and going back to her brother's home. On her way home, she
hears cries from scouts who warn people to beware of the approaching herd of six elephants led
by a giant bull.
After getting home, the wife prepares a meal for her husband and decides to go till a piece of the
grove that the husband had said was weedy. Unfortunately, she is killed by the bull elephant that
catches her unaware. The people find her in a shallow grave after being crushed by the elephant.
Her ivory bangles are also shattered. Her foreshadowed death is a lesson that failing to heed wise
advice can lead to a disastrous outcome.
20
Their failure to follow the demands of the pebbles results in what the seer had foretold-The death
of the wife who the wounded bull elephant kills as she is weeding.
Although the wife's death is closely linked to the seer's warning, it can also be seen to be due to
the wife's recklessness and failure to heed the warnings of the scouts. The wife heard the scouts
warning when they noted the elephants were approaching. 'As she slowly made her way home,
she heard the cries.
They came from scouts who were perched on trees, observing elephants and warning people of
the beasts' movement... 'Beware! People Of Mtorobo's homestead! The five she elephants are
now in your banana grove! The bull is on the path coming from the stream' (pg. 24-25).
The wife chooses to weed at the groove instead of heeding the warning and staying home. NB:
The writer has extensively used flashbacks to help us understand the past life of the old man and
his wife.
QUESTIONS ON STYLES
What is the effectiveness of flashbacks in this story?
What is ironic about the following? a) The wife being called "girl" by the husband? b) How the
wife dies?
What has the writer achieved by extensive use of dialogue? 4) Using an oral literature device in
the story communicates
6. THE SINS OF THE FATHERS BY CHARLES MUNGOSHI
About the Author
Charles Mungoshi was born in 1947and raised in a farming family in the Chivhu area of
Zimbabwe.
After leaving school, he worked with the Forestry Commission before joining Textbook Sales.
From 1975 to 1981, he worked at the Literature Bureau as an editor and at Zimbabwe Publishing
House for the next five years. In 1985-87 he was Writer in Residence at the University of
Zimbabwe, and since then, he has worked as a freelance writer, scriptwriter and editor.
Charles Mungoshi has written novels and short stories in both Shona and English and two
collections of children‘s stories, Stories from a Shona Childhood and One Day Long Ago
(Baobab Books, 1989 and 1991); the former won him the Noma Award.
He has also continued to write poetry and has one published collection: The Milkman doesn’t
only deliver Milk (Baobab Books, 1998).
He has won the Commonwealth Writers Prize (Africa region) twice, in 1988 and 1998, for two
collections of short stories: The Setting Sun and The Rolling World (Heinemann, 1987) and
Walking Still (Baobab Books, 1997). Two of his novels: Waiting for the Rain (Heinemann 1975)
and Ndiko kupindana Kwa mazuva (Mambo Press, 1975), received International PEN awards.
The Title
In this story, we see that the characters' relationships and actions are heavily influenced by their
fathers and the experiences they had with them.
For example, Rondo's relationship with his father is strained and he struggles to understand the
man's behavior. His father's treatment of him as a child, including physical abuse and neglect,
has left a lasting impact on Rondo's view of himself and his ability to be a good father to his own
children.
21
Similarly, Mr Rwafa's actions and beliefs are shaped by his experiences in the liberation struggle
and his desire to maintain the power and status of the Rwafa family. This ultimately leads to
conflict with his son, Rondo, who disagrees with his father's narrow-minded views and desires a
different future for his own children.
Mr Mzamane, on the other hand, tries to break the cycle of inherited prejudices and conflicts by
encouraging Rondo to see people as individuals rather than simply as members of certain groups.
However, his efforts are overshadowed by the influence of Rondo's father and the longstanding
tensions between the Rwafa and Mzamane families.
Overall, the title "The Sins of the Fathers" is appropriate for this story as it highlights the ways in
which the actions and beliefs of past generations continue to shape and affect the lives of their
children and future generations.
The plot / synopsis
Summary - In Charles Mungoshi's The Sins of the Fathers, we revisit scars of the past and
appreciate how past hurts can cause present and future pain if the victims do not heal and forgive
their supposed enemies. Forgiveness can help avert calamitous travails.
Mr. Rwafa, an ex-minister and liberation war veteran, clings onto hatred and this obstinate
refusal to forgive and forget causes the tragic death of his grandchildren and his son‘s father-in-
law, when they perish in a car crash he engineered.
Long take - The Sins of the Fathers, by Charles Mungoshi, is a post-colonial story set in
rural Zimbabwe. It takes place between Borrowdale and Bulawayo.
Rondo is the antagonistic character whose revenge world opens at the story‘s very beginning.
Rondo‘s father, Rwafa, is an ex- minister but still influential in the political world of Zimbabwe.
This is evident from how a fraction of mourners just come to take pictures with him, for such
photos would soon ‗open doors for them.
Rondo has a wife, Selina, daughter of Basil Mzamane, who is also into politics as an M.P. and a
businessman. In fact, he‘s a political rival of Rondo‘s father, Rwafa. Rondo‘s two children, both
daughters (Yuna and Rhoda), are in an accident as they are driving home from a birthday party
with their grandfather, Basil Mzamane, where, Rwafa takes to the podium to condemn his son
for marrying from his enemy Basil. This has all along created bad blood between him and his son
that this accident makes Rondo believe that his father has a hand in it. In their many stories, a
revelation of what his friend, Gaston, alludes to: ―Have you ever wondered about the Second
Street accidents?‖
Rondo Rwafa wistfully imagines how his father-in-law Mr. Basil Mzamane and his daughters
Yuna and Rhoda, met their untimely deaths. He hopes they died happily, trying to erase his own
pain. The three jolly family members perished in a tragic car crash after attending the girls'
birthday party at Rondo‘s house in Borrowdale. He has been grieving for a week now, numbed
by the pain.
Rondo is surprised when his father avers that one day Rondo will be grateful and glad that the
tragedy happened then and not later. He adds:
“You will remember me and thank me.” (pg. 28)
Rondo‘s thoughts wander to a distant introspection, when his father leaves. The thought that he
lives in his father‘s shadow gnaws him. He is not his own man. His wife thinks she could do
better in his pants and he is a laughing stock among his friends and colleagues.
22
Selina, his wife, seems to be the more confident and influential of the pair. This can be attributed
to the fact that they were brought up differently – Selina was brought up by people with ―long
hearts‖ – people who forgave others while Rondo's father is an unforgiving savage.
His father is a bombed out battlefield of scars.
“And his deepest scar is that he cannot forgive: Not just his enemies,” says Mrs. Rwafa, his wife.
(pg. 31)
He cannot even forgive his wife or his son. His bitterness arises from the past when his Zezeru-
Karanga clan was attacked by the maDzviti-Ndebele clan. The war affected him so much that he
always remembers the pain of the scars rather than the relief of healing. The situation is
compounded by the fact that his son Rondo married into a muDzviti family.
Furthermore, he gives birth to two girls, instead of a grandson who would inherit Rwafa‘s wealth
and qualities like his charisma. Mr. Rwafa is so disappointed in Rondo that it affects Rondo's
personality. It is Mr. Rwafa‘s ill treatment of his only son that makes Rondo a timid laughing
stock among his peers.
It is thus suspicious that the grandchildren that Mr. Rwafa considers inglorious die in an accident
together with their grandfather whom Rwafa detests so much. Rondo starts to put two and two
together while interacting with his colleague and friend Gaston Shoko. Shoko refers to the
accident that claimed Rondo‘s children‘s lives as a typical Second Street accident, a subliminal
hint that Mr. Rwafa may have been the architect behind the accident.
The bad blood between Rwafa‘s family and Mzamane‘s family is apparent at the party. Although
Basil Mzamane is benevolent and compassionate, Rwafa remains obdurate and unforgiving. The
two men‘s speeches are the birthday party turn sour betraying the underlying resentment.
A day before the party the two men also disagreed on the matter of white people in the country.
Mr. Mzamane proposes that people should be viewed as individuals because some are good
while others are bad. On the other hand, Rwafa holds blanket condemnation of groups of people
and views anyone who seemed supportive of his supposed enemy as a traitor.
Further back, Mr. Mzamane had taken care of the expenses of their children‘s wedding, while
Rwafa skipped the ceremony altogether, claiming he was away on ―state business‖ for two
weeks.
Mr. Rwafa also hungers for a certain farm owned by a white man known as Mr. Quayle and he is
ready to get it by all means.
At the party, they try to conceal the boiling agitation between them behind the tight smiles and
loud laughs. Later on, Mr. Rwafa recklessly talks about betrayals and enmity between clans and
families causing visitors to leave uncomfortably one after another. In the course of his rant, Mr.
Rwafa derides their weak sons who marry into families of their enemies, and contaminate the
pure blood of the family.
In his father‘s presence, Rondo always felt powerless. His mother insists that the old man loves
his son but does not know how to show it.
The story ends tragically when Mr. Rwafa takes his own life using his service pistol, after being
confronted by his son who he haughtily labelled ‗slob'.
With that soft muffled plop, the bitter past filled with pain, is probably buried.
The sins of the fathers are washed away by their own blood.
In the words of acclaimed American rapper and mogul, Shawn Corey Carter (Jay-Z), ―Nobody
wins when the family feuds.‖
23
Characters and characterization
List of Characters
Rondo: He is the protagonist of the story and the son of Mr Rwafa. He is conflicted about
his father's actions and values.
Mr Rwafa: He is the father of Rondo and a former minister who is obsessed with power
and the purity of his family's bloodline. He is willing to go to extreme lengths to protect
his reputation and position.
Mr Mzamane: Rondo‘s father in law. He is a fatherly figure who intervenes to help a
woman in need and tries to teach the other characters to see people as individuals, rather
than enemies.
Selina: She is Rondo's wife and is aware of the tension between Rondo and his father.
Mrs Quayle: She is a neighbor of Rondo and his family and is in possession of a rifle
when she encounters Mr Mzamane and Rondo.
Children: There are several children present at Rondo's birthday party and they are
interested in hearing stories about Mr Rwafa's past.
Guests: There are several guests present at Rondo's birthday party, including reporters
and other members of the community. Some of them are uncomfortable with Mr Rwafa's
rhetoric and leave early.
Character Traits
Rondo
Loyalty: Rondo is loyal to his friends and family, as demonstrated by his willingness to
stand up to his father to protect Selina and their children.
Courage: Rondo shows bravery in standing up to his father and in his decision to confront
him with the letter he had written.
Respect: Rondo respects his father's authority and position, even when he disagrees with
him.
Empathy: Rondo is able to understand and relate to the feelings of others, as
demonstrated by his concern for the woman who was being threatened by the group of
men.
Responsibility: Rondo takes his responsibilities seriously, whether it's taking care of his
family or upholding his duties as a husband and father.
Impulsive: Rondo takes actions without thinking them through, such as stealing mangoes
from a neighbor's garden or bringing a gun to confront his father.
Emotionally sensitive: Rondo is deeply affected by his mother's pleas to spare him during
a physical altercation with a neighbor and is overwhelmed with sadness when his father
points a gun at him.
Resentful of his father: Rondo feels that his father doesn't show love towards him and
resents the way his father has always controlled his life.
Disobedient: Rondo disobeys his father's orders and secrecy surrounding the party and
plans to confront him about it.
Mr Rwafa
Villain in the story is a ruthless, intolerant influential former minister who cannot forgive
anybody. (p31, 34, 35, 39, 40).
24
Power-hungry: Mr Rwafa is described as being driven by a desire to be in a position of
power, and he talks about how he always wants to be at the top and in the front of the
crowd.
Authoritarian: Mr Rwafa has a tendency to be dictatorial, as seen in his behavior at
Rondo's birthday party, where he dictates what the children should listen to and talk
about.
Arrogant: Mr Rwafa is described as being arrogant, especially in his belief that people
who carry Rwafa's blood should never be subservient to anyone else.
Vengeful: Mr Rwafa is shown to hold grudges and to be willing to seek revenge when he
feels he has been wronged, as seen in his reaction to his son's marriage.
Hot-tempered: Mr Rwafa is quick to anger and prone to outbursts, as seen in his behavior
at the birthday party and when he snapped his walking stick in half.
Controlling: Mr Rwafa tries to control the people around him, especially his son, and is
unwilling to let them make their own decisions. He is contemptuous as he vilifies his son
vehemently, affecting his self-esteem.
Arrogant: Mr Rwafa frequently displays a sense of entitlement and superiority, as seen
when he insists on being the center of attention at his son's birthday party and tells the
guests that he expects them to listen to him.
Selfish: Mr Rwafa often puts his own interests and desires above those of others,
including his own family. He is more concerned with preserving his reputation and status
than with the happiness or well-being of those around him.
Vindictive: Mr Rwafa holds grudges and seeks revenge against those who he perceives as
having wronged him, as seen when he lashes out at Mr Mzamane for being a "traitor" and
tries to sabotage his plans.
Closed-minded: Mr Rwafa is resistant to new ideas and perspectives, and is unwilling to
consider the viewpoints of others. This is seen when he refuses to listen to Mr Mzamane's
stories and dismisses his ideas as "traitorous."
Mr Mzamane
Selina‘s father and Rondo‘s father-in-law. A peace- maker and crusader of He takes a
low profile, although he has the opportunity and ability to show off. This shows he is
peaceful and humble.
According to Rondo, nothing in his demeanour shows he is a man of opulence as a
successful businessman and the P. of a constituency in northern Matebeleland.
Compassionate: Mr Mzamane is concerned about the well-being of others and is willing
to help them, as demonstrated by his assistance to the woman with the broken-down car.
Open-minded: Mr Mzamane is open to different beliefs and ways of life, as evidenced by
his story about the farmer in the Manhize Mountains who practiced vadzimu. He is so
liberal that even with his differences with Rwafa, he declares he is free to think as he
likes. (p38).
Respectful: Mr Mzamane respects others and their beliefs, even if he does not necessarily
share them, as demonstrated by his willingness to listen to the headman of the Pazho
people and follow his advice.
Good-humored: Mr Mzamane has a good sense of humor and is able to make light of
difficult situations, as shown by his joking about going duck-shooting with the woman's
husband.
25
Persistent: Mr Mzamane is determined and does not give up easily, as demonstrated by
his efforts to engage Rondo in conversation and get him to open up about his feelings.
His friendly and affable nature makes Rondo feel free around He is a helpful man as he
gives a hand to the white woman whose car is stuck. (p37).
He is tolerant, for he rescues her from being lynched by the angry He tells them. Today is
cancelled. Go home…. ‖ he tells Rondo to grow up and see people as individuals. (p37).
Mrs Quayle
Friendly and hospitable: she invited Mr Mzamane to her farm for a cup of tea and offered
him the opportunity to go duck shooting with her husband.
Themes
Power dynamics
Throughout the story, there is a recurring theme of power dynamics, particularly between
different social groups. For example, the relationship between Mr Rwafa and Mr
Mzamane is shaped by their different positions of power, with Mr Rwafa being a former
minister and Mr Mzamane being an MP.
There is also a power dynamic between Mr Rwafa and his son Rondo, with Mr Rwafa
being the dominant figure in the relationship.
Betrayal
The theme of betrayal is present in the story, particularly in the relationship between Mr
Rwafa and Rondo.
Mr Rwafa feels betrayed by Rondo's decision to marry Selina, who is the daughter of his
traditional enemy. Rondo, on the other hand, feels betrayed by his father's actions and his
treatment of him.
Family dynamics (Parental resentment /child discontentment)
Family dynamics play a significant role in the story, with the relationship between Rondo
and his father being a central theme.
The story explores the complexities of this relationship and the impact of past events on
the present.
Rondo has never been close to his father as his memories of his past him make him cry.
(p31, 40).
At four, his father destroys his guitar, and at eight, he thrashes him without finding out
what he has done. Rondo always feels more space with his father-in-law and would
choose him as his father. (p34).
He carries many scars that thinking of his father as none other than a shadow he has to
live in becomes Rondo cannot think independently, and this reduces him to an object of
laughter and ridicule among his friends. (p28).
Rwafa has no sympathy for his son as he despises him vehemently. He does not bother to
answer when asked a question by his son. (p36).
His mother describes her husband as ‗one bombed-out battlefield of scars‘ whose deepest
scar is that he can‘t forgive not only his enemies but This clearly shows a rift in the
family. (p30, 31).
At the party, Rondo and Selina feel relaxed with their (p39).
Rondo could not look at his (p40).
Race and racial tensions
26
The story touches on issues of race and racial tensions, particularly in the relationship
between Mr Quayle and Mr Rwafa.
Mr Quayle is a white farmer, while Mr Rwafa is a black man who was involved in the
liberation struggle.
There is a tension between the two men due to their different experiences and
perspectives.
On their way to the birthday party, the trio meets a white woman who needs help. The
political youths want to descend on her because she‘s white. (p36).
On the other hand, the white woman is already armed with a gun to shoot the blacks.
(p36).
Again, from Mzamane‘s story about the white who lives in the Manhize mountains, we
find out that he sends away the blacks who live there and takes their ancestral land (p38).
Having alienated the lands from the blacks, the whites are the source of the hatred and
envy that fills the Rwafa clan, and Rwafa has his eyes on the white farm in the Ruwa
(p34).
Power and powerlessness
The story touches on the theme of power and powerlessness in various ways.
For example, Mr Rwafa's past as a minister and his present status as a wealthy farmer
highlights the theme of power and privilege.
On the other hand, Rondo's mother's experience of being physically and emotionally
abused by her husband and the neighbor demonstrates powerlessness and vulnerability.
The theme of power and powerlessness is also evident in Mr Mzamane's relationship with
Rondo's father, as Mr Mzamane seems to be at the mercy of Mr Rwafa's anger and
resentment.
The theme of powerlessness is present in the story, particularly in Rondo's relationship
with his father.
Rondo feels powerless in the face of his father's authority and his inability to stand up to
him.
This powerlessness is also evident in Rondo's mother's inability to protect him from his
father's anger and abuse.
Ethnic tension / negative ethnicity
Rwafa believes in maintaining rigid boundaries in establishing social and political
relations. (p34).\
In his tirade, he laments that he is hurt by the effeminate spineless sons of the family who
marry into families of their enemies, poisoning the pure blood of the Rwafa clan. 9p34 –
39).
There has always been tension between Rwafa and Mzamane, a quarrel, a
misunderstanding, but the episode at the party renders it dramatic. Their speeches turn
sour. The two old men are crystal clearly, political nemeses. (p34).
Rwafa cannot forgive and forget the effects of the war, once the Ndebele attacked them,
and the pain of the scars remained in him more than the relief of healing. (p30 – 32).
These adversaries contrast each other in character and demeanor. The former is the villain
in his very nature, and the latter is a gentleman.
He belongs to the political elite who must fan clannism and ensure they remain at the top.
(p39, 40).
27
Primitive accumulation There is evident greed in the arch-nemesis, Rwafa, for he strives
to maintain the status quo by acquiring material power through underhand deals. He
leaves in the morning and returns in the evenings. (p33).
He is disappointed and bitter when Mzamane rescues the white woman from irate
Chimurenga warriors. He disappears and reappears from a bush two minutes after the
white woman has driven off. (p34 – 37).
This shows that he plans to have her lynched so he can proceed to acquire the property.
(p36)
Rwafa is preoccupied with the sudden beauty of the land they are driving through. The
land provides a breath- taking view of its immensity. (p36)
Affluence, material power and lavish extravagance are explicit in the family as they flock
around him. He gains recognition from his generosity by squandering the accumulated
wealth in the form of favours, money, advances. (p31, 32)
Many use his name to get something from legal firms, financial houses, or credit stores at
month-ends. (p32). Rwafa desperately needs a grandson from Rondo to whom he can
leave all his cars, houses and money. (p31).
Death
The fear of death also hangs/lingers in Selina‘s mind. She fears losing Rondo as well.
(p30)
Mysterious deaths rock the family, and according to Gaston, Rondo‘s colleague, we
know that a political hand is involved. (p33).
He asks Rondo, ―Do you know what your father does?‖ (p33).
Selina‘s mother had died, and Mzamane marries again, but to the detriment of his
daughter, she alludes to the invitation to her father. (p34).
Assassinations could be the ex-minister‘s trade as he happens to control the political
group dubbed
Chimurenga, which also narrowly spares the life of Mrs.
The old man had rambles (flashback) (p40). smoked out, flushed out, blasted out.. ―
Family relationships
The story delves into the complexities of family relationships, particularly between
fathers and sons.
Rondo's relationship with his father is strained and marked by conflict, with Rondo
feeling misunderstood and undervalued by his father.
Similarly, Mr Rwafa's relationship with his own father and his disappointment in his
son's lack of ambition and drive highlights the theme of family expectations and
disappointments.
The theme of identity / identity crisis
The story touches on the theme of identity and how it is shaped by societal expectations,
cultural traditions, and personal experiences.
Rondo struggles to find his place and identity in a society that expects him to conform to
certain roles and expectations, while Mr Rwafa's obsession with preserving the purity of
his family's bloodline reflects the importance of cultural and ancestral identity.
Rondo suffers low self-esteem through the way his father treats Rwafa loathes and
persistently frustrates his son. His first disappointment is when his father breaks his guitar
and throws it into the fire when he is only four. (p30- 31).
28
Rwafa does not approve of or even attend his son‘s He purportedly leaves town on state
business for two weeks. (p34).
Through flashbacks, Rwafa thrashes his son, Rondo, when he is only eight, for ‗stealing a
neighbor‘s mangoes‘. This memory gives him an uncomfortable feeling and affects his
self-esteem. He must have understoodwhat powerlessness meant (p40).
This grows into his adulthood when his father refers to him as an effeminate son who
wants to demean his family by marrying into an ignominious (p31
While Rondo admires and thinks his father is the greatest, his father, Rwafa, writes him
off. Rwafa always gives Rondo ―a little sad laugh‖ and labels him ―Slob‖. (p28, 31, 32).
His colleagues laugh at him at work, and Rondo doubts his mother and He feels
defenseless and resigns to accept being a fool. ―Well, if you see me as a fool, I‘ll be one.‖
(p28).
Rondo has developed a stammer that makes him barely answer any of his father‘s
questions. (p32).
His wife Selina tells him she could do better in his pants, and his friend and colleague,
Gaston, scolds him, ―You can‘t be a child forever, Rondo‖. (p33).
Later, Rondo‘s father disparages With contempt, he enquires whether one of Rondo‘s
more intelligent friends has written for him the piece of paper he hands him. (p41).
Both Rondo and Rwafa have psychological problem that needs psychosocial support.
(p26 — 41).
Vengeance
The author expresses the theme of vengeance in the story‘s beginning through the flash-
forward as Rondo comes to his father with a (p26, 41). From the death of his two children
and how his father has been treating him, he believes that he has a hand in the deaths, and
therefore, he‘s here to revenge. (p29, 33, 34, 41).
Rwafa causes the accident as a form of revenge against the ―traitors‖ or Furthermore,
Rondo is not happy with what his father says about his marrying Basil – his enemy. (p31,
39).
In his speech, Rwafa calls his son a ‗traitor‘. This is another reason for revenge. (p38).
Forgiveness and redemption
The story touches on the themes of forgiveness and redemption, as Rondo is faced with
the decision to either forgive his father for his past mistakes or hold on to his resentment.
Similarly, Mr Rwafa is faced with the opportunity to redeem himself and make amends
for his past actions.
Power and privilege
The story touches on issues of power, privilege, and inequality, particularly in relation to
race and class.
Betrayal and loyalty
The story deals with themes of betrayal and loyalty, particularly in the relationship
between Rondo and his father.
Rondo struggles with his loyalty to his father and his sense of duty to his own family and
values, while his father grapples with his own sense of betrayal and disappointment in his
son.
Identity and self-discovery
29
The story touches on themes of identity and self-discovery as Rondo grapples with his
own sense of self and his place in the world. He is torn between his loyalty to his family
and his own desires and values, and must ultimately come to a decision about who he is
and what he wants in life.
Love and Friendship
She takes her head during the mourning night and puts it on her She calls her a great
woman. (p29).
Friendship is also evident between the two women, Selina and her mother-in-law
(Rondo‘s wife and his mother). (p29,30)
Selina, the daughter ofMzamane, stays with Rondo even though Rwafa disapproves of
their marriage. He says that his son became a ‗traitor‘ by marrying Selina, from Basil
Mzamane‘s clan – his sworn political (p29, 30)
However, Selina sticks with her husband, Rondo, until the end of the She also has a gun
from the mother- in-law. (p41).
He lets his head rest against her belly, his skull nudging the underside of her She makes
him breakfast. She accompanies her husband to serve revenge. This is love. (P41)
Change
The story portrays the ways in which change can be difficult and unsettling, as seen in
Rondo's struggle to come to terms with his father's actions and the repercussions of his
own choices. The theme of change is also seen in the way that Mr Mzamane adapts to the
changing political and social landscape of the country.
Stylistic Devices
Repetition
Repeating words or phrases.
(There are actually many different types of repetition like anaphora and epiphora.)
The phrase "traitor" is repeated several times to emphasize Mr Rwafa's dislike for Mr
Mzamane.
Irony
The definition of irony as a literary device is a situation in which there is a contrast
between expectation and reality.
For example, the difference between what something appears to mean versus its literal
meaning.
Irony is associated with both tragedy and humor.
When Mr Rwafa tells Rondo that he should ask one of his "more intelligent friends" to
write the letter for him, it is ironic because it is clear that Rondo has written the letter
himself.
Symbolism
Symbolism is the use of words or images to symbolize specific concepts, people, objects,
or events.
The broken walking stick can be seen as a symbol of Mr Rwafa's declining power and
influence.
Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is a literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come
later in the story.
30
Foreshadowing is useful for creating suspense, a feeling of unease, a sense of curiosity,
or a mark that things may not be as they seem.
The incident with Rondo's mother and the neighbour foreshadows the tension and
violence that will later occur at the birthday party.
Suspense
The definition of suspense in literature is the tension that keeps our attention between one
moment and another.
The use of short, choppy sentences and the description of the gun in Rondo's hand build
suspense and create a sense of tension.
Imagery
Imagery is a literary device used in poetry, novels, and other writing that uses vivid
description that appeals to a readers' senses to create an image or idea in their head.
Through language, imagery does not only paint a picture, but aims to portray the
sensational and emotional experience within text.
The phrase "foam flecking the corners of his mouth" creates a vivid image of Mr Rwafa's
emotional state.
Personification
When an idea or animal is given human characteristics. ―The sky weeps.‖
The phrase "something was wrong. Rondo had the butt of the gun pointing at his father,
as if he was offering it to him" personifies the gun as if it is a living being.
Metaphor
Comparing two things without using the words ―like‖ or ―as‖.
"The old man rambled on: "They need to be smoked out, flushed out, blasted out of their
hiding places, the impostors!' (comparing people to animals that need to be hunted and
removed from their hiding places)
Simile
Comparing two things using the words ―like‖ or ―as‖.
"He looked wearily into the face of his one and only son. He searched all over his face for
a foothold of manhood, for a handhold of hope" (comparing the search for manhood and
hope to searching for something physical, like a foothold or handhold)
Hyperbole
Exaggeration of ideas.
"He talked without any shame of his personal prowess. Of his achievements. The
obstacles he had to overcome to get where he was. 'The obstacles were nothing'"
(exaggerating the ease with which Mr Rwafa overcame obstacles and achieved his goals)
Revision questions for The Sins of the Fathers
1. Discuss the role and significance of the title The Sins of the Fathers.
2. Which sins do you think the father commits in the story?
3. ―Because I‘d like you to watch some ‗duck-shooting today‘. ‖ What does this statement
from Rwafa refer to?
4. Make inferences from the following:
a. ―Do you know what your father does?‖ (p33)
b. ―Rondo had not been used to living his life from deductive or logical thinking but
now, the accumulation of events and the history behind them had made him so
numb, he was almost a ‖ (p33).
31
5. Brainstorm about ‗Second Street accidents‘.
6. What is the role of the family unit during bereavement and children‘s growth?
7. How are youths used to execute the selfish desires of the political elite?
8. Why are power and prejudice significant in the ex-minister‘s life?
9. How does greed for material power affect the human character?
10. Compare and contrast Rwafa and Mzamane as antagonistic characters in the story, The
Sins of the Fathers.
11. How does Rondos mother manage the psychological problems of both her husband and
her son at home?
12. What do you think could have happened if Rwafa had told his only son, ―You are an
intelligent son‖?
13. Suppose Rwafa had had another son; could his attitude be different?
Essay Questions
1. Making reference to The Sins of the Fathers, write an essay to justify the claims below
(20 mks).
a. Hate ruins relationships
b. Anger is calamitous
c. Forgiveness heals past wounds
33
The morning after the wedding, Ajayi is met with a rude shock when he wakes up. Ayo does not
wake up early to prepare breakfast as usual. He concludes that maybe she was taken ill. When he
asks her, she replies nonchalantly that he should wake up and make himself a cup of tea. She
even contemptuously wonders if something is wrong with his legs. Surprisingly, she demands
respect from him asserting that she is now a truly married woman.
The story emphasises the importance of valid marriage as compared to cohabiting. Through this
emphasis, the writer, however, satirises marriage as it is not only economically draining but fails
to provide happiness that should come with it.
Key moments in the story
Life before marriage — 42-45
Preparations for marriage — 46-47
The marriage ceremony — pg. 48
Life after marriage — 48
Characters and characterization
List of Characters
Ajayi: the protagonist of the story, a government worker
Ayo: Ajayi's wife, a traditional woman who takes care of the household
Jonathan Olsen: a member of the World Gospel Crusading Alliance from Minnesota in the
USA
Chief clerk: an older African man who works with Ajayi at the government office
Oju: Ayo's son
Ayo's father: a proud and difficult man
Ayo's sisters: several women who are present at Ayo's wedding
Omo: Ayo's jealous neighbor
Ayo's mother: a woman who cries at Ayo's wedding and gives advice to Ayo on being a wife
Ayo's old aunt: a woman who gives Ajayi and Ayo a glass of water to drink at their wedding and
gives them advice on their marriage.
Character Traits
Ajayi
Respectful: Ajayi is shown to be respectful towards others, as he is polite and follows the rules
of his workplace. For example, he makes sure to introduce the missionaries to the chief clerk,
and later follows the chief clerk's advice not to become a missionary due to the rules against it.
Ajayi refers to the chief clerk as "sir" and refers to the white men from the WGCA as
"gentlemen"
Hardworking: Ajayi is shown to be a hardworking individual, as he is able to maintain a job
and is responsible for providing for his family.
Thoughtful: Ajayi is shown to be thoughtful in his actions and decisions, as he considers the
consequences of his actions and thinks about the future. For example, he considers the
implications of becoming a missionary, and later decides to marry Ayo after thinking about the
consequences. Ajayi's visit from the WGCA and Ayo's protest about the beating make him think
about his future and he decides to marry Ayo
Good-natured: Ajayi is shown to be good-natured, as he is friendly and welcoming towards the
missionaries, and invites them to his home for a drink.
34
Responsible: Ajayi is shown to be responsible in his actions, as he takes care of his family and
follows through on his decisions. He follows through on his decision to marry Ayo, and later
takes on the role of husband and provider for his family.
Ambitious: Ajayi writes to the World Gospel Crusading Alliance in hopes of receiving free
Bibles or large religious pictures that he could sell or give away
Resourceful: Ajayi quickly comes up with a plan to invite the WGCA men to his house for
drinks and asks another clerk to go home and warn his wife, Ayo, to prepare for the visitors
Considerate: Ajayi agrees to Ayo's request to have a church wedding, even though he would
have preferred a traditional one
Persistent: Ajayi borrows money to pay for the music, food, and dresses for the wedding,
despite the tightness of the corset and his tight budget
Obedient: When Ayo pushes him back gently and says "no" on the night before their wedding,
Ajayi obeys her request to wait until after they are married
Ayo
Prideful: she has a proud head and long neck
Respectful: she expects more respect from her husband after they are married
Responsible: she has gotten up early every morning for 12 years to make tea and breakfast for
Ajayi
Thoughtful: she is worried about Ajayi when he expresses a desire to marry her out of the blue
Caring: she is concerned about her husband's well-being and takes care of him
Confident: she stands up for herself and her beliefs, such as protesting against the beating of her
children
Resourceful: she finds ways to solve problems, such as borrowing a wedding ring from a
neighbor or visiting the soothsayer before Ajayi's sister can. Ayo is able to make a wedding cake,
clean and decorate her home, and find solutions to problems, such as borrowing a wedding ring
and hiding the wine glasses.
Traditional: she values and follows traditional customs, such as participating in the traditional
pre-wedding rituals with Ajayi's family
Strong-willed: she is not afraid to speak her mind and assert her autonomy, even in the face of
resistance or criticism (e.g. from her jealous neighbor)
Patient: Ayo tolerates Ajayi's tendency to be bossy and demanding, and she is willing to wait
until they are married before being intimate with him.
Kind: Ayo is considerate of others, as seen when she asks Ajayi if he is feeling ill and when she
takes care of her children and neighbors.
Independent: Ayo is able to stand up for herself and make her own decisions, as seen when she
protests against Ajayi's beating of their children and when she decides not to wear a white
wedding dress.
Practical: Ayo is practical in her approach to life, as seen when she decides not to go on a
honeymoon with Ajayi due to financial constraints.
Ayo’s Father
Proud: He is proud of his family and wants to ensure that Ayo is married to a good and suitable
husband. This is demonstrated when Ajayi's family comes to ask for Ayo's hand in marriage, and
Ayo's father goes through a lengthy and detailed questioning process to ensure that Ajayi's
family is good enough.
35
Protective: Ayo's father wants to protect his daughter and make sure that she is well taken care
of. This is shown when he gives Ayo away at the wedding ceremony and provides her with
advice on how to be a good wife.
Traditional: Ayo's father follows traditional customs and practices, as demonstrated by the
wedding ceremony and the exchange of gifts with Ajayi's family.
Respectful: Ayo's father is respectful towards Ajayi's family, even though he initially hesitated
to let them into his house. This is shown when he accepts their gifts and talks with them about
the marriage.
The Chief Clerk
Concerned/caring: He advised Ajayi against being a missionary, which would lead to him
losing his job. This shows that the chief clerk cares about Ajayi's well-being and is looking out
for his best interests.
Omo
Jealous: when Ayo showed her the wedding presents that Ajayi was going to give her and
Omo's face was both jealous and angry as she touched the silky, see-through material. Omo said,
"These are awful; they hide nothing, you should be ashamed to wear them," and pushed the
material angrily back over the wall to Ayo. This shows that Omo was jealous of Ayo's
relationship with Ajayi and the presents he was giving her.
Ayo’s Aunt
Wise and caring: based on the way she advised Ayo and Ajayi on their marriage. She encouraged
them to be respectful towards each other and to avoid conflicts, and also reminded Ajayi to be
faithful to Ayo. Concerned: she showed concern for Ayo's well-being by warning her about the
dangers of being too friendly with other women, who may try to steal her husband.
Themes
Role of Gender and Gender Expectations
One theme in the story is the role of gender and expectations of traditional gender roles.
Ayo has always been responsible for making tea for Ajayi and taking care of the household,
while Ajayi goes to work.
However, after they are married, Ayo asserts her newly acquired status as a "truly married
woman" and expects Ajayi to be more respectful and take on some household responsibilities,
such as making his own tea.
This theme is also present in Ayo's father's demands for a suitable husband for his daughter, and
the traditional role of the husband in paying for the wedding and providing for the family.
Conflict due to parenting styles
Different parents adopt different parenting styles.
Some parents are very strict with their children to the extent that they use excessive force to
ensure their children behave as they wish. A good example is Ajayi, who beats his eldest son Oju
for having wet his sleeping mat (pg.43).
On her part, Ayo feels that this is not right, and in one of the rare occurrences, she disagrees with
Ajayi about it. She tells him, ―Ajayi, you beat Oju too much. he has not stopped wetting although
you beat him every time he does. In fact, he is doing it more and more now. Perhaps if you
stopped beating him, he would get better.‖ (pg.43).
Through their disagreement, we learn of Ayo‘s modernised and informed traits as she discloses
that she has been attending women‘s meetings where they are taught modern ideas (pg.44).
36
These traits are one of the triggers that make Ajayi marry Ayo after realising that she is a woman
to be proud of.
We also see some conflict over what parents want for their children in relation to what the
children want for themselves.
Ayo‘s living with Ajayi had not been accepted by her parents — ‗When she first came to him-
against her parents‘ wishes. ‗ (pg. 43).
The writer further tells us what Ayo‘s father had hoped that she would marry a high school
teacher. However, Ayo fell in love with Ajayi, a government clerk, and moved in with him (pg.
43).
Family and Community
Another theme is the importance of family and community in African culture.
The story shows the strong involvement of the community and extended family in the wedding
process, including the negotiation for the bride and the exchange of gifts.
The importance of family is also shown in Ayo's decision to move back in with her father before
the wedding and the close relationships between siblings and cousins.
Religion and Spirituality
Another theme is the role of religion and spirituality in the characters' lives.
Ajayi is initially interested in becoming a missionary with the World Gospel Crusading Alliance,
and the story includes references to traditional religious practices such as praying and consulting
soothsayers.
The characters also frequently express their belief in God and the importance of living a virtuous
and moral life.
Hypocrisy
There is a lot of pretense among people in society to portray a particular image.
Ajayi wrote to World Gospel Crusading Alliance, pretending to be interested in some
information from them after a friend gave him a magazine that contained an invitation to join the
missionary Alliance.
However, his true intention was not to work with them, but he hoped to get free items such as
bibles and large religious pictures that he would sell, give away, or use as wall pictures (pg.44).
The depth of his hypocrisy is seen when he appears relieved that the chief clerk saved him from a
life as a missionary when he told the visitors that the government prohibited his workers from
working as missionaries.
So appreciative is Ajayi of the chief clerk that he presents a carefully wrapped bottle of beer to
the chief clerk as a present for having saved him (pg.45).
He hypocritically extends an invitation of the missionaries to his home.
He lies to them that the roads are not suitable to prevent them from using a taxi. He intends to
give time to his wife to reorganise their home into an appropriate environment to host the
missionaries.
Ayo also portrays high levels of hypocrisy. She changes the appearance of their home when she
receives a message from Ajayi that he will be bringing white men to their home in half an hour.
Ayo took down the calendars with pictures of lightly clothed women and replaced them with
family photographs. She also replaced the magazines with religious books and hid the wine
glasses under the sofa. In efforts to portray an actual spiritual image, she goes ahead to borrow a
wedding ring from her neighbour before putting on her Sunday dress (pg. 45).
37
The missionaries are impressed by the show that she put up. The writer uses this act to symbolise
Ayo‘s hypocrisy even in her marriage.
Ayo has been pretending to be a dutiful wife for the twelve years before her marriage as she
shows her true colours after the wedding. She refuses to prepare morning tea and breakfast
forAjayi (pg 48).
Her hypocrisy is further seen when she turns down Ajayi‘s advances on the evening he disclosed
to her that he intended to marry her. She shyly says ‗No‘ (pg. 45) and pushes him away, asking
him to wait until after marriage.
She argues that it would not be correct. This is ironic since the two have lived together for twelve
years, and their intimacy has borne three children.
Contrast Between African and Western Culture
Another theme is the contrast between African and Western culture.
This is demonstrated through the characters' interactions with the white missionaries from the
United States, as well as the influence of Western media on the characters' choices and
expectations, such as Ajayi's desire for Ayo to wear a traditional white wedding dress and Ayo's
reference to Hollywood actresses wearing see-through material.
Cohabiting vs. marriage
The story is centered around Ayo and Ajayi's marriage, and explores the expectations and roles
within a marriage.
Despite living together for twelve years and having three children already, Ayo and Ajayi are not
considered married. The writer tells us that ‗Ajayi and Ayo have been together for twelve years.
They are not married. Ajayi had meant to marry Ayo, but the right moment never came. (pg.42).
It is no wonder that while explaining to his friends who Ayo is, Ajayi refers to her as not a wife
but a mistress (pg. 43).
Ayo is seen to have hoped that Ajayi would indeed marry her. During their first year of marriage,
she kept telling Ajayi about their friends‘ weddings, hoping that he would get interested and
marry her.
She, however, ends up frustrated when instead of showing an interest, he criticises the friends‘
spending due to the considerable cost of the ceremony (pg. 43).
The priest emphasises the importance of people getting married through his sermon.
The writer observes that the priest would speak out violently against unmarried couples who
lived together about two or three times in a year (pg. 43).
These sermons would make friends of Ajayi and Ayo look at them sympathetically, leading to
Ajayi keeping off from the church for a few weeks.
Despite not being married, Ajayi and Ayo enjoy some peaceful ambience in their marriage. Ayo
performs her wifely roles dutifully. She would wake up at five to prepare his breakfast (pg. 48).
Ajayi would wake at six-fifteen and find his cup of tea ready just as he liked it — ‗weak and
sugary, without milk‘ (pg. 42).
Ironically, after Ayo is married, things seem to change.
Instead of continuing with her wifely duty or making them better, Ayo is reluctant to serve her
husband as she used it.
The morning after the wedding finds Ayo comfortably beside her husband when his alarm goes
off.
Unlike other previous mornings, there is no tea ready for Ajayi.
He is initially alarmed as he thinks she is ill.
38
Still, her shocking reply confirms her deliberately intention not to do it — ―Ajayi, my
husband…for twelve years I have got up every morning at five to make tea for you and breakfast.
Now I am a truly married woman; you must behave towards me with some respect. You are now
my husband and not a lover. Get up and make yourself a cup of tea‖ (pg. 48).
This strange turn of events raises concern over whether valid marriage helps improve the home
environment or destroys the home.
Power dynamics
The power dynamic within the relationship between Ayo and Ajayi is explored, with Ayo taking
a more assertive role in their marriage.
Change
The story also touches on the theme of personal growth and change, as Ayo and Ajayi navigate
their new roles as a married couple.
Poverty and financial struggles
Ajayi borrows a large sum of money in order to pay for the music, food, and dresses for the
wedding
Ajayi and Ayo cannot afford a holiday after the wedding
Ayo's father demands gifts and demands to be assured that Ajayi's family is good enough before
agreeing to the marriage
Ajayi's uncle and other relations bring traditional gifts to Ayo's father, including small coins and
fruit, in order to prove their worth and ability to care for Ayo
Ajayi and Ayo discuss the financial constraints of their wedding and make decisions based on
their limited resources, such as choosing a grey dress for Ayo instead of a white one and not
going on a honeymoon.
Stylistic Devices
Repetition
Repeating words or phrases.
(There are actually many different types of repetition like anaphora and epiphora.)
The phrase "Hip, hip, hooray" is repeated when the family is celebrating Ayo's engagement. This
repetition adds emphasis to the celebration and creates a sense of joy and excitement.
"No, this one is too short to be Ayo. No, this one is too fat." This repetition is used to emphasize
the fact that none of the women brought out by Ayo's father are the right one.
Metaphor
Comparing two things without using the words ―like‖ or ―as‖.
Ayo's father compares Ayo to a "red, red rose" when he is discussing her engagement with
Ajayi's family. This metaphor serves to depict Ayo as a beautiful and valuable commodity.
Alliteration
Repetition of initial consonant sound.
The phrase "many others will grow from it" uses alliteration with the repetition of the "m" sound.
This adds a rhythmic quality to the sentence and creates a sense of flow.
Personification
When an idea or animal is given human characteristics. ―The sky weeps.‖
The phrase "the tightness of the corset" personifies the corset as having agency and the ability to
constrict. This adds a sense of discomfort and struggle to the experience of wearing the corset.
Simile
Comparing two things using the words ―like‖ or ―as‖
39
The phrase "Ayo seemed different in Ajayï's eyes" compares Ayo's appearance to how Ajayi sees
her using the simile "like". This comparison adds a sense of change or transformation to Ayo's
appearance.
Imagery
Imagery is a literary device used in poetry, novels, and other writing that uses vivid description
that appeals to a readers' senses to create an image or idea in their head.
Through language, imagery does not only paint a picture, but aims to portray the sensational and
emotional experience within text.
Which is the use of language to create vivid mental images or sensory experiences in the reader's
mind. For example, the passage describes Ayo's "proud head" and "long neck" when Ajayi looks
at her after their wedding, which helps the reader to visualize Ayo's appearance.
Revision questions for The Truly Married Woman
Describe early morning activities of Ajayi before he goes to work
Compare and contrast Ayo‘s behaviour before marriage and after
What does Ajayi‘s beating of Oju for wetting his sleeping mat reveals about Ajayi?
What preparations does Ayo make as she waits for the guests? What does this reveal about her?
Explain Ayo‘s reaction when Ajayi tells her that he plans to marry her?
What does Omo‘s reaction to Ayo‘s disclosure about the planned marriage reveal about her?
Briefly describe the traditional marriage practices that take place before Ayo‘s marriage.
What is Ayo‘s old aunts‘ advice to the newly married?
What is the importance of tile traditional marriage preparation practices that are carried out
before Ayo‘s marriage?
The institution of marriage should be treated with respect as it is of great. Show how Ayo fails to
do so after she is truly married.
Essay Questions
Does a valid marriage helps improve the home environment or destroys the home? Basing your
answer on The Truly Married Woman write an essay validating or refuting this claim.
Marriage is satirised in the story The Truly Married Woman Support this assertion.
40
Today, Gazemba lives in Nairobi where he is the editor of Ketebul Music.
The Title
The title "Talking Money" is very fitting for the story because it is both literal and figurative.
On a literal level, the money that Mukidanyi receives from Galo, after selling his land, is
described as speaking in strange disembodied voices.
This is a shocking and eerie moment for Mukidanyi, as he and his wife hear the money "talking"
from under their bed.
The money seems to have a life of its own and is described as "playful" and "hungry" which adds
to the eerie feeling surrounding the money.
On a figurative level, "Talking Money" also refers to the way in which money can influence and
control people's actions and thoughts.
The story hints at the fact that the money is the root of all evil, corrupting those who have it and
causing them to lose sight of what is truly important.
Mukidanyi's wife and brothers warned him not to sell his land to Galo and yet, he did.
His decision was influenced by the promise of a large sum of money and now that he has it, he
has lost sight of what is truly important and is terrified of the money that is speaking to him.
Overall, the title "Talking Money" is appropriate for the story as it not only refers to the literal
talking of the money but also the figurative way that money can control and corrupt people's
actions.
41
Later on, that evening Ronika, his wife, sensibly tries to dissuade him from selling the land
without consultation and urges him to listen to other people‘s counsel. He first ignores her before
furiously giving her a lashing, promptly extinguishing her fair-minded plea. He ignores her
entreaties about the Galos money not being good.
Mukidanyi defies his brothers and his wife and goes ahead to sell the land to Galo. Although he
is prepared for a bruising tussle with Galo, Galo accepts to pay half-a-million shillings without
haggling.
Because of his intransigence, you will be forgiven to consider Mukidanyi a pigheaded fool. He is
however not a complete buffoon. On one hand, he is illiterate since during his school days he
would sneak out of school and skip classes and spend his days playing simbi and roasting stolen
maize with his errant friends. On the other hand, he is an astute cattle trader with an impressive
business acumen.
Because he is unlettered, he is unable to sign the business papers presented by Galo's assistant
after the sale of the land. He needs Ngoseywe and Agoya around after all. After the messy paper
business is over, Galo hands him a briefcase containing half-a-million shillings in cash.
Mukidanyi is too shocked to count the cash in the briefcase. Unsuspectingly, he tells Galo that he
trusts him. Besides, would a clansman deceive him?
That evening Mukidanyi is nervy. He does not eat his supper. He cannot sleep that night. He
wakes up twice to ascertain that the money is still there – safely chained to the bedpost. He also
awakens Ronika, who is still piqued from the lashing she received earlier.
Something curious happens when he tries to go back to sleep. The money in the briefcase starts
conversing casually like a couple of frisky school boys sauntering home from school. This
bizarre occurrence has the couple scared out of their wits.
The once wilful and ostensibly gallant Mukidanyi suddenly recoils like a panicky chicken. When
he hears the strange voices, he is horror-stricken. He shakes and sweats in panic. His assertive
voice is reduced into a frightened child-like whisper when he asks: ―Who were they?‖
An angry Ronika scolds, derides and hysterically laughs at him. She taunts him for failing to
listen to other people.
―I warned you about the Galos, didn‘t I? Eh? Ngoseywe and Agoya warned you too against this,
didn‘t they, big man? And what did you eh? Tell me what did you do?‖
The money talks again, this time complaining about the couples' argument.
―I don‘t like their shouting. It was better with the silence.‖
Ronika has had enough. She drags Mukidanyi and forces him to unlock the padlock securing the
briefcase. She then snarls at him, hurls the briefcase outside and sends him after it. Their
frightened children are stunned to see their mother so agitated and their father extremely scared.
The journey to the Galos is eerie to say the least. Mukidanyi is haunted by unseen night creatures
swimming around him, threatening to harm him. He is nonetheless determined to return the
peculiar briefcase to Galo. Galo lives a couple hundred yards away but it seems like a mile. The
case gets heavier and heavier as Mukidanyi lumbers on.
The stubborn man eventually returns the money. He also makes a change of tune about selling
his land.
―I changed my mind about selling the land. Here is your money.‖
Moral lesson of the story - "It is prudent to listen to wise counsel. Failure to heed good advice
may result in unwanted consequences."
42
Key moments in the story
The expulsion (pg. 49-50) throws his brothers out of his home
Assault (pg. 50) Mukidanyi attacks Ronika
The transaction (pg. 50-51) sells land to Galo for half-a-million shillings
Sleepless night (pg. 53) Mukidanyi cannot sleep
Talking money (pg. 53-54) the money starts talking
Ronika's fury (pg. 55) Ronika forces Mukidanyi to get rid of the talking money
Journey to the Galos (pg. 55) Mukidanyi returns the money to the Galos.
Change of heart (pg. 56) Mukidanyi changes his mind about selling the land.
New words in Talking Money
Weather-scoured - faded
Assuaged – eased
Attaché case – a small rectangular case for carrying documents
Fodder – food for livestock
Tussle – vigorous struggle
Tug - pull
Haggling – bargaining persistently
Surmise – guess
Discomfiture – unease, awkwardness
Bristling – angered
Groggy – weak/unsteady
Tinny – metallic sound
Disembodied – (of a sound) lacking any obvious physical source
Slick – (skin) shiny
Leaden – heavy
43
Illiterate: He never went to school and "never been to any classroom to speak of"
Gullible: Trusts Galo with a large sum of money without counting it
Nervous: When confronted with the money, he gets nervous and his hands shake
Jumpy: He's always alert and wakes up easily, "he had always slept with one ear open"
Superstitious: He believes in viganda spirits and other unseen creatures.
Cautious: He is afraid of the briefcase once he realizes it has spirits in it, and he's scared to
touch it
Cowardly: When the spirits voice their complaints, he quickly gives the money back, "Tossing
the heavy briefcase over the gate".
Greedy: Despite his superstitions and fears he could not resist the large sum of money and went
ahead to sell the land, despite being warned by his wife and friends.
Ronika
Strong-willed and assertive:, as seen in her reaction to the talking money incident where she is
the one who takes charge and forces Mukidanyi to take the money out of their home.
Superstitious: as she immediately recognizes that the voices coming from the briefcase are
those of spirits and speaks about her belief in witchcraft and viganda spirits
Easily frightened: as seen when she is frightened and clutching onto Mukidanyi's wrist during
the incident with the talking money.
Protector: she protects her family and is easily worried about her family safety. This is seen in
the way she kept urging Mukidanyi to take the money and leave the house.
Galo
Confident and self-assured, demonstrated by the way he conducted his business with
Mukidanyi, offering him money and telling him when and how the land transfer would happen.
Calm and composed, demonstrated by the way he handled Mukidanyi's sudden change of heart
and return of the money.
Possibly dishonest or at least not entirely transparent, suggested by the fact that the money
seemed to have some sort of strange power or curse associated with it, and by the fact that
Mukidanyi, Ronika, and possibly others had warned against doing business with him.
Themes
Greed and corruption
It is clear in the story that Galo and his associates are willing to go to great lengths to acquire
Mukidanyi's land.
They use their wealth and influence to offer him a large sum of money, which he finds hard to
resist.
They also try to manipulate him, using flattery and false promises to make him trust them.
This theme of greed and corruption is present throughout the story, as the characters use deceitful
means to gain something they desire.
Tradition and culture
The story is set in a rural community, and the characters hold strong traditional values.
For example, Mukidanyi is warned against selling the land by Ngoseywe and Agoya, his
traditional leaders, who urge him to consider the cultural significance of the land for the
community.
This theme is also present in the way Mukidanyi's wife, Ronika, understands and interprets the
supernatural occurrences around the money, as vigand spirits or witches.
44
Tension between modernity and tradition
The story presents the reader with the contrast of traditional rural values, and the attraction and
threat of modernity in the form of the urban life that is offered by Galo and his associates.
Good versus evil
This theme is presented through the contrast between the honorable and honest characters such
as Mukidanyi, Ronika, Ngoseywe and Agoya, and the dishonest and deceitful characters such as
Galo and his associates.
Superstition and belief in the supernatural
Ronika and other villagers believe in the existence of spirits and evil forces, and the idea that
certain actions can bring about bad luck or misfortune.
Materialism and the corrupting influence of money
The story shows how the pursuit of wealth and material possessions can lead to ethical dilemmas,
as well as leading people to do things against their better judgment.
Social class and power dynamics
Galo is wealthy and well-educated, while Mukidanyi is poor and uneducated. This creates a
power imbalance between them, with Galo and his associates able to take advantage of
Mukidanyi.
Trust and deception
Galo and his associates appear to be trustworthy and genuine in their intentions, but ultimately
deceive Mukidanyi and take advantage of his lack of education and experience with such matters.
Rural vs Urban life
Mukidanyi, a rural person and is not used to dealing with mIoney and the complexities of land
deals and is taken advantage of by the urban and more sophisticated Galo and his associates.
Exploitation
Galo and associates exploit the trust and naivety of Mukidanyi for their own gain and profit.
Stylistic Devices
Personification
When an idea or animal is given human characteristics. ―The sky weeps.‖
When the voices from the money described it being warm, or the tendril snaking out of the
darkness and biting his ankle.
It is a figurative language used to give an inanimate object a human characteristic.
Simile
Comparing two things using the words ―like‖ or ―as‖.
When Mukidanyi made comparison of the journey from his compound to the Galos' as "like a
mile with that scary case that got heavier and heavier in his hand with every footstep"
Repetition
Repeating words or phrases.
(There are actually many different types of repetition like anaphora and epiphora.)
"Magu! Magu!‖ the spirits in the money repeated, it emphasizes their excitement and highlights
that they are enjoying.
Hyperbole:
Exaggeration of ideas.
"The longest journey Mukidanyi had ever undertaken in his life." is an exaggeration to
emphasize the difficulty of the journey he took
Foreshadowing:
45
Foreshadowing is a literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in
the story.
Foreshadowing is useful for creating suspense, a feeling of unease, a sense of curiosity, or a
mark that things may not be as they seem.
"Ronika! I trust you, my friend. I don't think you would lie to a clansman, Galo." this statement
foreshadows the bad things that would happen later because of trusting Galo.
Symbolism:
Symbolism is the use of words or images to symbolize specific concepts, people, objects, or
events.
The briefcase full of money symbolizes greed, temptation, and the corrupting influence of wealth.
Irony:
The definition of irony as a literary device is a situation in which there is a contrast between
expectation and reality.
For example, the difference between what something appears to mean versus its literal meaning
The voices coming from the money are laughing and enjoying their new found warmth, while
Mukidanyi is scared and paranoid.
46
Primitive superstition on sources of money
Ronika takes advantage of her husband‘s extreme fear and makes more fun of him. She reassures
him that the Galos‘ money is speaking in the briefcase under the bed. (p54).
Confident and sure that he is terrified, she shouts and scoffs at him to take the money ―Go with
your devil money this very minute and find somewhere else to keep it but not in this house, you
hear?‖ (p55).
Obsession with money and the power of guilt
The tough speaking and abusive man is now humbled and reduced to a whispering weakling
(Mukidanyi).
Definitely, the warnings are ricocheting in his mind because of his guilt and failure to consult
before beginning the process of selling his land.
Scared by the unseen demons, Mukidanyi flees back to the Galos, returning all the money. (p55,
56).
Importance of consulting family
Mukidanyi sells his land to Galo and associates clearly against the advice of his family and
friends only to find out that the money he is given as payment is cursed
If he had only heeded the advice of his friends and family, maybe the outcome would have been
a good one.
In the long run, Mukidanyi is only left with his wife to trust, and his house is the only refuge at
this ‗hour of witches‘.
Essay Question
Ignoring wise counsel is dangerous. Making reference to Talking Money, write an essay to
justify this claim.
47
This theme of the unexpected return of a person believed to be dead is a recurring motif
throughout the story and sets the stage for the reader to consider the weight of the past and how it
haunts the present.
The title also refers to the visits of the narrator's deceased wife, Ebere, who appears to him in the
form of a ghost.
The narrator's belief in her ghostly presence and the impact it has on his life is central to the story
and highlights the idea that the past cannot be fully escaped, and the memories of loved ones can
linger long after they have passed away.
The theme of the war also ties in to the title of "Ghosts" as it is a haunting presence throughout
the story.
The war is described as something that has left its mark on the characters, shaping their lives and
memories, and the lingering effects of the war on the narrator and his community can be seen as
a form of ghost that still haunts them even though the war has ended.
In James' mind, the war should've been an easy victory for his side
Furthermore, the university's current state of corruption, and pension issues faced by Ikenna and
the narrator, can also be seen as a ghost of the past, in the sense that the negative effects of past
actions and leadership continue to haunt and affect the present.
This further highlights how the past can't be ignored and it keep looming over people's lives.
The fake drugs menace is another example of a present-day issue that is linked to the past, as it is
a symptom of a broken system that has not been fully addressed since the war.
Overall, the title "Ghosts" is fitting as it references the idea of the past, in various ways,
continuing to linger and affect the present and the people in it.
The Plot Summary
Adichie‘s short story ‗Ghost‘ alludes to the 1967-1970 Biafra War in Nigeria which she deploys
as a pivotal vantage point to scan the realities of postcolonial Nigerian state.
The plot of the story unfolds through the narrative voice of Professor James Nwoye, a retired 71-
year-old Mathematics professor who was at Nsukka University at the time it fell to the federal
forces during the civil war.
The protagonist in the story epitomizes the devastation of the war, having lost a child to it and
suffered disruption and dislocation.
'Ghost‘ focuses on the present but flashes back to the past to reveal the harsh realities of the
fictional postcolonial spaces it recreates.
The story, "Ghosts," is set on a university campus in Nigeria and follows the character of James
Nwoye, a retired professor, as he reflects on his past, current life, and encounters with the ghost
of his late wife, Ebere.
The story opens with James running into his former colleague, Ikenna Okoro, who was thought
to have died during the Nigerian civil war, known as the Biafran war, but it is revealed that he
did not die.
James and Ikenna reminisce about the past, but their conversation also touches on the current
state of the university, which is plagued by corruption and late pension payments.
Throughout the story, James reflects on the impact of the war on his life, and how he and his
fellow survivors have chosen to move on from it with a sense of "implacable vagueness,"
focusing more on the fact that they have survived rather than the horrors they witnessed.
The theme of the war is closely intertwined with the theme of ghosts, as the trauma of the war is
still very much present in James' mind and the ghost of his wife Ebere.
48
Ebere visits James regularly, and he is comforted by her visits as she brings a sense of peace and
familiarity to him, as he's still grieving her death.
James also mentions that the fake drugs epidemic is a new problem in Nigeria and he fears that
the man who produces these fake drugs might not be punished, making it easier for him to
produce more fake drugs that can lead to more deaths.
As the story comes to a close, James reflects on the current state of his life.
He describes it as being neither good nor bad, but simply his.
Though nobody talks about the war, James suggests that everyone who experienced it lives with
the memories of it just like he does. People ignore or sidestep the truth around other living
people, but the war lingers like a ghost.
The title "Ghosts" is fitting as it encapsulates the multiple layers of the story, from the literal
ghost of Ebere, to the metaphorical ghost of the war and its impact on James' life, and the ever-
present threat of fake drugs, which are like a ghost, lingering in the background and causing
harm without being seen.
Key moments in Ghosts
Prof James Nwoye‘s visit to the University Bursary -pg. 57-59
Encounter with Ikenna Okoro- 59-65
Talk about the civil war on July 6 1967- 60
Talk about fake drugs -pg. 65
Prof James back home-pg 66-67
Characters and Characterization
Character List
James Nwoye - The narrator, a retired professor, he's been living alone on the university campus
since his wife, Ebere died. He often reflects on his past and his regrets. He talks about his wife
who had passed away and who still visits him in spirit.
Ikenna Okoro - An old friend of the narrator, who was thought to have died during the Biafra
war. He is now retired and come back to the university and the narrator sees him for the first time
in years.
Ebere - The narrator's deceased wife, who visits him in spirit and he describes the visits as
comfort, soothing, and healing.
Nkiruka (Nkiru) - The narrator's daughter and Ebere's, who is now a doctor in America, who
visits him regularly.
Harrison - House help, who comes to the narrator's house five days a week, he helps with
gardening and housekeeping.
Josephat Udeana - A man who was the Vice Chancellor of the University and was known for
his corrupt practices and the way he ran the university like a personal empire.
Professor Maduewe- An old friend of the narrator and a professor at the university.
Otagbu's son- A young man who fixes the narrator's television.
Character Traits
James Nwoye
Nostalgic: James Nwoye reminisces about his past life, the university and his wife, Ebere. He
also reflects on the state of the university, which he sees as having greatly changed for the worse.
Reflective: He reflects on the lives of himself and his peers, and how they have changed over the
years.
49
Patient: He mentions that he is waiting for his pension since he retired. He also expresses
contentment with his current life despite it being different from what he had imagined.
Observant: he pays attention to the details around him such as the changing seasons and
noticing new potholes in the university's avenue.
Open-minded: He is open to the idea of a visit from his deceased wife which others may have
found strange and hard to accept.
Skeptical: He is initially suspicious of Ikenna's sudden reappearance after being thought dead
and his bringing up the fake drugs trade, as if it were a coincidence.
Resilient: He has survived the war and the death of his wife, he has moved on with his life and
found a way to deal with the loss and move forward.
Family-oriented: He often mentions his daughter, Nkiruka, and grandson and is interested in
their lives.
Ikenna Okoro
Intellectual: He is an Oxford man who went to school in "oyibo-land" (abroad) and had a career
as a university lecturer
Disillusioned: He is disappointed by the current state of the university and the corruption he sees
in it. He speaks out about the issues such as politics, money disappearing and university politics
Observant: He notices the small details of James' life such as the scratch on his car, and the
signs of the fake drugs in the market.
Resilient: Despite the fact that he has faced many difficulties in his life and retired, he is still
determined and looking to create change.
Empathetic: He expresses regret over his inability to pay James' pension and the overall state of
the country.
Nostalgic: He has a strong sense of memory and longing for the past, he often reminisces about
the way things used to be in the university, and speaks of the "good days before the war".
Nkiru
Ambitious: She is a doctor and moved to America to pursue her career.
Concerned: She often calls her father and asks him how he is doing and if he is okay.
Caring: She is the one who suggested to bring her mother's body back to bury her in Nigeria.
Progressive: She is described as American-born, and has an American accent that is vaguely
troubling.
Vincent
He is the former driver of Prof James.
He served Prof. James in the eighties when he was the faculty dean.
He is now retired and is following up on his pension, just like Prof and other retirees.
He currently works as a cobbler near the university hostels. Although he is younger than Prof (In
his late sixties), he looks much older.
He is seen as a concerned and caring person who always minded about the welfare of
Prof.James‘ daughter.
Themes
War and its effects / post-war trauma
The story deals with the impact of the war on the main character, James Nwoye, who is a
survivor of the Biafra conflict. He is haunted by memories of the war and struggles to come to
terms with what happened. The destructive aftermath of the war include:
50
Displacement of families
Loss of loved ones / Death – Zik, two lectures, Chris Okigbo, Ikenna's entire family
Destruction of property - After the civil war ended in 1970, Prof James and Ebere returned to
Nsukka from America. They were, however, disappointed to find some of their properties having
been destroyed and others missing. ―Our books were in a charred pile in the front garden.. the
lumps of calcified faeces in the bathtub were strewn with pages of my mathematical annals, used
as toilet paper, crusted smears blurring the formulas I had studied and taught Our piano – Ebere‘s
piano was gone. our photographs were ripped, their frames broken.‖
On their way home that day, Prof James and Ebere saw a landscape of ruins, blown-out roofs and
houses riddled with holes, injuries, and physical pain. The day Prof James and Ebere drove back
to Nsukka, Biafran soldiers stopped them and shoved a wounded soldier into their car, and his
blood dripped onto the backseat of their vehicle
Landscapes with ruins, blown out roofs, houses with holes
Trauma – Wounded soldier, Ikenna Okoro pale shadow of his former self
Separation of families – Nkiru and his son live in America
Harrowing conditions – muddy bunkers
No food – cassava peels, malnutrition, relief food, picking through dustbins
Counterfeit/fake drugs - fie selling of expired medicine is the current plague in the country
Ikenna tells James that he has been reading about fake drugs in the papers (pg. 65).
The effect of fake drugs has been felt by James, whose wife Ebere‘s death is linked to the
counterfeit drug deal. Prof James thinks that Ikenna must have heard of ‗How Ebere had lain in
the hospital getting weaker and weaker, how her doctor had been puzzled that she was not
recovering after her medication how none of us knew until it was too late that the drugs were
useless‘. In addition, Prof James bitterly remembers how he had watched some broadcast of an
interview on NTA. Through the interview, a man accused of importing fake drugs – typhoid
fever drugs, had defended himself by claiming that his drugs do not kill people but only fail to
cure illness
Death and grief
The story features a number of ghosts, including the narrator's deceased wife, Ebere, who visits
him in his dreams. The story explores the theme of grief and how it is processed by different
characters.
James lives with the weight of the civil war and what might have happened.
He sees that the war robbed him of the opportunity to truly pass on his culture to his American
grandson, and also of a closer relationship with his daughter (if only in a physical sense).
Corruption
The story takes place in a university setting, where the characters discuss the corruption in the
institution and how it affects their lives. This theme is represented through the characters
experiences with fraud, fake drugs, late pension payments and the falsification of official
documents.
On the Nsukka campus, where "Cell One" took place. We see that the police corruption of "Cell
One" isn't the only kind of corruption that plagues the campus.
The government isn't properly paying its employees, and this has been going on for a long time.
The explanation why Prof James and other retirees have not received their pension is due to
corruption. The men clustered under the flame tree say, ―The Education Minister has stolen the
51
pension money… it was the vice-chancellor who had deposited the money in high interest
personal accounts.‖ (money is being mismanaged or indeed outrightly stolen)
In the University, corruption is further seen where James tells Ikenna about Josephat Udeana, the
great dancer, who, once chosen as vice-chancellor, perpetuated corruption at the University‘s
high office.
―Josephat was vice chancellor for six years and ran this University like his father‘s chicken
Money disappeared, and then we would see new cars coop stamped with the names of foreign
foundations that did not exist.‖
He also dictated who would be promoted and who would not. The situation did not change after
Josephat left since even the current vice-chancellor is also said to follow the corrupt route
faithfully.
Corruption is also reported in the Personnel Services Department, where lecturers who do not
want to retire bribe, someone, to have some years added to them. People look the other way at
professors lying about their birth dates so they can work longer.
Further, corruption is seen among university students. Prof tells Ikenna that instead of reading
and working hard to earn fair grades, the universitystudents have bought grades with money or
their bodies.
This is because though Ikenna lives with his memories like James does, Ikenna's memories aren't
tainted by the uncomfortable truths of the present.
The fake drugs are another facet of the widespread corruption. The government isn't regulating
drugs, so ineffective fake drugs are on the market. Such a drug resulted in the death of Ebere,
James' wife.
James and Ikenna views on corruption are different for where James doesn't seem to think that
there's anything he can do about the corruption; he's just resigned to living with it while Ikenna
holds a contrasting view. With consequences like these, government corruption is a serious
condition affecting the lives of many.
Anxiety
Anxiety is another strong theme in this story.
Throughout the war everyone was anxious and fearful of violence.
Old age, too, has its own kind of anxiety. James worries not only whether his daughter will call
but also whether she will think him senile if he tells her of Ebere's ghostly visits.
He worries about his pension and about getting older and weaker.
Aging
The story also explores the theme of aging and the sense of insignificance that comes with it, as
James reflects on his life, regrets and what could have been
Exile
The story also deals with the theme of being in Exile, as James Nwoye is exiled from the society
in which he grew up and the way of life he knew because of his experiences with the war.
He is now living in a society that is foreign to him, which is made worse by the fact that his
daughter and grandson live in America.
Difference between traditional practices and the habits of those who are Western-educated
In the story‘s setup, James introduces the idea that there's supposed to be a huge difference
between traditional practices and the habits of those who are Western-educated. He suggests,
though, that he doesn't see the traditional practices as silly; rather, they're just not for him.
52
"But I am a Western-educated man, a retired mathematics professor of seventy-one, and I am
supposed to have armed myself with enough science to laugh indulgently at the ways of my
people."
Even if he doesn't think traditional practices are silly per se, James appears to have internalized
some of the superiority that he's implied comes from his Western education.
"At another man's prodding, James buys some fruit and nuts from the men. He thinks they all
need moisturizer, and thinks about his late wife, Ebere, teasing him about moisturizing properly."
He makes a judgement on the men and thinks they all need moisturizer.
Betrayal
James' first reaction is to think that Ikenna betrayed the cause.
This suggests that Ikenna was possibly a flighty person when James knew him in the '60s and
'70s.
James also still carries some anger towards the sabos, indicating that he still feels the horrors and
betrayals of the war.
Whatever his feelings about Ikenna, James also left Nigeria in the aftermath of the war rather
than stay and join the restoration effort.
Though it seems like it was a healing experience for James and his family, it also makes James's
feelings about Ikenna's time in Sweden more complicated.
Ikenna is certainly aware that having left during the middle of the civil war makes him seem like
a coward to many of those who stayed. He seems guilty for having done so.
Even if he didn't mean it, James' language confirms that he privately thinks less of Ikenna for
leaving.
Stylistic Devices
Flashback:
A flashback interrupts that chronological sequence, the front line action or ―present‖ line of the
story, to show readers a scene that unfolded in the past.
The narrator James frequently reflects on past events, such as the war and his relationship with
Ebere, which are portrayed through flashbacks.
Symbolism:
Symbolism is the use of words or images to symbolize specific concepts, people, objects, or
events.
The imagery of the vultures on the narrator's roof symbolizes the passage of time, and the fading
of the university symbolizes the decline in standards.
The imagery of the ―neem trees‖ that screen his house is supposed to be medicinal.
Irony:
Irony is a rhetorical device and literary technique that is incredibly useful when used correctly.
Simply put, irony is when something that is said or done is in contrast to reality or to what is
expected.
The narrator is expecting his pension which never comes, and he talks about how standards are
falling everywhere, which is ironic because he's retired and is not supposed to be so worried
about the state of affairs.
Repetition:
Repeating words or phrases.
(There are actually many different types of repetition like anaphora and epiphora.)
The narrator‘s describing the falling of standards, is repeated multiple times throughout the story
53
Imagery:
Imagery is a literary device used in poetry, novels, and other writing that uses vivid description
that appeals to a readers' senses to create an image or idea in their head.
Through language, imagery does not only paint a picture, but aims to portray the sensational and
emotional experience within text.
The author uses imagery to create a vivid picture of the scene, such as the motorcyclists on
Ikejiani Avenue, the faded field of Freedom Square and the rosebushes, etc.
Personification:
When an idea or animal is given human characteristics. ―The sky weeps.‖
The vultures are personified as "stamping" on the roof, which implies movement, as well as
contemplation.
Allusion:
Allusion, in literature, an implied or indirect reference to a person, event, or thing or to a part of
another text.
Most allusions are based on the assumption that there is a body of knowledge that is shared by
the author and the reader and that therefore the reader will understand the author's referent.
For example, the narrator mentioning his daughter Nkiruka and it being in relation to the 'what is
ahead is better' which is a phrase that alludes to the aftermath of war and moving forward.
Revision questions for Ghosts
Do you believe in ghosts? What is the lesson in this story?
How effectively has the writer used flashbacks in the story ‗Ghosts,
The dialogue between Prof James and Ikenna carries the critical messages in the story. Is it true?
The higher learning education sector is satirised in Ghosts how this is achieved.
Name the forms of corruptions that occur in the story Ghosts
Essay Questions
Society today is filled with many evils that cause suffering to individuals. Support this claim
using Chimamanda Adichie‘s short story ‗Ghosts‘
Discuss themes including:
Death
Corruption
War
War has devastating effects and thus should be avoided at all cost. Using illustrations from
‗Ghosts‘ by Chimamanda Adichie write an essay to support this claim.
The destructive aftermath of the war include:
Displacement of families
Loss of loved ones / Death – Zik, two lectures, Chris Okigbo, Ikenna's entire family
Destruction of property - After the civil war ended in 1970, Prof James and Ebere returned to
Nsukka from America. They were, however, disappointed to find some of their properties having
been destroyed and others missing. ―Our books were in a charred pile in the front garden.. the
lumps of calcified faeces in the bathtub were strewn with pages of my mathematical annals, used
as toilet paper, crusted smears blurring the formulas I had studied and taught Our piano – Ebere‘s
piano was gone. our photographs were ripped, their frames broken.‖
On their way home that day, Prof James and Ebere saw a landscape of ruins, blown-out roofs and
houses riddled with holes, injuries, and physical pain. The day Prof James and Ebere drove back
54
to Nsukka, Biafran soldiers stopped them and shoved a wounded soldier into their car, and his
blood dripped onto the backseat of their vehicle
Landscapes with ruins, blown out roofs, houses with holes
Trauma – Wounded soldier, Ikenna Okoro pale shadow of his former self
Separation of families – Nkiru and his son live in America
Harrowing conditions – muddy bunkers
No food – cassava peels, malnutrition, relief food, picking through dustbins
Counterfeit/fake drugs - fie selling of expired medicine is the current plague in the country
Ikenna tells James that he has been reading about fake drugs in the papers (pg. 65).
The effect of fake drugs has been felt by James, whose wife Ebere‘s death is linked to the
counterfeit drug deal. Prof James thinks that Ikenna must have heard of ‗How Ebere had lain in
the hospital getting weaker and weaker, how her doctor had been puzzled that she was not
recovering after her medication how none of us knew until it was too late that the drugs were
useless‘. In addition, Prof James bitterly remembers how he had watched some broadcast of an
interview on NTA. Through the interview, a man accused of importing fake drugs – typhoid
fever drugs, had defended himself by claiming that his drugs do not kill people but only fail to
cure illness
Many individuals struggle with ghosts from their past. Show how true this assertion is based on
‗Ghosts‘ by Chimamanda Adichie. Click here for the answer
Critical thought on the short story Ghosts
The fake drugs act as a metaphor for the inertia that plagues Nigeria.
They don't kill people, but they do keep them from becoming better.
Similarly, the government isn't killing people like James and the others who aren't getting their
pension.
But the government's incompetence and inaction in the face of corruption are keeping them from
living properly.
Think about it.
And remember, If they keep you busy with basic needs. You will forget about the freedom you
lost.
55
Throughout the story, the protagonist, Ivan Dmitritch Aksionov is wrongly accused of a crime he
did not commit and is sentenced to prison for 26 years.
Despite his innocence, Aksionov is resigned to his fate and never loses faith in God.
He prays and reads the lives of the saints, and is respected by other prisoners who call him "the
saint."
The title highlights the idea that God sees the truth of Aksionov's innocence, but chooses to wait
and allow the natural course of events to unfold.
The story also brings up the idea of human justice versus divine justice.
Aksionov is denied justice in the human court system, but he finds peace and redemption through
his faith in God.
He is ultimately vindicated when the real criminal confesses, but this comes after Aksionov's
death, highlighting the idea that justice may be delayed but it will be served ultimately.
The title also highlights the motif of waiting that runs throughout the story.
Aksionov waits for justice, his wife waits for his release and his children wait for a father.
Makar Semyonich, the real criminal also waits for Aksionov to speak up but he is ultimately the
one who waits for forgiveness.
In addition, the title of the story implies that the author believes in a higher power that judges
fairly and ultimately.
The story can be read as a commentary on the idea that while human justice may be flawed and
corruptible, God's justice is infallible and will be served.
The Plot Summary
"God Sees the Truth, but Waits" is a short story by Leo Tolstoy, that follows the story of a man
named Ivan Aksionov, who is falsely accused of murder and robbery and is sentenced to 26
years of imprisonment in Siberia.
Before he is framed and accused of the heinous crime Ivan Dmitritch Aksionov is a young
merchant from the town of Vladimir. He owns two shops and a house.
As a young man, he was unruly and given to drinking a tad too much, but he stopped drinking
when he got married.
One day he bids his family goodbye as he is leaving for the Nizhy Fair. His wife dissuades him
from going since she has had a bad dream about him. She dreams that he would return when his
hair is quite grey. She beseeches him to put off the journey till a later date. Ivan Dmitritch
Aksionov laughs it off and says that that is a lucky sign and carries through with his intended
journey.
Halfway through the journey he meets a merchant, who is an acquaintance of his. They spend the
night at the same inn, have tea together and sleep in adjoining rooms.
The next morning Ivan Dmitritch Aksionov awakens his driver, pays the owner of the inn, and
they leave before dawn.
After about 25 miles, Aksionov decides to rest while his horses are fed. He is then approached by
an official accompanied by two soldiers. The official questions him, revealing that the merchant
he spent the night together with at the inn had been murdered. Aksionov is the prime suspect
since he was with the man and then left suspiciously early. Aksionov denies having taken part in
any wrongdoing but when his luggage is searched the officer finds a blood-stained knife.
The official insists that Aksionov murdered the merchant and continues to cross examine him on
how he did it and how much money he stole. Aksionov pleads innocence claiming that he only
has 8000 rubles and that the knife is not his.
56
With the odds stacked against him, trembling and looking guilty, Ivan Dmitritch Aksionov is
apprehended. His money and goods are seized. He weeps bitterly. Inquiries are made about him
in his hometown of Vladimir and it turns out that he used to drink a lot and loaf in his younger
days but he is a good man.
Nonetheless, he is charged with murder of the merchant from Ryazan and stealing 20,000 rubles
from him.
His wife visits him in prison. She is restricted from seeing him at first. After begging, the
officials allow her and the small children to see Aksionov. She faints at the sight of her loving
husband in prison attire and in chains, locked up with thieves and criminals.
They talk a bit and he tells her that she must petition the czar to spare an innocent man the
anguish of unfair retribution. His wife informs him that her efforts to petition had borne no fruits.
She then reminds him of her portentous dream about the grey hair and says: ―Vanya dearest, tell
your wife the truth was it not you who did it?‖ Ivan Dmitritch Aksionov weeps in disbelief when
even his dear wife is dubious, disbelieving, and suspicious.
He realizes that only God knows the truth and it is only to Him that he should appeal.
After that, Aksionov stops writing petitions and gives up all hope, praying only to God. He is
condemned to flogging and sent to the mines. He is flogged with the knots and sent to Siberia.
He lives in Siberia for 26 years as a prisoner. His hair and beard turn grey and he transforms into
a frail old man who walk slowly, speaks little and never laughs.
Through his time in prison, he becomes known as a meek and pious man among the other
prisoners, who even call him "grandfather" and "the saint."
One day, a fresh gang of convicts comes to the prison and among them, Aksionov meets a man
named Makar Semyonich.
Ivan Dmitritch Aksionov begins to suspect that Makar Semyonich is the one who committed the
murder he had been accused of. This makes him deeply afflicted that he contemplates taking his
own life. He remembers his earlier life as a freeman with fond nostalgia. He feels deeply
downcast when he recalls the happier times with his laughing wife; seeing his little children and
how young, happy and free from care he was.
He also remembers the day he was apprehended, the flogging, the executioner, chains, convicts
and the twenty six years in undeserved confinement and hard labour.
He feels deep anger and hatred for Makar Semyonich and longs for revenge. He prays all night
but finds no peace. His preceding days and nights are riddled with misery.
One night, he stumbles upon Makar Semyonich attempting to dig a hole under the wall to escape.
Makar Semyonich threatens to kill him should he tell on him.
To which Ivan replies that ―… you killed me long ago. As to telling of you - I may do so or not,
as God shall direct.‖
When the convoy soldiers discover the tunnel and question Ivan Dmitritch Aksionov, he
responds that it‘s not God‘s desire that he should tell. He reasons that he will gain nothing taking
revenge on Makar Semyonich, even if he made him pay for his transgression. He has no faith in
the human justice system.
That night Makar Semyonich comes to Ivan Dmitritch Aksionov's bed and confesses his crime
and begs earnestly for forgiveness. Makar Semyonich sobs as he desperately pleads with the old
man to pardon him. Ivan Dmitritch Aksionov also begins to weep.
Surprisingly, he says simply ―God will forgive you. Maybe I am a hundred times worse than
you.‖
57
At this point, his heart grows light and he no longer desires to leave the Siberian prison and go
home. He only desires to die and be with God.
Makar Semyonich confesses to the authorities but by the time they order for Ivan Dmitritch
Aksionov‘s release he is already dead.
Key moments in the story
Aksionov‘s excursion for a Trade Fair at Nizhny (p68 – 69).
Aksionov‘s arrest and 26-year prison sentence (p69 71).
The coincidental encounter with the real murderer (Makar) (p71 – 72).
Makar‘s confession (p73 74).
Characters and characterization
List of Characters
Ivan Aksionov: The protagonist of the story, Aksionov is a merchant from Vladimir who is
falsely accused and convicted of murdering a merchant from Ryazan and robbing him of 20,000
rubles. He spends 26 years in prison, during which time he becomes meek, devout, and respected
by his fellow prisoners.
Makar Semyonich: A convicted horse thief and one of the new prisoners in Aksionov's prison.
Makar is revealed to be the actual murderer of the merchant, who had framed Aksionov for the
crime. He expresses remorse and asks Aksionov for forgiveness before confessing to his crime.
Aksionov's wife: A loving and devoted wife who stays by her husband's side through his trials
and tribulations, she desperately tries to prove his innocence by sending petitions to the Czar and
visiting him in prison.
The Governor of the prison: The person who is in charge of the prison where Aksionov is
incarcerated. He is portrayed as a fair and just person who trusts Aksionov's word.
The convoy soldiers: The guards who escort the convicts to work, they play a role in finding
Makar's tunnel.
The other convicts: The fellow prisoners with whom Aksionov share his prison sentence, they
respect and regard Aksionov as a saintly figure and make him the spokesman for their petitions
to the authorities.
Character Traits
Ivan Aksionov
Honest: Aksionov is honest and truthful as he is always willing to tell the truth, even if it may be
detrimental to him. He is a just man who is unwilling to betray Makar Semyonich, knowing that
he would be flogged if he did.
Forgiving: Aksionov is able to forgive Makar Semyonich despite the fact that he spent 26 years
in prison, suffered and lost his family due to Makar's actions. He had a willingness to forgive and
reconcile when Makar asked for forgiveness.
Meek: He is a meek person who is always willing to take the blame for things he has not done.
He was falsely accused of the murder of a merchant, yet he does not defend himself, instead he
suffers the punishment willingly.
Religious and pious: Aksionov is a man of strong religious beliefs. He prays and references God
throughout the story. He trusts that God will guide his actions, and ultimately he believes in
God's judgment rather than the judgment of men.
Patient: He is patient throughout his time in prison, even as he continues to hope for release, he
waits for god's judgment. He remains patient and calm even in the face of injustice and suffering.
Just: Aksionov is a truthful and just person, known to be trustworthy by the prison authorities
58
Empathetic: Aksionov shows empathy and understanding towards Makar after he confesses to
the murder, and forgives him.
Makar Semyonich
Deceitful: Makar is deceitful as he killed the merchant, framed Aksionov by putting the knife in
his bag and lied to the authorities about his involvement.
Remorseful: Makar is remorseful as he begged for Aksionov's forgiveness, regretted his actions
and confessed his guilt to the authorities.
Self-centered: Makar is self-centered as he is mainly focused on saving himself, He tries to
escape and offering Ivan Dmitritch as a sacrificial lamb instead of himself.
Cowardly: Makar is Cowardly as he runs away and hide when he heard some noise and when he
was confronted by Aksionov.
Lacking empathy: Makar did not show empathy towards Aksionov's suffering and only thought
of his own safety and release.
Aksionov’s Wife
Loving and caring: wife and mother who is devastated by her husband's wrongful imprisonment
Resilient and determined: as she takes her young children with her to visit Aksionov in prison
and pleads with the officials to allow her to see him.
Selfless: as she petitions the Czar for Aksionov's release even though it is unlikely that her
petitions will be accepted.
Themes
Innocence and guilt
Aksionov is falsely accused and convicted of murder and theft, despite his innocence. The true
killer, Makar Semyonich, ultimately confesses to the crime, highlighting the theme of guilt and
the possibility of wrongful conviction.
Redemption
Makar Semyonich ultimately seeks Aksionov's forgiveness and redemption for his actions,
expressing remorse for the suffering he caused him. Aksionov forgives Makar, illustrating the
power of forgiveness and the ability for individuals to change for the better.
Justice and fairness
Throughout the story, Aksionov faces an unjust legal system, being convicted based on
fabricated evidence. The theme of justice and fairness is highlighted by the contrast between
Aksionov's punishment and Makar's lack of consequences for his crime.
Faith and religion
Aksionov turns to religion as a source of solace throughout his imprisonment, and refers to his
faith in God as a source of guidance and strength. The theme of faith and religion is emphasized
as a means of coping with injustice and suffering.
The passage of time
The story spans a period of 26 years, and its protagonist experiences significant aging and
change over the time. The theme of the passage of time serves to illustrate the effect of
incarceration on a person's physical and emotional well-being, as well as the effect of time on
memories, feelings and relationships.
Sacrifice and selflessness
Aksionov makes a sacrifice for the well-being of Makar by not exposing him and Makar's guilt
leads him to make sacrifices to try to make amends.
59
Stylistic Devices
Repetition
Repeating words or phrases.
(There are actually many different types of repetition like anaphora and epiphora.)
One example of repetition in the story is the phrase "It seems that only God can know the truth; it
is to Him alone we must appeal and from Him alone expect mercy." Aksionov repeats this phrase
multiple times throughout the story as a reminder of his belief in God's ultimate justice.
Symbolism
Symbolism is the use of words or images to symbolize specific concepts, people, objects, or
events.
The character of Makar Semyonich serves as a symbol of Aksionov's own guilt and the weight of
his conscience.
Makar's confession of his guilt and Aksionov's reaction to it symbolizes the process of
redemption and forgiveness.
Aksionov's Grey Hair - Before Aksionov departs for the fair, his wife tells him of a dream she
had the previous night, in which he returned from the fair with grey hair. He merely laughs and
says it's a good omen, but this ominous symbol has more import than he realizes, as his grey hair
foreshadows how the stress of his wrongful imprisonment will prematurely age him.
Bloody Knife - The bloody knife unexpectedly found in Aksionov's bag functions as the crucial
piece of evidence needed to convict him. Since he is actually innocent, this knife stands as a
symbol of Aksionov's lack of control over his fate. Later in the story, he learns that Semyonich
planted the knife among Aksionov's possessions, having decided to frame him for the crime
rather than murder him.
The Lives of the Saints - While in prison, Aksionov earns some money by working as a
bootmaker, which he uses to buy the book The Lives of the Saints, a popular volume of
biographies of famous Christian figures written in the 1700s by Catholic priest and scholar
Father Alban Butler. The book represents Aksionov's religious devotion and how he steadily
comes to resemble a religious authority himself. While other men drown in selfishness and self-
pity, Aksionov becomes the grandfather figure of the prison camp, the honest man in a group of
thieves.
Irony
Irony is a rhetorical device and literary technique that is incredibly useful when used correctly.
Simply put, irony is when something that is said or done is in contrast to reality or to what is
expected.
The story is filled with Irony.
An example is when Aksionov was falsely accused of killing the merchant and was sentenced to
prison, while the real killer, Makar Semyonich, lived freely.
The irony is that Aksionov was an innocent man and was punished for a crime he didn't commit.
Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is a literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in
the story.
Foreshadowing is useful for creating suspense, a feeling of unease, a sense of curiosity, or a
mark that things may not be as they seem.
60
The story uses foreshadowing through Aksionov's dream of his hair turning grey, his wife
predicts that he will come to a bad end because of this, this foreshadows his imprisonment and
suffering.
Imagery
Imagery is a literary device used in poetry, novels, and other writing that uses vivid description
that appeals to a readers' senses to create an image or idea in their head.
Through language, imagery does not only paint a picture, but aims to portray the sensational and
emotional experience within text.
The story uses imagery to create a vivid picture of the prison and the conditions the convicts are
living in.
For example, when Aksionov is describing the prison he says "The place was dark and damp,
and the air was full of the smell of rotting straw and the breath of sick men." This imagery
creates a powerful picture of the prison in the reader's mind.
Other imagery present in the text include; Young Aksionov (Visual Imagery) - Tolstoy initially
describes Aksionov as a "handsome, fair-haired, curly-headed fellow, full of fun, and very fond
of singing."This vivid description will prove essential as a contrast to Aksionov's rapid
transformation into an old man, which results from his wrongful imprisonment.
Trembled With Fear (Visual Imagery) - After the official discovers a knife among Aksionov's
possessions, Aksionov is unable to respond: "... his voice was broken, his face pale, and he
trembled with fear as though he were guilty."
Revision questions for God Sees the Truth, but Waits
How relevant is the title of the story, God Sees the Truth, but Waits?
Why do you think Aksionov refuses to tell the truth about the prison incident?
Do you think the Governor is to blame for Aksionov‘s prolonged imprisonment?
Explain.
What is the impact of Ivan Aksionov‘s faith in God on his life?
Why is Ivan reticent to go back home?
Explore and analyze the existence of the following themes in God Sees the Truth, but Waits.
Mistaken identity
Crime and Confession
Wrongful conviction and imprisonment
The concept and context of truth
Justice delayed is justice
Betrayal and Tolerance
Coincidence
End of the explain questions
Describe the character traits of the following characters.
Aksionov
Makar
The Governor
Focusing on their prominent character traits, compare and contrast the protagonist, Ivan
Aksionov, and the Makar.
Citing evidence from the text, describe the character traits of the following characters.
The Governor
Aksionov‘s wife
61
How is symbolism employed in Leo Tolstoy‘s God Sees the Truth, but Waits?
Examine the use of irony and paradox God Sees the Truth, but Waits.
What does Siberia represent in this story?
Additional questions with answers
Answer the following questions in a sentence or two each, based on your understanding of the
story.
Why did Aksionov‘s wife stop him from going to the fair?
Ans: Aksionov‘s wife saw a bad dream. It was a premonition of some impending harm coming
to him. So, she dissuaded him from going to the fair.
Why was Aksionov‘s wife disturbed to see the dream?
Ans: In the dream Aksionov‘s wife saw him returning from the town with grey hair in place of
his normal hair. This unusual sight made her perplexed.
What made Aksionov leave the inn before dawn?
Ans: Aksionov wanted to reach the town before the sun got hot. So, he decided to eave the in
rather early.
What were the circumstances that led to Aksionov‘s imprisonment?
Ans: The merchant with whom Aksionov spent the previous night had been found with his throat
slit. Aksionov was the prime suspect for the crime, because circumstantial evidence went against
him. He had left the inn unusually early, and more importantly, the blood-stained knife allegedly
used in the murder was found hidden in his bag. With these two, the police assumed Aksionov to
be the perpetrator of the crime.
Why did Aksionov give up sending petitions?
Ans: After a few of his fervent appeals proved to be futile, Aksionov gave up writing any more
applications.
Why didn‘t Makar disclose that he had killed the merchant?
Ans: Makar was secretive about his past deeds as he was immoral and timid by nature. So he did
not disclose that he had killed the merchant.
Did Makar feel guilty when he heard Aksionov‘s story?
Ans: Yes, Makar felt guilty when he heard Askionov‘s story.
What made Aksionov think that Makar was the real murderer?
Ans: After hearing Aksionov‘s account, Makkar began to be evasive and aloof. When Aksionov
asked whether he knew the murderer, he replied rather emphatically that the person from whose
bag the weapon was retrieved must be the culprit. He even argued that the innocence of the
accused could only be upheld only if the placing of the knife in the baggage by the real murderer
could be conclusively established. Makkar was speaking like the prosector rather than an
ordinary listener of the story. Such stridency of Makkaer made Aksionov think that Makar was
the real murderer.
What was Aksionov‘s realization by the end of the story?
Ans: Aksinov‘s faith in the God was bolstered many times after the story ended with the change
of heart of Makar. He concluded that ‗God sees the truth, but waits.‘
Why did Aksionov‘s wife suspect him of involvement in the murder?
Ans: Aksionov‘s wife discovered that the police had built a strong case against her husband. In
exasperation, and overtaken by anguish, she confronted her husband with the awkward question
about he being the murderer.
Answer the following questions in three or four sentences each.
62
Did the police officer have sufficient evidence to convict Aksionov?
Ans: Yes, the police officer had sufficient evidence to convict Aksionov. The fact that Aksionov
left the inn too early, and the murder weapon was found to be in his possession pinned him to the
crime.
What impact did the book ―The Lives of Saints‖ have on Aksionov?
Ans: The book ―The Lives of Saints‖ made him calm and sagacious. His fellow-prisoners
respected him, and adoringly called him ―Grandfather,‖ and ―The Saint.‖ When they found
themselves mired in rancor, they came to the ‗Saint‘ for resolution of their differences.
Pick out the clues that convey that Makar Semeyonich recognized Aksionov.
Ans: At first, Semeyonich said that he once really had done something utterly wrong, but on that
occasion, no one probed him further and he escaped detection. Later, when Semyonich got to
know about Aksionov‘s unfortunate past from other inmates, he slapped his own knee as a mark
of rejoicing. Quite mockingly, he exclaimed that that was really wonderful. When Aksionov
asked him whether he knew the murderer, he replied that it must have been the sameperson, in
whose bag the knife was found. He argued that if the police has to be proved wrong, the real
perpetrator would have to be caught. Such one-sided assertion are the clues that convey that
Makar Semeyonich recognized Aksionov.
Answer the following questions in a paragraph of about 150 words each.
Compare and contrast the main characters, Aksionov and Makar Semeyonich, in the story.
Ans: Ivan Dmitrich Aksionov, the character around whom the story revolves, was an
embodiment of simplicity, honesty, equanimity, and forgiveness. He bore his misfortune with
grace and forbearance. He put his trust in God, and that enabled him to stay clear of bitterness
and vengeance. Long years of his life were spent in jail, and his family was ravaged due to no
fault of his. When the time came to exact a revenge from the man who had caused him so much
of suffering, he became passive, and demonstrated rare forgiveness towards Semeyonich, his
tormentor. In a nutshell, Aksinov was saintly person of outstanding moral character.
Makar Semeyonich, the devil of this story, was truly a hideous character. He was wicked in both
mind and body. Althiugh he had committed a murder and sent an innocent person to jail, he
suffered no remorse or regret. Towards Aksinov, he was both mischievous and arrogant. He
planned to dig his way out of the jail, and was caught. Aksinov could have told the guards about
it, and seen him beaten to pulp by them. But, Aksinov pardoned him. Markar escaped a calamity,
but had no way to pay Aksinov back for his compassion.
How did Aksionov react when his wife suspected him?
Ans: When his wife confronted him with the question about his committing the murder, Aksinov
was overwhelmed with grief, shame, and bewilderment. He had never expected that his dear and
loving wife would ever suspect him of committing such a grievous offence. His wife‘s question
broke his heart and hurt him badly. He asserted his innocence fervently.
Describe the life of Aksionov in prison.
Aksionov was imprisoned, since he was suspected for killing a merchant. But the actual
murderer of the merchant was Semeyonich. Even his wife suspected him for the murder. This
thought made him even sadder. He gave up all hope and told himself that God only knew the
truth. For twenty-six years as a convict in Siberia, he grew old. In prison, Aksionov learnt to
make boots, and earned a little money with which he bought the book ‗The Lives of the Saints‘.
He used to read this book. On Sundays, in the prison-church he read the lessons and sang on the
choir. The prison authorities liked him for his meekness. His fellow-prisoners respected and
63
called him ―Grandfather‖ and ―The Saint.‖ He was the spokesman among the prisoners. After 26
years, Semeyonich was imprisoned for his sin. Even if Aksionov realized Semeyonich was the
real murderer, he saved Semeyonich from the Governer in an incident. Semeyonich realized his
mistake and confessed his guilt. But when the order of his release came, Aksionov was already
dead.
Why did Aksionov decide not to reveal the truth about Makar Semeyonich?
Ans: Aksionov was imprisoned, since he was suspected for killing a merchant. For twenty-six
years as a convict in Siberia, he grew old. He felt that he had suffered twenty six years in the
prison without committing any murder. Most of his life was spent in the prison. He had lost all
his hope and his family. His wife was dead and his children had forgotten him. He thought where
he could go and he had nowhere to go. He no longer had any desire to leave the prison. But he
only hoped for his last hours to come. He believed in God alone. His wife misunderstood and
suspected him. In the prison, a new prisoner introduced himself and he was Makar Semeyonich.
Besides, Makar Semeyonich confessed his guilt. He forgave him for revealing the truth. He did
not want to take revenge the murderer. He thought that forgiveness is the best form of revenge.
Discuss the meaning and importance of the saying ―God sees the truth but waits‖.
Ans: This story was all about Aksionov who lost hope and just trusted God. Though he didn‘t
commit any crime, he was imprisoned for 26 years in the prison. Makar revealed the truth that he
was the real murderer. Aksionov forgave him for accepting the truth and attained self-realization.
But when the order of his release came, Aksionov was already dead. Our weakness can only
make the problem stronger. Being hopeful can make all things possible. The title means that
every decisions of God needs enough time.This story is for all the people who loses hope and
don‘t believe in God. We should wait for the truth to win with a faith in God gives us the answer
to all our problems, as the title says GOD SEES THE TRUTH BUT WAITS. At the end of the
story there is a shift from materialism to spiritualism.
Forgiveness is the best form of revenge. Substantiate the statement with reference to the story.
Ans: Aksionov lived with his wife and children in Vladimir. He decided to make a trip to the fair.
His wife tried to stop him because she had a bad dream. On his way, Aksionov met a merchant.
But the merchant was killed. So the local police officer arrested and charged against Aksionov.
He was sent to work in the mines of Siberia. He grew old there. Aksionov frequently prayed to
God. Aksionov was respected by all the inmates due to his gentle behaviour. One day he met
Makar Semeyonich. Aksionov found out the truth that Makar was the real killer. He saved Makar
from the officials, when he tried to escape. Eventually Makar admitted his crime. Aksionov
forgave Makar. Thus forgiving Makar, Aksionov accepted the truth, attained self-realization and
died in peace. Really Forgiveness is the best form of revenge.
Essay Questions
The average human attribute is evile. Discuss this assertion using illustrations from Leo
Tolstoy’s God Sees the Truth, but Waits. (20 marks),
After Ivan leaves the inn, how does his behaviour reveal that he is an honest man?
After Ivan leaves the inn, how does his behaviour reveal that he is a guilty man?
64
What is the significance of Aksionov's wife's dream?
Before Aksionov sets off on his journey to Nizhy Fair, his wife asks him not to leave, as she has
dreamt about him returning from the fair with grey hair. While she interprets the grey hair as
symbolic of some terrible fate befalling her husband, Aksionov dismisses her concern, saying
that it must be good luck. However, the wife's premonition proves significant, as it foreshadows
how Aksionov prematurely ages due to the stress of being wrongfully imprisoned. Over his
twenty-six years in Siberia, Aksionov grows a grey beard and his hair turns white as snow.
What forms of justice are depicted in "God Sees the Truth, But Waits"?
In "God Sees the Truth, But Waits," Tolstoy uses dramatic irony to instill in the reader sympathy
for Aksionov, whom the reader knows to be innocent. As Aksionov is put through the
tribulations of being punished for a crime he didn't commit, the reader watches Aksionov calmly
accept his fate as the victim of a flawed criminal justice system composed of people eager to see
the crime pinned on him. Tolstoy also depicts the inverted and private justice that Aksionov
practices in relation to Semyonich: even though he knows Semyonich to be guilty, Aksionov
doesn't repeat the cruelty used against himself, choosing instead to spare Semyonich any
punishment. The leniency and mercy Aksionov demonstrates so profoundly shake Semyonich's
sense of morality that he confesses to Aksionov and begs forgiveness. Aksionov says that God
will forgive him, which points to Aksionov's faith in God's justice.
What role does acceptance play in "God Sees the Truth, But Waits"?
As one of the story's major themes, acceptance plays a central role in "God Sees the Truth, But
Waits." Even though Aksionov is subjected to profound injustice, he tries to accept his fate as a
wrongfully imprisoned person, putting his life in God's hands. Although Aksionov develops a
new personality in prison as a devout Christian and peacemaker, his calm demeanor is rattled
when Semyonich arrives and inflames in Aksionov feelings of misery at his unjust treatment.
Aksionov's response to Semyonich reveals how he has never truly accepted his fate. But once
Aksionov grants God's forgiveness to Semyonich, Aksionov finds that a lightness enters his heart.
He is free of carrying the burden of never accepting his life, and once he accepts his life, he no
longer needs to live it, dying soon after.
65
The main characters, Elias, Lazarus, Martin, Silas, and Omagano, are all homeless individuals
who have formed a makeshift "neighbourhood watch" in order to survive on the streets.
They rely on each other for companionship, protection, and the sharing of resources such as food
and shelter.
Through their alliances, they have created a sense of community among themselves, which is
reflected in the title.
The title also reflects the theme of surveillance and safety.
The neighbourhood watch is a concept that is often associated with keeping communities safe
through vigilant observation and reporting of suspicious activities.
The characters in the story are also constantly observing their surroundings and looking out for
potential dangers, such as the police and rival gangs.
They also have to be mindful of their actions, in order not to draw attention to themselves and
get caught.
Furthermore, the title also reflects the theme of poverty, and the struggle for survival in a harsh
environment.
The characters are struggling to survive on the streets, and they have to scavenge for food and
shelter.
They have to find ways to make ends meet, and they resort to going through other people's trash.
The title of the story reflects the daily struggles of the characters, and the lengths they have to go
to in order to survive.
In summary, the title "The Neighbourhood Watch" is fitting for this story as it accurately reflects
the theme of community, survival, surveillance, and poverty among the characters.
The Plot Summary
The story, "The Neighbourhood Watch," follows a group of homeless individuals, Elias, Lazarus,
Martin, Silas, and Omagano, who have formed a bond and a system for survival on the streets of
Windhoek, Namibia.
They call themselves the "Neighbourhood Watch" and have specific days dedicated to
scavenging for food and other necessities in different neighborhoods.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, they avoid poor areas and instead focus on neighborhoods where
they know they will find more valuable resources, such as white or wealthier black communities.
On Fridays and Saturdays, they stay in a designated spot, called "Headquarters," to avoid
potential trouble with the police.
And on Sundays, they focus on the neighborhoods of Avis, Klein Windhoek, and Eros where
they know they will find the most resources and the least interference.
The group also receives assistance from an elderly woman, Mrs. Bezuidenhout, who regularly
gives them food, clothing, and other necessities out of her own generosity.
Throughout the story, the group faces numerous challenges and dangers, including police
interrogations, violent rival gangs, and the constant struggle for survival.
They learn to adapt and evolve, becoming more strategic in their scavenging and avoiding
certain areas for safety reasons.
The theme of survival is prevalent throughout the story, as the group must constantly find ways
to survive on the streets, not only for themselves, but also for each other.
Characters and characterization
Character Lists
66
Elias - A street-wise leader of the Neighbourhood Watch, who has experience from his days in
the struggle. He is the one who teaches the others how to survive on the streets.
Lazarus - A member of the Neighbourhood Watch who is known for his contained violence. He
is a loyal follower of Elias and helps the group navigate the streets.
Martin - A new member of the Neighbourhood Watch who is still learning how to survive on
the streets. He is the youngest of the group and is often considered naive.
Silas - A member of the Neighbourhood Watch who is restless and often goes off on his own. He
is known for his impulsiveness and lack of discipline.
Omagano - A female member of the Neighbourhood Watch who is reserved and shy. She is
often seen as the group's nurturer and is protective of the others.
Amos - A former member of the Neighbourhood Watch who is killed in a fight over pride. He is
remembered by the others as a wild, impulsive man who struggled with alcohol and anger.
Mrs Bezuidenhout - An old woman who lives in Eros and is known for her generosity towards
the Neighbourhood Watch. She often provides them with food, clothes, and other necessities.
Character Traits
Elias
Street Savvy: Elias has a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to surviving on the
streets. He has a deep understanding of how the street works and how to navigate it. He is able to
guide his group, the Neighbourhood Watch, through the different neighborhoods and help them
find food and shelter.
Leadership: Elias takes on the role of leader for the Neighbourhood Watch, making decisions
for the group and guiding them through different situations. He is respected by the other
members and they look to him for guidance.
Resilient: Elias has been through a lot of difficult experiences on the streets, including being
beaten by the Afrikaners during the insurgency years, but he has managed to persevere and
continue surviving.
Pragmatic: Elias has a realistic and practical perspective on life on the streets. He understands
that they need to survive on a day-to-day basis and that they cannot rely on things getting better
in the future. He tells Martin, "Maybe is tomorrow, laaitie (buddy),‘ Lazarus says. 'And there is
only today."
Empathic: Elias has a deep understanding of the struggles of the other members of the
Neighbourhood Watch and is able to relate to their experiences. He is willing to help and support
them, as demonstrated when he comforts Omagano after they found a dead baby in the trash.
Loyal: Elias cares deeply about the other members of the Neighbourhood Watch and is willing
to go to great lengths to protect them.
Lazarus
Survival-oriented: Lazarus is constantly thinking about how to survive on the streets and make
ends meet. He and Elias methodically scour bins in their old territories to find food and shelter.
Experienced: Lazarus has been living on the streets for a long time and has a lot of knowledge
and experience about how to survive. He passes on this knowledge to the younger members of
the Neighbourhood Watch.
Pragmatic: Lazarus is practical and realistic about the challenges of living on the streets. He
knows that pride is poor food and that sometimes people need to do things they don't want to do
in order to survive.
67
Resourceful: Lazarus is able to find ways to make use of the things they find in the bins. He and
Elias start a fire using newspapers they find in the bin.
Resilient: Lazarus is able to keep going despite the hardships of living on the streets. He is able
to find humor in difficult situations, like when Elias runs screaming after finding a dead baby in
a bin.
Protective: Lazarus is protective of the members of the Neighbourhood Watch and is willing to
fight to protect them. He tells Silas not to go out on his own in case mischief finds him and no
one comes to look for him.
Martin
Naive: Martin is new to the streets and is not familiar with the ways of survival on the streets. He
is easily shocked by the harsh realities of street life, as seen when he is horrified by the story of
the dead baby found in the bin.
Optimistic: Martin expresses hope that things could get better for people living on the streets.
He is seen suggesting that some people might be able to find jobs, which is met with scepticism
by Elias and Lazarus.
Easily influenced: Martin is often seen following Silas's lead, even when it is not safe to do so.
He is also seen looking up to Elias and Lazarus as leaders and is willing to accept their advice
and guidance.
Trusting: Martin is seen trusting the generosity of Mrs Bezuidenhout, despite the fact that Elias
and Lazarus do not share his trust.
Inexperienced: Martin is seen as inexperienced on the streets, as seen when he is not familiar
with the ways of survival and is easily shocked by the harsh realities of street life.
Silas
Inexperienced: is a new member of the Neighbourhood Watch and is not as experienced in
street life as the other members. He is shown to be unfamiliar with the ways of surviving on the
streets and is often surprised by the harsh realities of life on the streets.
Curious and ambitious: He is eager to explore the different neighborhoods, and is not content
to stay in one place. He also wants to find a job, as opposed to relying on scavenging for survival.
Dreamer: He is optimistic about the possibility of things getting better for the group and
believes that they can find a way to improve their situation.
Risk taker: He often leaves the safety of the Headquarters and wanders off on his own, despite
the warnings of the other members.
A follower: He often goes along with the group's decisions and does not speak up for himself or
question the group's actions.
Omagano
Vulnerable and fearful: as seen when she wraps her arms underneath her breasts and rocks
herself a little after the group talks about finding a dead baby in the trash.
Quiet and reserved person, as her character is not explored in-depth throughout the story.
Amos
Prideful: Amos is described as having a lot of pride and not being able to hold his tongue. He
calls someone an ugly word and refuses to apologize for the slight, leading to his eventual death.
Aggressive: Amos is described as goading people on with his words and having a tendency to
curse people.
68
Heavy drinker: It is mentioned that one of the things Amos could not hold was his drink,
leading to his death.
Unable to control his temper: The story states that Amos died due to his pride and his inability
to control his temper.
Mrs Bezuidenhout
Generous: Mrs Bezuidenhout is described as being very generous towards the Neighbourhood
Watch, often giving them food, clothes and other essentials. She also gives them things like a
pair of scissors and a mirror to help them maintain their appearance.
Kind: She is described as being kind towards the Neighbourhood Watch, always asking how
they are and if they need anything else.
Thoughtful: Mrs Bezuidenhout takes the time to sort through her recycling and even washes it
before giving it to the Neighbourhood Watch.
Frugal: She is described as being frugal, always making use of her resources and not wasting
anything.
Caring: Mrs Bezuidenhout cares about the well-being of the Neighbourhood Watch and wants
to help them in any way she can.
Selfless: Mrs Bezuidenhout is selfless, always giving to the Neighbourhood Watch without
expecting anything in return.
Themes
Classism / inequality
In the story "The Neighbourhood Watch," classism is a prominent theme that is highlighted
through the descriptions of the various neighbourhoods.
The neighbourhood of Katutura, Hakahana, Goreangab, Wanaheda and Okuryangava are
described as poor areas with slim pickings in terms of finding usable items in the garbage bins.
The characters of Elias and Lazarus share their knowledge of how to survive in these areas, but
they also acknowledge that there is limited opportunity for success in these areas.
They note that "poor people's bins are slim pickings" and that "you can't survive by being around
people who are also trying to survive."
The characters then move on to wealthier neighbourhoods like Khomasdal and Dorado Park,
which they acknowledge as being too crowded with other people trying to survive, and the
opportunities for success in these areas are limited.
They note that "The neighbourhoods are already spoken for" and that "All the places that break
the wind have long-term tenants and all the generous churches already have their squabbling
regulars."
The characters then turn to the neighbourhoods of Avis, Klein Windhoek, and Eros, which they
describe as the best areas to forage for recyclable items as the people in these areas recycle and
sort their trash.
They note that "the paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, tin cans and aluminium foil are sorted into
separate plastic bags. Some people even wash the trash before they throw it away."
Through these descriptions, the story highlights the classism that exists in the city, with the
wealthy areas having more opportunities for success and the poor areas having limited
opportunities.
The characters' experiences and observations in these different neighbourhoods further
underscore the theme of classism and the impact it has on people's lives.
69
By splitting the city of Windhoek geographically into different neighbourhoods, Ngamije is able
to use place as a marker of inequalities and class differences that exist among the people.
The content of rubbish bins in the different neighbourhoods shows the differences between the
rich and the poor. The first suburb to be visited by the crew is Auasblick. It is described as a nice
place since the people there still know how to throw away things
The Neighbourhood Watch is assured Of scoring good things such as ‗broken toasters, blenders,
kettles water bottles, Teflon pots or pans scrubbed raw screen television cardboard boxes, and
maybe some food‘ (pg.78) This shows that the people who live here are well up and live
comfortable lives.
The suburbs of the poor such as Katutura, Hakahana, Goreangab, Wanaheda and Okuryangava,
are also described.
Using the flashback of the crew‘s Tuesday and ‗Thursday visits to these poor suburbs, Ngaminje
brings out the living conditions of the poor based on the content of their bins.
One day, Elias and Lazarus found a baby wrapped in some newspapers thrown into a big bin.
Ihis encounter made them smart and move away from poor people. They decided that on
Tuesday and Thursday nights, they would stop going to poor people‘s places because poor
people had nothing left to throw away but themselves (pg. 80)
Khomasdal is closely related to the poor people‘s suburbs. It is, however, a drinking den. The
neighbourhood watch never enters Khomasdal since it is crowded with other starving, roving
cliques (pg. 80). It is also in the same neighbourhood where Amos was killed.
These lowly suburbs are contrasted to the suburbs ofthe wealthy such as Avis, Klein, Windhoek
and Eros. Avis has complex apartments that bring a fresh crop of bins to the interlocked
pavements. though made up of rich people,
Klein Windhoek portrays some meanness as they only put up their bins at the crack of dawn to
dissuade the dustbin divers from perambulating through their streets (pg. 83). Eros is the best
suburb for The Neighbourhood Watch due to the presence of Mrs Bezuidenhout, who waits for
the crew and gives them some gifts.
This shows the wealthy nature of the old lady, the people living in this neighbourhood, and Mrs
Bezuidenhout‘s generosity.
Survival
The main theme of the story is the struggle for survival on the streets of Windhoek.
The characters, Elias, Lazarus, Martin, Silas, Omagano, and Amos all strive to survive by
scavenging for food and shelter in the neighborhoods.
They have to fight off hunger, cold and danger from gangs and the police.
Pride
Pride is another important theme that runs throughout the story.
The characters are often faced with the choice of accepting help or maintaining their pride.
For example, Amos died because of his pride, refusing to apologize for his actions.
Similarly, Martin suggests that people who refuse to scavenge for food and shelter are too proud
to be like them.
Generosity
Mrs. Bezuidenhout's generosity is an important theme in the story.
She is the only person who is willing to help the characters and her generosity is contrasted with
the pride of the other characters.
Her generosity is portrayed as a source of hope and inspiration for the characters.
70
Friendship and community
Friendship and community also play an important role in the story. The characters form a
community and support each other, both emotionally and practically. They look out for each
other and help each other to survive.
Hope and hopelessness
The characters have to contend with the constant struggle for survival and their future seems
uncertain.
At times, they express hope that things will get better, however, they are often met with
disappointment and hopelessness.
Elias and Lazarus's warning to Martin, "Maybe is tomorrow, laaitie (buddy),‘ Lazarus says. 'And
there is only today," highlights this theme.
Poverty
One theme that arises from the story is poverty and its effects on individuals and communities.
The characters in the story, such as Elias, Lazarus, Martin, Silas, and Omagano, are all struggling
to survive on the streets and often have to resort to scavenging for food and shelter.
The story also highlights the harsh realities of living in poverty, such as being at risk of violence
and exploitation, and the constant struggle to make ends meet.
Community and solidarity
The characters in the story form a "Neighbourhood Watch" to survive together, sharing resources
and helping each other out.
The story also highlights the importance of generosity and kindness in the face of poverty, such
as the character of Mrs Bezuidenhout, who is described as giving the main characters food,
clothes, and other necessities.
Street life And Its Challenges
Living in the streets is shown to have several challenges:
Crime and violence
The neighbourhood watch must safely hide their valuable items at the headquarters to prevent
theft. hidden stash is considered safe since they are a feared group— they have a fierce
reputation (pg. 76).
Lazarus is considered the Lieutenant of the group and one of its pillars due to his violence (pg.
83) shows that life in the streets involves some violent acts. Violence is seen to be a necessary
survival skill in the street.
The death of Amos after knife stabs also shows the level of violence faced in the streets ‗The
knife flashed quickly In, out, in, out and then slashed across…… Amosfell.‘ (pg. 80-81).
Silas, one of the crew members, engages in some crime. He is said to have had a habit of
discovering things that have had previous owners. ‗Silas steals‘ ( pg. 77). If he gets caught while
stealing, he might be beaten or arrested.
Secret struggles
The Neighbourhood Watch has to struggle to ensure that the valuables are safely hidden to
prevent theft. After splashing water on their faces, the empty can is stashed away with other
valuables in a hook under the concrete abutment of the bridge (pg. 75-76).
They also have to protect their territory — The bridge underside precious real estate. To achieve
this, the abbreviations NW are sprayed onto the bridge‘s columns which communicate that it is
marked territory (pg. 76).
71
The group must struggle to camouflage and appear like any ordinary person while roaming the
streets to evade police. They have to look presentable, thus why Omagano struggles to straighten
her kinky hair using her fingers. They also have to wear their best clothes. One of their greatest
challenges is how to disguise their foul smell. The writer notes, ―But smelling bad is something
they try to avoid as much as possible since a smelly man is despised everywhere.‖ (Pg. 76).
Struggle to get food
The crew relies on waste food and leftovers to survive. It is said that ‗Elias knows most city
hotel‘s kitchen staff who leave the group some decaying produce or some leftovers when they
feel kind from the previous night‘ (pg 76).
The struggle to get food forces them to use dubious means such as having Omagano satisfy the
sexual needs of guards who deny them access to bins that might contain high yields (pg. 77).
The lunch that the group shares show that getting enough food for a meal is a real struggle for
them ‗The food crew shares the lunch: Half a loaf of brown bread, some salty mashed potatoes,
soft grapes and some water‘ (pg.78).
The group heavily relies on Mrs Bezuidenhout‘s generosity as she gives them canned food such
as beans and peas, fruits and other valuable items (pg. 83).
Struggle with poor health conditions
Elias has a racking cough that worsens each day. It is so severe that, ‗Sometimes there is blood in
the gunk from his chest, but he waves everyone‘s concerns away‘ (pg. 76).
Desperation
Life in the streets is filled with moments of desperation. When Elias and Lazarus met, they
would desperately flick through every bin they could find in every suburb they could reach. As
the writer tells us, they had no room to be choosy as the writer tells us, ‗They were
indiscriminate and desperate and always hungry.‘ (pg.78)
Elias shares these experiences with the other crew members and tells them, ―When we started
when you have to we weren‘t picky. We had to survive survive, you don‘t get to choose what
you have to do.‖ (pg.79).
We further see that the crew‘s desperation to get food and survive makes them use any possible
means. Omagano is a precious survival tool for the group in such desperate times. This
especially happens where the bins in some areas are fenced off and guarded by guards who
threaten to beat the crew if they trespass. The guards have to be bribed to let the crew scavenge
in these bins. When the crew has money, Elias pays the guards.
However, when the crew has no money and needs to get food, Omagano is their only way out.
She goes behind a dumpster with a guard and does what needs to be done (pg. 77).
Waste disposal in cities
Ngamije shows the actual situation around waste disposal in many urban neighbourhoods.
The Neighbourhood Watch crew solely depends on the disposed waste for their survival.
By describing the kind of waste found in different neighbourhoods, the writer communicates the
need to ensure that waste is appropriately disposed off.
The crew‘s appreciation of high-end suburbs such as Eros, Windhoek, and Eros emphasises the
need to recycle and separate different waste products.
These suburbs have people who recycle. Different bins containing different wastes are also seen-
‗The paper cardboard, plastic bottles, tins, cans and aluminum foil are sorted in separate plastic
bags. Some people even wash the trash before they throw it away. Everything else that is of no
use goes in the big green bins‘ (pg. 82).
72
This serves as an advantage to the crew as it saves time and prevents disappointment.
The writer subtly advocates for waste separation and recycling to ensure proper waste
management.
Other lowly suburbs such as Katutura, Hakakana, Goreangab, Wanaheda and Okuryangava
display poor waste disposal where all sorts of waste are put in the same bin.
The writer communicates the inappropriateness of this waste disposal approach through the
grave voice adopted by Elias as he shares their past experiences with the crew.
―Usually in a bin you have to be ready to find shit Old food, used condoms, women things with
blood on them, broken things.‖ (pg.79)
This waste disposal method is not just disgusting, but it makes proper waste management
difficult and ultimately impossible. Similar waste disposal methods are seen in Ausblick, where
everything — including electronic gadgets such as broken toasters, blenders and kettles- is
disposed of together with water bottles, cardboard boxes, and even food wastes.
Stylistic Devices
Repetition
This is the repeating words or phrases.
(There are actually many different types of repetition like anaphora and epiphora.)
The phrase "Today you need food. Today you need shelter.
Today you need to take care of today" is repeated throughout the story to emphasis the
characters' focus on survival in the present moment, rather than thinking about the future.
Symbolism
Symbolism is the use of words or images to symbolize specific concepts, people, objects, or
events.
The use of the term "Headquarters" to refer to the place where the characters gather, symbolizes
their sense of camaraderie and unity, as well as the fact that they are all part of a group fighting
for survival on the streets.
Metaphor
Comparing two things without using the words ―like‖ or ―as‖.
The phrase "Pride is poor food" is used to describe how pride can lead to poverty and hardship,
as it can make people refuse help or opportunities that would improve their lives.
Irony
Irony is a rhetorical device in which a statement or situation contrasts with what is expected or
known.
The characters refer to their scavenging through trash as "foraging," which is a term usually
associated with hunting for food in the wild, but in this context it is used to describe the
characters' search for food and resources in garbage bins.
Imagery
Imagery is a literary device used in poetry, novels, and other writing that uses vivid description
that appeals to a readers' senses to create an image or idea in their head.
Through language, imagery does not only paint a picture, but aims to portray the sensational and
emotional experience within text.
The story uses vivid descriptions of the characters' surroundings and experiences on the streets,
such as "the thorns and broken bottles" at Headquarters, and "the interlocked pavements" of the
wealthy neighborhoods, to create a sense of the gritty reality of homelessness.
73
Revision questions for The Neighbourhood Watch
How do members of 'The Neighbourhood Watch' apply street wisdom, past experiences and
unity to survive?
Proper waste disposal makes it easy for waste to be appropriately managed. Using illustrations
from Rem‘y Ngamije‘s ―The Neighbourhood Watch‖ show how this message is communicated.
Street life is not for the faint-hearted. Show the truthfulness of this statement based on the story
―The Neighbourhoodd Watch.‖
In every society, some inequalities exist that affect people‘s way of life. Using illustrations from
Rem‘y Ngamije‘s ―The Neighbourhood Watch‖ support this assertion.
Essay Questions
People living on the streets apply wisdom in order to survive the difficult conditions. Write an
essay to qualify this statement citing illustrations from Rem'y Ngamije‘s The Neighbourhood
Watch.
Living conditions on the streets are difficult. To survive, one needs not only determination and
effort but also experience, knowledge and good judgment. Members of the Neighbourhood
Watch apply wisdom to survive the arduous conditions on the streets.
First, the crew is judicious enough to secure territory-a safe haven for sleeping or just to lay low
when they weren‘t out on a foraging mission. The bridge‘s underside is precious real estate to the
Neighbourhood Watch. It is an important shelter when it rains and during cold winter nights. The
letters NW sprayed on the columns have the same effect as musty pee at the edge of a leopard‘s
territory. Other crews know better than to encroach it lest they face bloody retaliation. It is also a
safe place to hide their stash so that they don‘t have to lug their scant possessions everywhere
they go. More luggage would slow them down as they rummage their neighbourhoods for food
and other essentials. Elias calls their territory headquarters. In the morning, he wakes up the rest
of the crew and they share a can of water for washing their faces. To a street family a safe
territory is indispensable.
Secondly, they are wise enough to rise early to go searching for food. Elias, Lazarus and
Omagano set out before the light of day is full born. They leave early so that they can score the
real prizes-that is the overflowing bins behind restaurants. In the early morning one can get
edible semi-fresh morsels. In the late morning, the food starts rotting. The neighborhood watch
knows: ―the early bird does not catch the worms‖. In order to get there in good time Elias,
Lazarus and Omagano lengthen they are strides. They know that time is of the essence on the
streets.
The crew knows that they have to maintain a good bond with other people in order to survive.
Elias has a good rapport with most of the kitchen staff in the city. They refer to him by the
monikers ‗Soldier‘ or ‗Captain‘. Sometimes, they leave out almost decaying produce for him and
his group. Because of the good relationship, Elias would sometimes be lucky to get potatoes with
broken skins, rotting mangoes, and wrinkled carrots. The staff would be generous enough to give
them smushed leftovers from the previous night for instance half eaten burgers, chips drowning
in sauce or salads. Most of the kitchen staff are poor and many a time they would need to take
the leftovers to their own families. It is amazing that Elias manages to get some food from them.
The Neighbourhood Watch crew is so astute that they have organized themselves into specialised
units. Elias, Lazarus and Omagano are always on full duty whereas Silas and Martin are tasked
with searching for other essentials. Before, Elias was in on his own so when he met Lazarus he
74
suggested that they form an alliance because it was taxing to rummage for food and other
paraphernalia necessary for survival in the streets. At first, Lazarus was resistant. Cold winter
nights forced him to comply. It worked for them since two people could cover more ground. One
searches for food and the other for other essentials and thus they could do more in a day. Now,
they know that children and women are valuable recruits. Some obstinate guards demand for a
10 or 20 dollar bribe to let them scavenge through fenced off bins. Elias usually pays them but
when he has no money Omagano goes behind the dumpster with a guard and does what needs to
be done. The valuables crew on the other hand provide discarded blankets, mattresses, clothing,
reusable shoes, trolleys etc. Trolleys are useful but they can also be traded for better necessities.
The two teams work separately and meet in the late afternoon. They share the food that is bread,
mashed potatoes, grapes and water. The valuables crew brings newspapers, plastic piping and
poorboy caps.
The Neighbourhood Watch also understands the city and its neighbourhoods. Elias asks the crew
to sleep since they plan to go foraging in Ausblick tonight. It is too hot to be on the streets now.
Night is better and more lucrative for the Neighbourhood Watch. The crew knows that if they hit
the bins early, they may score some good things in Ausblick for instance broken toasters,
blenders, water bottles, teflon pots or pans, flat screen TV cardboard boxes and even some food.
People in Ausblick still know how to throw away things. Elias, Lazarus and Silas will scout
ahead rummaging for valuables while Martin and Omagano push the trolley. They know that
soon Ausblick will be overcrowded like Olympia and Suiderhof. Pionierspark used to be
worthwhile but not anymore. Now, the Neighbourhood Watch are deterred by peeking heads,
barking dogs and patrolling vehicles with angry shouting men. They know that the earlier they
get to Ausblick the better.
The neighborhood watch understands that in order to survive on the streets one must focus on the
present, not the past or the future. Everyone brings a past to the streets. Lazarus‘s tattoos are
evidence of his prison stint. Elias is not scared of him since he faced gunfire against the South
African Defence Forces. Because of hunger or need for food on the streets, they have no time to
think about the past. Elias shares some street smartness with Lazarus. He says the streets has no
future, there is only today. ―Today you need food. Today you need shelter. Today you need to
take care of today‖. On Fridays and Saturdays, the crew avoids the streets and retreats safely to
Headquarters. They do this to avoid clashing with patrolling police. Silas wants to leave but is
forbidden from taking Martin with him. Elias and Lazarus mock the fools who sit on the roadside
in Klein Windhoek and Eros waiting to paint a room, fix a window, install a sink or lay some
tiles because they are too proud to forage for food. They end up going home hungry. Martin
thinks that sometimes those ―fools‖ can get a job and maybe things will be better. Elias insists
that ―maybe is tomorrow‖ and there is only today. On the street one needs to focus on the present
to survive. ―Every day is today.‖
Elias and Lazarus share what they have learned on the streets with the rest of the crew including
how they decided to change tack. The crew learned that you cannot survive by being around
people trying to survive. When foraging in the poor neighbourhoods, you only get what they
don‘t need to survive. The Neighbourhood Watch realise that poor people only throw away
garbage which is disgusting and babies which are useless. In the poor neighborhoods you had to
be ready to find shit: old food, used condoms, women‘s things with blood, and broken things.
When looking for newspapers to light a fire once, Elias and Lazarus was shocked when they
found a dead baby. They knew it was time to upgrade. They only went there because they needed
75
to survive. To survive you go everywhere and do everything. You cannot be picky. But now they
know that they should upgrade and go to places where people have enough to throw away.
Neighbourhoods with white people and black people trying to be white people have such people.
They finally get smart and decide to move away from poor people who have nothing to throw
away by themselves.
Lastly the Neighbourhood Watch is wise enough to know that there are some neighbourhoods
you have to avoid. They avoid Khomsadal which is overcrowded and people drink too much
there. They lost their friend Amos there due to his pride end alcohol. He used to curse people,
use ugly swear words and always refused to apologize. He was then stabbed to death. The
Neighbourhood Watch knows that on the streets are dead bodies bad. Police would roughly
demand explanations from witnesses. They used baton bashes, frustrating paperwork and
throwing innocent people in holding cells. When Amos, died everyone including Elias and
Lazarus knew they had to run away. They were also wise enough to stick to the initial story that
they had nothing to do with the murder when the police caught up with them. They were beaten,
bruised, bleeding, with swollen eyes broken ribs and injured limbs but that was better than losing
life. They are smart enough to completely avoid Khomsadal.
In conclusion, difficult experiences make people wise enough to cope and survive. Acuity is
essential for survival.
76
The story also touches on the importance of family and tradition in their culture, with
December's grandfather believing that she was bewitched and the naming convention of the
children being a reference to tradition.
In conclusion, the title "December" is an appropriate choice for this story as it not only represents
the main character but also captures the themes and motifs of the story through the symbolism of
the passing of time and the ideas of loss, family, and tradition.
The Plot Summary
The story, "December," centers around the relationship between September, the narrator and
protagonist, and his sister December.
December is a patient in a psychiatric ward, and September visits her after a long absence, during
which he has been studying abroad.
The story explores the past and present of their family, and the impact of December's illness on
September and the rest of the family.
The story starts with September visiting December in the psychiatric ward, where he is greeted
with hostility from the nurse because he is late.
He soon runs into a former acquaintance, Tshuuveni, who is now a security guard at the hospital.
Tshuuveni and September catch up for a bit before Tshuuveni has to go back to work.
September then visits December, and they spend their time together catching up and reminiscing
about the past.
Throughout the story, September reflects on how December's illness has affected their family
and how it has changed her.
He also reflects on the past, particularly on the naming convention of his family, where the
children are named after the month they were conceived.
September is particularly affected by the fact that December was born in September, which
creates an interesting dynamic in the story.
The story also touches on themes of loss, family, and tradition.
December's illness is a loss for the family, and September's reflections on the past and the secrets
that his grandfather took to the grave are also a reminder of loss.
The story also touches on the importance of family and tradition in their culture, with
December's grandfather believing that she was bewitched and the naming convention of the
children being a reference to tradition.
In the conclusion of the story, September returns home to attend his grandfather's funeral and
bury him next to his father in the village graveyard.
The story also implies that September has not been able to make it to visit December again and
he is left with the guilt of not being able to fulfill his promise to her.
Ezekiel Shikongo, the grandfather, who had been taking care of December, has not been able to
visit her in a while and it is suggested that he has passed away.
The story ends on a melancholic note as September is left to deal with the loss of both his sister
and grandfather.
Key moments in the story
September‘s arrival from the U.K. (p84 — 86).
December‘s psychiatric condition (p86 – 88).
Ezekiel Shikongo‘s dreams and taboos. (p85 – 90).
77
Characters and characterization
Characters List
September: The narrator and protagonist of the story, September is the brother of December and
a student studying abroad. He returns home to visit his sister in the psychiatric ward and reflect
on their past and the impact of her illness on their family.
December: September's sister and a patient in a psychiatric ward. She has been struggling with
mental health issues, which have caused her to be institutionalized. She is close to September
and they share a strong bond.
Ezekiel Shikongo: September and December's grandfather. He believes that December's illness is
caused by witchcraft and is a strong believer in traditional practices and customs. He is also the
one taking care of December before he passes away.
The Nurse: A nurse working at the psychiatric ward. She is hostile towards September when he
visits December and is skeptical of his claim to be her brother.
Tshuuveni: A former acquaintance of September and a security guard at the psychiatric ward. He
and September catch up for a bit before he has to return to work.
Josef: September and December's uncle, who is described as having lost his mind in his teens,
and is thought to have been bewitched by Ezekiel.
September's sister: She is not named in the story but she is the older sister of September and
December and takes care of them when they were young.
Security guards: Two guards who work at the psychiatric ward, they are called by the nurse
when September arrives and are dismissed by Tshuuveni.
Character Traits
September
Caring: September cares deeply for his sister December, he goes to visit her in the psychiatric
ward and brings her gifts, such as a jersey, a book of puzzles, and a t-shirt. He also shows
concern for her well-being, asking how she is and trying to comfort her.
Thoughtful: September is thoughtful of December's likes and dislikes, he brings her soft chips,
as she prefers them, and a navy blue t-shirt with the Union Jack, which is the same as the one his
sister ripped to stem his bleeding when he was four.
Reflective: September reflects on the past and the impact of December's illness on their family.
He is also reflective on his grandfather's and uncle's death and how it affected the family.
Loyal: September is loyal to his sister, he keeps his promise to bring her gifts and is there for her
when she needs him. He also seems to have a strong bond with his grandfather and uncle.
Determined: September is determined to visit his sister, even when he is told that he is too late,
and he is also determined to find a solution for her illness, even though he is not sure what it is.
Respectful: September is respectful of the customs and traditions upheld by his grandfather and
uncle, even when he does not fully understand them.
Empathetic: September is empathetic towards his sister's situation, he is able to understand her
plight and relate to her feelings.
Generous: September shows generosity towards his sister by bringing her gifts and showing her
attention and care.
Reliable: September keeps his promise to visit his sister and is reliable in his support for her.
Observant: September notices the changes in the hospital and how his sister's appearance has
changed, indicating his ability to pay attention to detail.
78
Patient: September is patient with his sister, despite her illness and her pleas to take her home.
He does not rush to make promises he cannot keep and instead shows a sense of understanding
and compassion towards her.
Protective: September has a protective nature towards his sister, he has a dog named Kali that he
got to protect her from a man who was pursuing her when she was younger, and he is always
looking out for her well-being.
November
Strong-willed: December is determined to overcome her illness and maintain a positive attitude,
despite the challenges she faces.
Independent: December is determined to be self-reliant and not rely on others to take care of her.
Responsible: December takes on the responsibility of caring for her brother when they were
young and is always concerned about her brother's well-being.
Loyal: December is loyal to her family, particularly her brother and grandfather, and is always
willing to support them.
Caring: December shows a lot of care and concern for her brother, she is always asking about
his well-being and is grateful for the gifts he brings her.
Resilient: December is able to bounce back from difficult situations and maintain her positive
attitude despite the challenges she faces with her illness.
Supportive: December is supportive of her brother's decision to study abroad and is always
encouraging him to follow his dreams.
Creative: December is creative and enjoys solving puzzles, and is able to find enjoyment in the
little things in life despite her condition.
Generous: December is generous with her time and affection towards her brother, despite her
struggles and limited visiting hours.
Empathetic: December is able to understand and relate to her brother's struggles and concerns,
showing empathy and compassion towards him.
Humble: December does not let her illness define her and is humble about her condition, always
focusing on the positive aspects of her life.
Faithful: December is faithful to her family's traditions and customs, even if she does not fully
understand the reasons for them.
Ezekiel Shikongo
Traditional: Ezekiel holds strong beliefs in traditional customs and practices, and is resistant to
change.
Protective: Ezekiel is protective of his granddaughter, December, and believes that she is
bewitched, taking her to healers in an attempt to cure her.
Opinionated: Ezekiel has strong opinions and beliefs, and is not afraid to express them, even if
they are not popular or accepted by others.
Inflexible: Ezekiel is inflexible in his thinking, and is unwilling to consider alternative
explanations or solutions for December's illness.
Judgmental: Ezekiel judges his son, Silas, and his grandson, September, for their
unconventional choices and believes that they are influenced by "idiotism".
Secretive: Ezekiel keeps certain information and secrets to himself, such as the reason for
December's dietary restrictions, and does not share them with others.
Determined: Ezekiel is determined to find a cure for December's illness and will stop at nothing
to achieve this goal.
79
Strong-minded: Ezekiel is a very strong-minded person, he is not easily swayed by others and
sticks to his traditional beliefs even when others disagree with him.
The Nurse
Indifferent: The nurse is indifferent to September and his visit, she does not show any interest in
him or his sister.
Unsympathetic: The nurse is unsympathetic towards December's condition, she does not show
any compassion or concern for her well-being.
Rigid: The nurse is rigid in her approach, she strictly enforces the rules and regulations of the
hospital, and does not make any exceptions.
Short-tempered: The nurse is short-tempered and easily angered, as seen when she shouted at
September when he first arrived.
Skeptical: The nurse is skeptical of September's claim to be December's brother, she does not
believe him until he provides evidence.
Unapproachable: The nurse is unapproachable, she does not engage in friendly conversations or
show any interest in getting to know people.
Professional: The nurse is professional in her approach, she does her job efficiently and with a
sense of duty.
Inflexible: The nurse is inflexible in her approach, she does not allow any deviation from the set
rules and regulations of the hospital.
Tshuuveni
Friendly: Tshuuveni is friendly, as seen when he greets September warmly and embraces him.
Ambitious: Tshuuveni is ambitious, as seen in his decision to pursue a career in private security
as it pays more.
Respectful: Tshuuveni is respectful, as seen in his interactions with September and the way he
speaks about September's family.
Loyal: Tshuuveni is loyal, as seen in his continued friendship with September despite their past
differences.
Amiable: Tshuuveni is amiable, as seen in the way he talks with September and fills him in on
local gossip.
Professional: Tshuuveni is professional, as seen in the way he carries out his duties as a security
officer.
Charismatic: Tshuuveni is charismatic, as seen in the way he commands the attention of the
security guards and the nurse.
Understanding: Tshuuveni is understanding, as seen in the way he accepts September's reason
for the late visit.
Themes
Mental health
The story highlights the theme of mental health and the negative impact it can have on
individuals and their families.
December's descent into mental illness is portrayed in the story and how it affected her family
and her future.
Consequences of superstition on mental illness
80
December, the story‘s title, is also the central character‘s name. The name is given to her by her
father against his own father‘s wishes, who calls it idiotism. Conventional or not, this naming
creates confusion and distortion of facts simultaneously. (p85- 86).
The story itself is mixed with a patched-up plot which renders the storyline The plot is not linear.
Like in most Namibian, there was indifference towards those who didn‘t reside there. Sticking
out was a serious crime: (p84– 90).
When Ezekiel Shikongo faces death and illness, anxiety, fear, and despair creep in, engendering
adherence to delusions that have no logical or scientific explanation and lead to superstitious
behaviours caused by a false notion of the (p84 – 90).
It is rooted in human ignorance and significantly affects people‘s culture and health, prevents
them from beginning restoration, and harms individuals and society. The mundane illogical
beliefs derived from ignorance cannot be proven objectively and scientifically. Ezekiel forbids
December to eat chicken due to the mishap. (p85-89).
The extended family of Ezekiel grapples with hereditary ill patients (Josef and December), and
the old man blames their mental illness on superstitious thoughts such as ―evil eye‖ or ―dark ―
This pandemonium is created by Silas, December‘s father, to show his divergent opinion and
disbelief in his father‘s taboos. (p85).
Their disagreement, therefore, gets complicated when December is born in September and
September in Then when September returns from abroad, his grandfather dies in October. (p86).
Ezekiel refers to the naming as ‗idiotism‘, and indeed his younger brother Josef exhibits traces of
the problem when he starts to lose track of time in his teens; days of the week are a blur to The
fact that September is absent-minded at times complicates the matter more. (p84 – 86).
Ezekiel‘s superstitious belief could be premised on an archaic generational and cultural illusion
that other forces cause problems. (p86).
Josef eventually loses He is lost for a month. In his dreams, Ezekiel tells where exactly to find
him but does not say what he is eating until he exits the life stage. Ezekiel‘s death signifies the
end of the old traditions and the beginning of civilization. (p89).
When September breaks the news to his grandfather that he will study abroad two and a half
years earlier, Ezekiel is September had cried. ―My sister…‖ (p88).
The old man reassured ―I will take care of her.‖ ―She‘s been at them hospital for six months.
(p88).
Superstition makes him believe that mental illness is caused by other forces not normal or
conventional in nature. He takes her to a traditional healer, and she comes back looking skeletal
as if the healer had tried starving out the voices in her (p88).
Ezekiel represents intensely superstitious African people who turn to indigenous treatments such
as charms and witchdoctors to treat their Modern technologies have not been able to reduce their
superstitious tendencies. (p88)
―There is no brother listed in her file,‖ the nurse ―Only a grandfather.‖
This is child neglect. (p88).
Superstitious thinking becomes harmful when it enters the health domain, affects people‘s well-
being, and becomes part of the family‘s health The values that society believes affect the quality
of life and treatment choice during illness. Ezekiel‘s beliefs affect all family members. (p84 –
90).
81
Family dynamics
The story explores the dynamics of the Shikongo family, particularly the relationship between
September and December, and how their father's naming convention affected them. The story
also explores the relationship between September and Ezekiel, and how his grandfather's beliefs
about December's illness affected her.
Tradition vs. Modernity
The story explores the theme of tradition vs. modernity, particularly in the context of mental
health and the treatment of it.
Ezekiel's belief that December was bewitched reflects traditional beliefs about mental illness,
while September's desire to seek help from Western medicine represents a more modern
approach.
Hope / Optimism
Their life of hope begins when September arrives at the hospital from the K. December, who is
at the hospital probably being discharged to start her life free of her grandfather‘s superstitious
interference. (p87).
Remember when September comes from Europe, he brings December a T-shirt with an imprint
of the Union Jack, representing modernity or a form of enlightenment.
But still, this is confusion on ideologies: between colonialism and civilization.
The T-shirt is precisely the same as the one December had ripped up all those years before to
stem September‘s This implies that her ordinary life is restored by her brother‘s hope and
concern for her well-being. (p89).
The two reminisce their puberty days when September got himself a puppy named Kali to keep
off boys who pursued December when she was Tshuuveni enquires whether September is
bringing home an oshitenya from overseas, but he says he still hasn‘t found the right girl. (p87).
Professional medical practice should be relied on to guarantee the quality of life, control and
treatment of diseases, and complications is not a secret to anyone.
The medical fraternity should fight these superstitious thoughts to lower their adverse
consequences. will bring hope. Hope is also symbolized when it rains after Ezekiel Shikongo‘s
burial. Then Josef is also found. (p89, 90).
Identity
The story touches on the theme of identity, particularly in relation to December's illness and how
it affects her sense of self. It also explores how September's identity as December's brother is
questioned by the nurse.
Loss
The story explores the theme of loss, particularly in relation to the loss of December's mental
health and how it affects her family.
It also touches on the loss of Ezekiel and the impact it has on the family.
Healing
The story touches on the theme of healing and the different forms it can take. Ezekiel's belief in
traditional healing methods, while September's desire to seek help from Western medicine.
Time
The story explores the theme of time and how it affects the characters. December's condition
which changed her life abruptly, Ezekiel's naming convention and the impact it had on his
children.
82
Stylistic Devices
Symbolism
Symbolism is the use of words or images to symbolize specific concepts, people, objects, or
events.
The use of the Union Jack t-shirt as a symbol of September and December's bond and shared
history.
Irony
Irony is a rhetorical device and literary technique that is incredibly useful when used correctly.
Simply put, irony is when something that is said or done is in contrast to reality or to what is
expected.
The use of the hospital's new glass doors and reinforced window bars as a representation of the
modern changes in the hospital, while at the same time the sign in front of the casualty ward is
missing letters, representing the continuity of certain problems.
Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is a literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in
the story.
Foreshadowing is useful for creating suspense, a feeling of unease, a sense of curiosity, or a
mark that things may not be as they seem.
The mention of Ezekiel's belief that December's affliction was caused by witchcraft, foreshadows
the revelation that December was bewitched in the end.
Imagery
Imagery is a literary device used in poetry, novels, and other writing that uses vivid description
that appeals to a readers' senses to create an image or idea in their head.
Through language, imagery does not only paint a picture, but aims to portray the sensational and
emotional experience within text.
The use of imagery of the patchy Kaokoveld grass to describe December's hair, evokes a sense of
neglect and dishevelment.
Repetition
Repeating words or phrases.
(There are actually many different types of repetition like anaphora and epiphora.)
The use of the phrase "Fine" by December when September asks her how she is, is repeated
several times throughout the story, highlighting her emotional distance from her current reality.
Personification
When an idea or animal is given human characteristics. ―The sky weeps.‖
The use of personification when describing the clock and chart for times, as having a voice and
attitude, adds a sense of authority and power to the time constraints placed on September's visit.
Revision questions for December
Do you think Ezekiel's beliefs had anything to do with the illness?
How relevant is the title of the story, December?
Does the Naming convention of Silas Shikongo affect his children?
Why do you think Ezekiel refuses to tell why he forbids his granddaughter to eat chicken?
Do you think Josef gets lost?
What does the Union jack symbolize in the story, December?
Explore and analyze the following themes in December
Mental illness and child neglect
83
Superstitious beliefs and taboos
Healthy living and eating
Hope / optimism
What does the coming of September from Europe and the dying of Ezekiel inOctober symbolize?
How is sarcasm employed in Filemon Liyambo‘s December?
Examine the use of irony and paradox
Essay Questions
What are the consequences of superstition on mental illness. Base your answer on the short story
December by Filemon Liyambo
84
The family struggles with the idea of Boyi being a part of the militia, who are causing
destruction in the community.
Eventually, the militia is defeated and Boyi is killed. The protagonist struggles with the loss of
her brother and the fact that he was a part of the militia.
Key moments in the story
The demand of the Militia- pg 91-92
Life after Boyi left- pg 92-93
The demand of the Militia- pg 91-92
Life after Boyi left- pg 92-93
Operation Okoa Maisha pg 93-96
Boyi‘s death pg 96- 97
Characters and characterization
Characters List
The narrator - The protagonist, who is Boyi's sister, who is not named in the story.
Boyi - A young man who is taken by the militia and later reported dead.
Mama - Boyi's mother, who becomes mentally unstable after her son's death.
Baba - Boyi's father, who buries a banana stem wrapped in a green cotton sheet in the backyard
of their home after hearing the news of his son's death.
Chesaina - An old friend of Baba who brings the news of Boyi's death and his association with
the militia.
Simoni - A neighbor who gives the family a newspaper with the headline about the death of
militia leaders, including Boyi.
Matwa Kei - The leader of the militia.
Sah-gent - A soldier who is described as being very dark and said to have defeated Idi Amin in
Uganda.
Koros - A neighbor who talks to Baba about the militia's violent actions.
Chemutai - A friend of the narrator who moves away with her family.
Character Traits
The Narrator
Observant: The narrator pays close attention to the people and events happening around them,
such as noting Mama's muttering to herself and Baba's crying.
Reflective: The narrator often reflects on past memories with Boyi, and how they relate to the
current situation.
Imaginative: The narrator has a strong imagination, as seen in the way they picture Boyi's
stories of the militia's magic potions and embalming in cow dung, and in the way they imagine
Boyi's spirit visiting them in their dreams.
Empathetic: The narrator shows empathy towards their family members and their pain,
particularly towards Mama's grief over Boyi's death.
Resilient: The narrator shows resilience in the face of difficult events, such as the loss of their
brother and the destruction of their home by the storm.
Nostalgic: The narrator often looks back on fond memories and expresses a longing for the past,
such as the memories of playing with Boyi as a child.
Thoughtful: The narrator is often seen contemplating and pondering on different things, such as
the reasons behind Boyi's actions or the meaning behind Mama's actions.
85
Traumatized: The narrator is affected by the violence and death that surrounds them and may
suffer from trauma, such as dreaming about Boyi cutting them into pieces and feeling a sense of
dread and anxiety.
Mama
Devoted: Mama is deeply devoted to her family, particularly her son Boyi. She is devastated by
his death and spends much of her time mourning him.
Emotional: Mama is highly emotional and prone to outbursts of tears and crying. She is deeply
affected by the loss of Boyi and struggles to come to terms with it.
Protective: Mama is fiercely protective of her family, particularly her son Boyi. She is
determined to keep him safe, even if it means sending him away.
Strong-willed: Mama is a strong-willed woman who refuses to be cowed by the violence and
unrest in her community. She is determined to stand up for what she believes in, even in the face
of adversity.
Faithful: Mama is a deeply religious woman and has a strong faith in God. She turns to her faith
for comfort and support in difficult times.
Stubborn: Mama is stubborn and unwilling to change her mind or beliefs. She does not believe
the news of Boyi joining the militia and refuses to accept it.
Insane: Mama goes insane after Boyi's death, she speaks to herself and has hallucinations. She is
unable to cope with the loss of her son and can't accept the reality that he is gone.
Baba
Responsible: Baba takes care of the family and is seen as the head of the household. He is the
one who digs a grave for Boyi and tries to calm Mama when she is upset.
Practical: Baba is pragmatic in his approach to life and tries to find solutions to problems. He
tells Mama that the war should have ended a long time ago and that they should not dwell on the
past.
Emotional: Baba is deeply affected by Boyi's death and is seen crying when he reads the
newspaper article about him. He is also seen throwing away the newspaper and radio after
reading the news.
Thoughtful: Baba reflects on the past and the events that led to Boyi's death. He is seen telling
Mama that war is a maggot that nibbles at the hearts of men.
Respectful: Baba is respectful of Mama's feelings and tries to comfort her when she is upset. He
also tells her that Boyi was a good son and that she should not blame herself for his death.
Matwa Kei
Powerful: Matwa Kei is described as the leader of the militia and holds significant influence
over the community and its people.
Violent: The narrator mentions how the militia, under Matwa Kei's leadership, is known for
cutting up people and throwing their bodies in rivers and wells.
Fear-inducing: The community lives in fear of Matwa Kei and his actions, and the mention of
his name evokes a sense of dread and unease.
Unpredictable: Matwa Kei's actions and motives are not understood or predictable, as he seems
to have deviated from his original mission of protecting the land from outsiders.
Ruthless: Matwa Kei is described as ordering the killing of a close relative as a requirement for
recruitment, and is also rumored to have ordered the killing of Boyi, his right hand man.
Boyi
86
Dutiful: Boyi is described as being a good son, who used to recite the responsorial psalm
earnestly and with tears in his eyes.
imaginative: enjoyed playing Ninja soldier with the narrator
Cheerful: He was remembered for his boyish laughter and for hoarding illegal sweets
Sah-gent
Ruthless and Cruel: Threw Boyi from a helicopter
Chesaina
He is an old friend of Baba who works as a watchman in a grain depot, far away in Chwele
market.
He brings news to Baba,s family that Boyi was now a marked man since he was Matwa Kei‘s,
right-hand man.
Simoni
He delivers a copy of the Nation newspaper, which contains news about Boyi‘s death
Themes
Traditions
Belief in Djinnis- The community in the story believes in the presence of powerful evil spirits
known as Djinni.
This is seen when Mama talks to the visitors who frequent their home once Boyi is taken away.
She tells them, ‗How Boyi saved her marriage by confirming that Djinnis did not tie up her
womb.‘ Pg 93.
The people also practice the ritual of burying a banana stem to send death away where a person
disappears and their bodies are not found.
The narrator reports how Baba and his cousin Kimutai dug a shallow grave and buried a banana
stem wrapped in a green cotton sheet.
The father muttered, ―Death, take this body. ..
Take it, and do not bother my home with your visits again.‖ Pg. 93
This ritual is performed after Saulo‘s story that the government has launched Operation Okoa
Maisha, where armed Forces troops are sent to flush out militia members.
It shows the fear of the people that the operation will lead to more deaths.
The people are also seen to hold on to some superstitions.
The falling of the huge Nandi flame signifies something significant was bound to happen.
The narrator sees this as a bad omen while the mother thinks it means the end of evils for her
family ‗I knew it was a bad omen even though Mama came out of her room jubilantly declared
that the evil which was to come to our house had been struck down and swallowed by the Nandi
flame, pg 96.
War and its effects
The story is set against the backdrop of a civil war in which a militia group, led by Matwa Kei, is
fighting against the government.
The narrator describes the violence and terror inflicted by the militia on the community,
including the forced recruitment of young boys and the killing of innocent people.
The story also explores the impact of war on individuals and families, such as Boyi's mother
going insane due to the death of her son and the mass exodus of people from their homes.
The militia has various effects:
They demanded the land protection tax. They had chopped off the heads of the families if one
did not give them money (pg.92).
87
The recruitment of young men to the militia. Boyi is recruited by force to the militia because
Baba has given him out since he cannot afford to pay the money demanded: ―Hold on to the boy
until I find you forty thousand land protection tax, and then I will have him back‖ (pg. 91).
So many other young men had been recruited into the militia. Mama says, ―Had his ears not
caught stones of neighbour‘s son recruited by the militia?‖ (pg.92). The militia goes from house
to house, forcefully recruiting boys as young as ten years page 95.
People living in fear- The villages of Kopsiro, Savomet, Chepkyuk all live in fear ..a thick
yellow fog of fear over them.‖ (pg. 95)
People fail to work
Farmers did not clear their shambas for the second planting of the maize crop because the militia
stole young crops from the fields and goats from their pens (pg. 95).
The narrator‘s friend, Chemutai, said that the narrator‘s breast grew too fast because she had
spent too much time outside……. instead of working chap chap like a normal musaa tree girl
(pg.95)
Murder/brutal killings
The militia cut up people and threw their bloodied bodies in rivers, pits, latrines, and public wells
(pg. 92). The people say that they even cut off their necks.
The narrator overhears Baba being told that those recruited have to go back home and kill a close
relative so that their hearts are strong to kill others (pg. 95) Boyi is killed for being part of the
militia (pg. 96-97).
Displacement of people from their land and homes
―People flee from their homes since there is a mass exodus to Bungoma and Uganda‘ page 95
Lack of schooling
The narrator says nobody went to school anymore because of the war. She spends her days under
the Nandi flame tree with half-closed eyes (pg. 95)
Suffering
The writer points out clearly how society goes through suffering as a result of the war:
Mama experiences emotional suffering when Baba gives out Boyi to the militia to be recruited
since the family could not afford the forty thousand land protection fee. The writer says that
madness had entered
Mama‘s eyes the day baba pushed Boyi to Mativa Kei. She tore off her kitenge and started
shouting at Baba, telling him that he was sick in the head if he thought Boyi would return (pg.
91).
Mama did not eat her food and starved in the days that followed, muttering to herself. Her ugali
would remain untouched until a gusty brown film formed. The narrator had to throw it away to
the chicken coop. She also continued engaging herself in monologues (pg. 94).
The narrator also experiences pain and suffering. She felt queasy once Baba informed them that
the militia would have killed them for not giving out the forty thousand land protection tax. The
narrator felt as if someone had pulled her insides out through her nostrils.‘ (pg. 92).
When they were informed of Boyi‘s death, she cried bitterly. She let the tears roll down her face
and soak her blue silk blouse and purple boob top (pg. 97)
Baba suffers when forced to hand over his son Boyi to the militia. He experiences agony when
Mama questions him since he knew very well if he didn‘t, he risked his family being killed by
the militia. ‗He sat there and held his rage firmly with his hands. He pulled his lips to a narrow
thread like a line drawn on his dark face by a ruler.‘ (pg. 92)
88
When they are informed that Boyi is a marked man, Baba goes through some emotional torture.
For the first time, the narrator saw her father crying ―That day I saw Baba‘s tears…‖ (pg. 96)
The community undergoes suffering because of the war as some of the people are brutally
murdered the militia cut the people and threw their bloodied bodies in rivers, pit latrines and
public wells‘ (pg. 96).
Some of the militia are said to kill close relatives so that their hearts are strong to kill others. The
militia forgets its initial objective of protecting the land.Instead, ―Now they even cut off our
necks‖ (pg. 95)
The militia also rapes their blood relatives who give birth to babies
Family and relationships
The story explores the relationship between Boyi and his family, particularly his mother and
father.
The narrator describes how Boyi's mother is deeply affected by his death and is unable to come
to terms with it.
The father, on the other hand, attempts to cope with Boyi's death by building a grave for him,
despite the fact that his body was never found.
Grief and loss
The story deals with the theme of grief and loss as it relates to Boyi's death.
The narrator describes how the family and community mourn Boyi's death and the impact it has
on them.
The mother's lunacy and the father's attempt to cope with the loss of his son are examples of this.
Power and control
The theme of power and control is evident in the way the militia, led by Matwa Kei, exerts its
power over the community.
The narrator describes how the militia intimidates and terrorizes the community and how it takes
control of people's lives by forcefully recruiting young boys and taking away young girls.
Loyalty and betrayal
The story touches on the theme of loyalty and betrayal as it relates to Boyi's decision to join the
militia.
The narrator describes how Boyi's family and community are shocked and saddened by his
decision and how they see it as a betrayal of their trust and loyalty.
The writer points out how some people betray others in society. Baba betrays his community by
assisting the government representative with a panga and makonge ropes when the government
divides the people‘s land and gives it to some strangers (pg. 92).
The militia betrays the community it was meant to fight for by meting out evil on the people
whose land they are fighting. The narrator overhears their neighbour Koros telling her father
―They forgot that they were to protect our land from being given to those lazy strangers. Now
they even cut off our necks‖ (pg. 95)
The government betrays its people by dividing their land and giving it to strangers leading to the
formation of the militia.
Social class and poverty
The story highlights the poor living conditions of the villagers, and how they are affected by the
war.
They are shown as living in mud and wattle houses, and their shambas (farms) are washed away
by the rains.
89
This shows the contrast between their lives and that of the soldiers, who have access to advanced
weaponry, and are able to move around in large lorries.
Stylistic Devices
Symbolism
Symbolism is the use of words or images to symbolize specific concepts, people, objects, or
events.
The Nandi flame tree which symbolizes the evil that is about to come to the narrator's house, and
its shattering during the time of Boyi's death.
Imagery
Imagery is a literary device used in poetry, novels, and other writing that uses vivid description
that appeals to a readers' senses to create an image or idea in their head.
Through language, imagery does not only paint a picture, but aims to portray the sensational and
emotional experience within text.
The use of vivid descriptions such as "chocolate-coloured rivulets" and "tin roof of our mud and
wattle kitchen" to create a sense of place and atmosphere.
Personification
When an idea or animal is given human characteristics. ―The sky weeps.‖
The mountain wind is described as "snapping the tap roots" and "tearing" the young maize crops,
giving the inanimate object human-like qualities.
Repetition
Repeating words or phrases.
(There are actually many different types of repetition like anaphora and epiphora.)
The phrase "Do you remember" is repeated multiple times throughout the story, emphasizing the
narrator's longing for the past.
Simile
Comparing two things using the words ―like‖ or ―as‖
The comparison of the soldiers' belts to "cobra-skin" and the soldiers' boots to "the buttocks of
newborn babies" creates a sense of the unknown and exotic.
Metaphor
Comparing two things without using the words ―like‖ or ―as‖.
The comparison of war to a "maggot that nibbles and nibbles at the hearts of men" highlights the
destructive nature of war.
Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is a literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in
the story.
Foreshadowing is useful for creating suspense, a feeling of unease, a sense of curiosity, or a
mark that things may not be as they seem.
In the definition of foreshadowing, the word ―hint‖ is key.The destruction of the Nandi flame
tree foreshadows the tragic events that are about to occur in the story.
Revision questions for Boyi
Basing your answer on Boyi by Gloria Mwaninga explain the;
Land war and its effects:
Demand for land protection fee
Recruitment of young men into the militia
Murder/ killing of people- consider how the militia kills
90
people while the government forces the killing of militia
People are forced to flee their homes/ Displacement of people
How has the narrator used flashbacks in the story?
Briefly describe Mama‘s behaviour after:
Boyi is handed over to Matwa Kei
Baba and his cousin Kimutai dig a grave to bury a banana stem
Chesaina‘s news that Boyi was a marked man
News about Boyi‘s
What is the implication of the dream used in the story?
The narrator gives a detailed description of what happens when the long rains fall (pg 94).
Explain how symbolic the description is.
War leads to Using illustrations from the story show the validity of thisstatement.
How effectively is Imagery used in the story?
Describe the role of Baba in the Story;
Essay Questions
Write a composition showing how war ruins communities making reference to Boyi by Gloria
Mwaniga
When conflict thrives, it destroys family ties and communal bonds. Family members are
separated from one another, some are traumatized and others killed as a result of the crisis. In
Gloria Mwaniga's Boyi,the militia meant to protect community land from strangers turns out to
be the enemy within, wreaking untold havoc on the same community they had vowed to protect.
First, as a result of the war some family members are disunited from the rest of the family. The
militia demands 40,000 land protection tax - 10,000 land protection tax and 30,000 betrayal tax
which Baba cannot raise. Baba had lent a panga and makonge ropes to the government surveyors.
Matwa Kei and his thugs deemed this betrayal. In his desperation, Baba hands over everything
he owns - his savings, precious radio and hunting gun. He promises to sell his bull Mtambakaki
to raise the cash the militia leader was demanding. His pleas fall on deaf ears. He is forced to buy
the safety of his family by handing over his 15 year old son to the militia. This pushes his mother
to the precipice of lunacy. Tearing off her kitenge headscarf she shouts at her husband - a child is
not a match or a dress that one can give away rather casually. Baba's action caused a rift between
him and Mama. He justifies his actions and says that the aggressors would have tortured or even
killed them had he not given Boyi away. He is, however, saddened that the boys who had vowed
to protect their land had turned on them like a hungry chameleon that eats its intestines. Indeed,
conflict ruins communities.
Conflict causes devastation that pushes some people to the brink of insanity. Boyi‘s sister finds
her mother seated alone on a kitimoto in the kitchen. She neither looks up nor responds to
greetings. She screams at the girl to leave some tea for her brother who will return from the
caves hungry. The screaming goes on for weeks. ―Stupid girl, you want to finish tea and your
brother will come from the caves hungry,‖ she bawls. She would sit stunned gazing at the wall,
declaring she envisions her son returning home after escaping from the snare of the militia. After
her monologues, she would sit sadly and silently. When her madness takes a walk, they would
brew tea together with a girl and she would nostalgically reminisce stories about Boyi; about
how he saved her marriage, his shiny ebony skin and eloquence in English. This is a clear
testament of a mother‘s agony, anguish and disconnection from reality. War really causes
devastation to families.
91
The war drives Baba, a Christian, to partake in a strange cultural practice to escort Boyi‘s spirit
away. Together with his cousin Kimutai, he digs a shallow grave and buries a banana stem
wrapped in a green cotton sheet. He asks death to take that body and never bother his family
again. Boyi‘s sister is taken aback that her pious father had turned his back on religion. Her
mother refuses to play a part in the mock burial. Mama‘s voice bears manic vibrancy when she
declares that she would not participate in escorting her son‘s spirit away. She has lost touch with
reality and lives in denial. This is as a result of the pointless conflict.
In her anguish, Mama is too despondent to eat. She sits muttering to herself without touching her
food. The food would be thrown away to the kitchen coop. She sits and talks to herself for hours
on end lamenting about her suffering. She asks God to tie a rope around her stomach - to help her
bear the anguish of losing her son to the ruthless militia. She asks Boyi‘s sister if she remembers
his perfect teeth. War really causes suffering of family members.
Also, war disrupts work in the village. That December the farmers do not clear their shambas for
the second planting of maize. The militia steals young crops from the fields and goats from the
pens. Instead of working, men and women sit and exchange dreadful tales of the horrendous
cruelty of the militia. The militia cut up people and throw their bodies in rivers, pit latrines and
wells. They recruit boys as young as ten who are forced to kill their own relatives. Instead of
protecting the land, the militia goes on an indiscriminate killing spree, and their kin are victims
of the aggression instead of beneficiaries. Boyi‘s sister has a terrible dream that her brother
attacks her and chops her into ―small-small‖ pieces. The thought is traumatizing.
Moreover, the war causes displacement of people who leave their homes en masse. The family of
the narrator‘s friend, Chemtai, moves away to Chwele. The villages of Kopsiro, Saromet,
Chepyuk and Chelebei are engulfed in a thick yellow fog of fear. They did not understand the
militia‘s motive anymore. The thugs take away girls to cook for them. They decapitate people
and throw their heads in Cheptap-burbur river. They also rape their own relatives. The abused
women and girls end up giving birth to transparent ―plastic bag‖ babies. The narrator imagines
the horror of seeing Boyi‘s ―plastic bag‖ baby playing childhood games. Since school is
disrupted by the war, such thoughts haunt the young girl as she spends her idle days under a
flame tree at home.
Because of the war, innocent children turn into savages. Apart from the boys who were forced to
murder or rape their own kinsmen, Boyi has also gone from a God-fearing young man to a
wanted criminal. Chesaina tells his parents that he is now a marked man. He says: ―This war has
taken with it the mind of your son.‖ The distressing news crashes Boyi‘s parents and reduces
both of them to tears. They cannot wrap their heads around the fact that their good son who
recited his psalms devotedly is now a Matwa Kei right hand man and an enemy of the state. War
really ruins families.
Lastly, Boyi‘s family is devastated by the news of his killing. The Nation newspaper headline
screams coldly, ―Ragtag Militia Leaders Killed by Army Forces.‖ Baba crumples like an old coat
due to shock. Mama is too stunned to cry. She simply laughs. Boyi‘s sister is too gutted to weep.
War has robbed them of their kin in the prime of his youth. Boyi is murdered brutally after being
flung out of a helicopter which was mid-air. There was no body to bury or for Mama to slap for
that matter. She does not roll on the ground as is the custom. She is neither bitter nor sad. She
only has the eyes of lunacy and a voice of death. She is truly devastated. She sits on Boyi‘s bed
together with her daughter who weeps uncontrollably, her tears soaking her clothes. War indeed
destroys families.
92
In summary, it is evident that conflict or crisis has no positive outcome. They instead destroy
families and communities.
Firstly, it refers to the chess metaphor that is present throughout the story.
Randall is depicted as playing a long game, manipulating the company's finances and covering
his tracks in order to protect himself when the company inevitably goes bankrupt.
Sukiya also plays a long game, using her knowledge of the company's finances and her own
cunning to uncover Randall's forgeries and ultimately checkmate him.
Another reason the title is appropriate is because of the actual cheques that are central to the
story.
The cheques that Randall has forged with his own signature are the key piece of evidence that
Sukiya uses to bring him down.
The title "Cheque Mate" is a clever play on words that ties together the chess metaphor and the
actual cheques in the story.
Furthermore, the title also refers to the ultimate outcome of the story, which is Sukiya winning
over Randall. It's a clever way of highlighting the power dynamics between the two characters,
and how Sukiya manages to outsmart Randall and ultimately triumph over him.
Overall, the title "Cheque Mate" is an effective and fitting title for the story as it encapsulates the
central themes of the story, the chess metaphor, the centrality of the cheques and the power
dynamics between the characters.
The Plot Summary
The story "Cheque Mate" follows the character Sukiya (Ms Chansing) as she discovers a
discrepancy in her bank account involving a large sum of money.
She initially believes it to be a mistake, but upon further investigation, she realizes that it is a
cheque signed by her boss, Randall.
Sukiya becomes suspicious and decides to confront Randall about the cheque.
During her commute back to the city, she reflects on her past work experiences with Randall, and
how she has always been loyal to him, but also how he has always been secretive and cunning.
Upon her arrival at Randall's office, she presents him with the cheque and demands an
explanation.
He reveals that the cheque is a payment for her to keep quiet about a shady business deal
involving the undervaluation of shares in a methanol plant.
Sukiya is shocked, but also realizes that Randall has been manipulating her and the company's
finances for a long time.
She then pulls out a manila envelope containing several more cheques, all of which have been
forged with Randall's signature.
93
Sukiya becomes emotional and pleads with Randall to help her, but he is unsympathetic and
dismissive. In a moment of quick thinking, Sukiya reveals that she had recorded their
conversation, and that the recording would be sent to several people as evidence of his
wrongdoings.
This revelation leaves Randall speechless and powerless.
The story concludes with Sukiya taking control of the situation and effectively "checkmating"
Randall by exposing his corrupt actions and potentially saving herself from legal repercussions.
The title "Cheque Mate" is fitting as it refers to the chess metaphor throughout the story, in
which Sukiya outwits and defeats Randall in a game of strategy and deception.
Characters and Characterization
Character List
Sukiya - The protagonist of the story, she is a financial manager at a company owned by Randall.
She is described as being meticulous and not making mistakes, but also being aware of the
company's financial dealings.
Randall - The owner of the company where Sukiya works. He is described as having a gruff
demeanor and not smiling often. He is also portrayed as cunning and willing to do whatever it
takes to protect himself, even if it means committing fraud.
Margaret - Randall's secretary, who has been working for him for a long time. She is described
as having a little-girl lilt in her voice and as being more informed about Randall's dealings than
anyone else in the company.
Bank Teller: This person is not described in detail, but they assist Sukiya in examining the
cheque that she is confused about.
The Chinese - They are not described in detail, but they are mentioned as the buyers of the
methanol plant that Sukiya helped negotiate. They are also mentioned as having offered a
kickback to Randall and Sukiya.
Character Traits
Sukiya
Detail-oriented: Sukiya double-checks her records and the cheques she received, making sure
everything is accurate.
Logical: Sukiya examines the evidence and comes to a logical conclusion about Randall's
actions.
Independent: Sukiya doesn't rely on Randall's explanation of the cheques and instead
investigates on her own.
Pragmatic: Sukiya is able to think quickly and come up with a plan to protect herself when she
realizes the potential consequences of the company's financial collapse.
Self-assured: Sukiya is confident in her abilities and her position within the company.
Strong-willed: Sukiya stands up to Randall and doesn't back down when he tries to intimidate
her.
Resourceful: Sukiya uses her phone to record Randall's incriminating statement and uses it as
leverage in their confrontation.
Intelligent: Sukiya is able to understand the implications of the cheques, recognizing that the
forgeries were done to protect Randall in the event of a financial collapse.
Strategic: Sukiya plans her strategy when she goes to confront Randall and dresses to get an
advantage.
Loyal: Sukiya mentions that she has always been loyal to Randall and his company.
94
Professional: Sukiya is a successful businesswoman who is highly skilled in her job and does
not make mistakes.
Randall
Cunning: Randall is shown to be very clever and strategic in his business dealings, as seen in his
actions of undervaluing the methanol plant shares and forging his own signature on cheques to
protect himself in the event of the company's bankruptcy.
Amoral: Randall's actions throughout the story suggest that he is not guided by a sense of
morality. He is willing to sacrifice the interests of others, including his own employees, in order
to protect himself.
Cold: Randall is shown to be emotionally detached and unresponsive to the feelings of others.
He shows no remorse or regret for his actions and seems to view people as pawns to be used for
his own benefit.
Self-centered: Randall's primary concern throughout the story is his own well-being, as
evidenced by his actions to protect himself from the consequences of the company's bankruptcy.
Domineering: Randall is shown to be a controlling figure, both in his business dealings and in
his personal relationships. He is dismissive of Sukiya's concerns and expects her to do as he says.
Themes
Corruption / Fraud/ bribery
The banks and government will surely unravel and nab the cartel‘s underhand deals in
cryptocurrency camouflaged in the cheque deposits and contracts.
The first eyebrows are raised when the bank teller repeats the question, ―Ms Chansing,? Do you
want the ‗thirty million dollars‘ deposited in your savings account or would you prefer to open a
U.S. dollar account?‖ (p98).
The official deductible salary standard for top executives does not show in her actual income
through platinum credit cards.
Sukiya has accumulated over ten thousand dollars, an amount she deposits five times every
month. (p99).
She avoids encounters with bank managers for a bank manager might wonder how a fifty-
thousand-a-month salary becomes seven million dollars in savings within six years. He would
know enough to make some educated guesses. (p99).
The bank teller reminds Ms Chansing that the cheque is for five million dollars, U.S. equivalent
to 30,242,000 Trinidad and Tobago dollars. (p99).
She is responsible for moving vast sums through various channels when the oil and gas boom
starts and money flows into the company. Sukiya will need to provide the source of funds, of
course. (p101).
Randall had watched too many movies where unrealistically cunning criminals cleaned out
businessmen‘s offshore accounts by hacking into them. (p100).
Ironically, when Sukiya, a lawyer, is hired as a corporate secretary to detect and close financial
loopholes in documents, she gets paid the largest cheques for creating such loopholes. (p103).
The five million cheques she gets she assumes is her fee for having drawn up for the sale of the
methanol plant by Randall. It could be a surprise bonus. But now, according to Randall, it is her
fee for keeping her mouth shut during that deal. (p101— 107).
Then the truth about the trick unfolds: the money is a fee for keeping her mouth shut on the
Chinese methanol deal which Sukiya undervalues the shares by 50 percent. (p107, 109).
It is a deal that the Chinese considered protocol even with the (p103).
95
It is clear that the frauds committed, both inadvertent and deliberate, are rewarding, but
eventually, the perpetrators will have to pay dearly.
She is almost at the point of betraying herself, insinuating in her mind her readiness to offer
herself unto Randall, for he is a man. Sukiya wants every advantage if the meeting turns into a
negotiation. (p105).
Deception and manipulation
Randall, the main antagonist of the story, is shown to be a master of deception and manipulation.
He uses forged signatures, kickbacks, and other underhanded tactics to keep the company afloat
and protect himself.
Sukiya also employs deception and manipulation in her own way, by recording her conversation
with Randall and using it as leverage against him.
Power and control
The story is heavily focused on the power dynamics between Sukiya and Randall.
Sukiya is a highly successful businesswoman, but she is still beholden to Randall in many ways.
Randall, on the other hand, is the head of the company, and he uses his power to bend others to
his will.
The two characters are constantly vying for control over the situation, and the reader is left
wondering who will come out on top.
Loyalty and betrayal
Sukiya is portrayed as being fiercely loyal to Randall throughout the story.
She does everything she is asked, no matter how questionable, and is willing to sacrifice herself
to protect him.
However, when she realizes the extent of his deceit and manipulation, she turns on him and uses
her own tactics to take control of the situation.
The theme of loyalty and betrayal is a prevalent one, as the characters are constantly questioning
who is truly on their side.
Trust and mistrust
Trust and mistrust are also major themes in the story.
Sukiya and Randall have a complex relationship, and their trust in one another is constantly
shifting.
Sukiya initially trusts Randall completely, but as she begins to uncover the truth, she becomes
increasingly mistrustful of him.
The theme of trust and mistrust is also present in Sukiya's relationship with the bank teller.
Greed and corruption
The methanol deal and the forgery of cheques are examples of greed and corruption in the story,
with Randall willing to engage in illegal activities in order to gain financial benefits.
Deception
Randall's deception in regards to the true value of the shares and his forgery of the cheques are
examples of deception in the story.
Gender roles
Sukiya is a woman in a position of power and authority, but she is still subject to manipulation
and objectification by the men in the story.
Survival
Sukiya's actions throughout the story are motivated by her desire to survive the impending
financial crisis and protect herself from prosecution.
96
Technology
Sukiya's use of her iPhone to record and email their conversation is a good example of how
technology can be used to gain power and protect oneself.
Stylistic Devices
Personification
When an idea or animal is given human characteristics. ―The sky weeps.‖
"The shimmer from the giant windows seemed to become stronger, as though the light had begun
to vibrate."
Simile
Comparing two things using the words ―like‖ or ―as‖
"Sukiya's stomach was a cold, tight ball."
Metaphor
Comparing two things without using the words ―like‖ or ―as‖.
"The universe is collapsing, Sukiya and its masters cannot hold."
Symbolism
Symbolism is a literary device that uses symbols, be they words, people, marks, locations, or
abstract ideas to represent something beyond the literal meaning.
The concept of symbolism is not confined to works of literature: symbols inhabit every corner of
our daily life.
Sukiya's pen being used by Randall to forge his signature, symbolizing his manipulation and
control over her.
Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is a literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in
the story.
Foreshadowing is useful for creating suspense, a feeling of unease, a sense of curiosity, or a
mark that things may not be as they seem.
"I think there's going to be a worldwide financial crisis before the year is finished."
Irony
The definition of irony as a literary device is a situation in which there is a contrast between
expectation and reality.
Sukiya's pen being used by Randall to forge his signature, symbolizing his manipulation and
control over her, but ultimately it is used as evidence against him.
Suspense
In literature, suspense is an uneasy feeling that a reader gets when they don't know what is going
to happen next.
A writer creates suspense through a controlled release of information to readers that raises key
questions and makes readers eager, but terrified, to find out what happens.
Sukiya's mounting suspicions and discovery of the forgeries build tension leading up to her
confrontation with Randall.
Imagery
Imagery is a literary device used in poetry, novels, and other writing that uses vivid description
that appeals to a readers' senses to create an image or idea in their head.
Through language, imagery does not only paint a picture, but aims to portray the sensational and
emotional experience within text.
97
The use of descriptive language to create vivid imagery of the setting and characters, such as the
description of Randall's office as "huge and light and airy" and his face as "the unforgiving god-
masks of certain Amerindian tribes."
Repetition
Repeating words or phrases.
(There are actually many different types of repetition like anaphora and epiphora.)
The repeated use of the phrase "Sukiya" throughout the story creates a sense of emphasis on her
role and importance in the story.
Revision questions for Cheque Mate
How relevant is the title of the story, Cheque Mate
Who are the cheque mates in the story?
Why are cheques preferred as their payment modes?
How do the cheque mates exploit contracts‘ complexity and detailed nature to commit fraud?
How is sarcasm employed in Cheque Mate?
How symbolic is the title, and how does the duo execute their corrupt syndicate?
How is dialogue used to achieve revelation of the rotten ills of the cheque mates?
Why should corruption be made unattractive to perpetrators?
Essay Question
Explore and analyze the existence of the following themes in the short story titled Cheque Mate
Corruption / Fraud/ bribery
Deceit and Betrayal
Loyalty cheques
98
ESSAYS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Lack of sound judgment results in regret. Making reference to A Man of Awesome Power,
write an essay to justify this claim. (20 marks)
Lack of good sense results in misguided decisions which may torment us eternally. In A Man of
Awesome Power Tayyib al-Mahdi misuses and in turn loses his awesome power due to moments
of rash imprudence.
Tayyib al-Mahdi uses his awesome power to punish the taxi driver who ignores him when he
hails it. Tayyib al-Mahdi tries to flag down the taxi but the driver ignores him disdainfully.
Unlike when this happened in the past, now Tayyib al-Mahdi is filled with greater irritation. In
this moment of anger, he makes an impulsive decision to punish the man. He considers that he
could make the driver suffer an accident. He decides to shatter the taxi's rear wheels instead. He
knows that he should use his powers only for good but his anger results in his recklessness. As
he walks by the helpless man, Tayyib al-Mahdi stares at him, resentful and enraged. He feels like
he had taught the man a much needed lesson .
Tayyib al-Mahdi hastily punishes the radio announcer only because he is irritated with his views.
The announcer was expounding on promising developments expected in the future this is after
Tayyib al-Mahdi's memorable services were mistaken for an awakening of the state or outright
renaissance. Tayyib al-Mahdi fills a gaping pothole, locks a dangerously hanging electrical box,
removes a pile of rubbish and drains a sewer using his awesome power. Tayyib al-Mahdi is irked
by the announcer‘s promises who talks about the future instead of talking about what has been
accomplished. Tayyib al-Mahdy is overcome with fury and thoughtlessly punishes the man with
a bout of incessant sneezing. He sneezes uncontrollably until he cannot speak and instead plays a
recorded song ―Walk Around and See‖. Al-Mahdi plans to censor mass media by stopping any
talk that annoys him. He would make speakers that displease him to sneeze spontaneously, emit
shrill cries like women at a wedding, or suffer uncontrollable diarrhoea. Tayyib al-Mahdi is
drunk with happiness and joy.
Tayyib al-Mahdi also misuses his awesome power when he uses it to chase the gorgeous woman
at the zoo at the expense of the righteous plans he has. Tayyib al-Mahdi visits the tea garden at
the zoo purposely to properly plan how to put his new powers to greater use. However, he
instead uses it to seduce a gorgeous and enticing woman that catches his eye. Tayyib al-Mahdi is
filled with an inexplicable desire - one that is not ordinary and his inappropriate since he has a
tremendous burden of proper planning and awareness of need. This woman does not take notice
of Tayyib al-Mahdi until he sends her a hidden message using his awesome powers, instantly
setting her head-over-heels. He decides to heal himself instead of repairing the world. This ill-
advised move results in the loss of his powers and his vibrant mood. The miracle disappears like
a dream because of his selfish imprudence. He will be haunted eternally by an awesome sadness.
Tayyib al-Mahdi also makes the unwise decision of applying his power before properly planning
how to use it. First, he performs random miracles. Some are memorable services like removing a
pile of rubbish and draining an open sewer. Others are born out of sheer resentment and unwise
personal vendetta for example shattering the taxi wheels. He later realizes that he had to
consciously plan how to best utilize the powers. He obtains guides to the department of
government, factories and private companies coastal among the things he plans to fix our prisons
schools and universities commercial markets, then the press etc. He plans to map out every phase
deliberately. He intends to quell any clamor, and deter any digression. He plans to fix his country
99
then later the world. However, he fails to remain focused on the plan and is distracted by the
beautiful woman at the zoo. He puts his plans on hold as he instead chooses to use the powers to
pursue the woman. This imprudent resolve results in the loss of his power end he is forlornly
tormented by an eternal sadness.
Truly, poor decisions are preceded by lack of good judgment and Tayyib al-Mahdi learns this the
hard way.
2. Urban centres are riddled with frequent conflicts with innocent Citizens. Discuss the truth
of this assertion based on Meja Mwangi's Incident in the Park. (20 marks).
Describe the attack of the fruit seller - City constables confront the fruit-seller about his license
and identity card.
He claims that he left them at home and tries to bribe them with five shillings and later ten
shillings but they would hear nothing of it. He desperately pleads with the men to let him go. He
has a case with a judge he calls a tyrant. He sells fruits to raise a fine for the case. He further
offers the constables one basket of fruits and 10 shillings. He even offers them both his fruit
baskets desperately trying to buy his freedom.
When they remain steadfast, decides to run for it but sadly he is accosted by a mob who mistake
him for a thief and they stone him to death. They judge him based on his dirty torn clothes and a
mean hungry face - the uniform of his trade.
The fruit seller is unfairly targeted by the constables and is violently killed by a mob, even
though he was simply trying to make a living.
3. People with admirable traits stand out. Basing your illustrations on Vrenika Pather's
Ninema, write an essay to validate this assertion. (20 marks)
Exemplary attributes arouse respect and approval. Ninema is a young beautiful woman whose
praiseworthy character makes her the embodiment of magnificence. She stands out from the pack
at the market place.
First, Ninema is industrious. She rises early at 4:00 AM to reap her herbs from her garden. She
has green fingers and her crops are healthy. She is also an enterprising businesswoman. To earn a
living, she sells fresh produce at the Indian market. She learned the trade from her parents. Her
business makes good profit. At the end of a long working day, her hanky bulges with notes and
coins. Her diligence makes her remarkably superior to others.
Secondly, Ninema is resilient. She is as tough as old boots. She is contented and accepts her
situation but does not resign to it. She faces many challenges and wins. She is thus respected.
Ninema is also focused. She does not pay heed to the trifles when people admire her for her
physical beauty. She is indeed a beautiful woman with long black hair. Her beauty turns heads.
As she walks balancing her baskets on her head, her hips sway from side to side. Her sari drapes
around her perfect body kept in place by her high, firm breasts. Her long, toned arms and cinched
waist cause men to stop and stare. She faces them with piercing black eyes. Women admire her
high cheekbones. She does not pay heed to the attention. She has laser-like focus on earning a
living. She doesn‘t waste time chatting with other women at the market because she has no time
to waste. Indeed Ninema is focused.
Ninema is good-natured and she treats her customers well. She is wise enough to provide genial
customer service. She takes extra care of her first and last customer. She says they bring luck.
She learned her trade from her parents and thus she believes in the grace and power of
generational knowledge. She is also good at accounting. She can count faster than you can utter
100
the word ―herb‖. She treats all her loyal customers with respect and appreciation. She masterfully
handles the stubborn Mrs. Singh and respectfully calls her auntie.
Furthermore, Ninema is affable and the clients like her. Mr. Chimran is always the first to
support her. The other women joke that he is in love with Ninema. He is a rich lawyer from the
high Brahmin caste. Nonetheless, he is infatuated with Ninema a poor girl from the low caste.
She makes his days. He buys too much from her until the mother complains. He cannot fathom
the idea of an arranged marriage which will deny him the chance of visiting Ninema's stall. Mrs.
Singh is rich but she also enjoys buying her herbs from Ninema. She haggles for lower prizes
simply to spend more time with Ninema, away from the boredom of her big lonely house. She
lingers bargaining in order to interact with Ninema more. Ninema also takes personal interest in
the lives of her customers. She knows whose son is studying medicine in India, whose daughter
just got married, and who moved into a new house and where they bought it.
Ninema is self assured and confident. She runs her business with an iron fist. She is her own
person – acts independently with confidence. She does not give in to what other people expect of
her. This thrills as much as it irks many people. It makes the ladies in the other stands fond of her.
They often compromised themselves at work and at home. This makes them angry with
themselves. They look up to Ninema. They admire her since she is different though she‘s one of
them. They want to learn her secret. Mrs. Singh relentlessly bargains for lower prices but
Ninema does not budge.
Ninema is organized and that is why her business flourishes. She has a steady flow of customers.
She arranges her herbs appetizingly. The customers are attracted by the look and smell of her
stall. There is high demand for Ninema‘s herbs. She is always busy at lunchtime when the rich
professionals patronize her during their lunch break.
Ninema is also tough. When an amorous man blocks her way and tries to harass her, she stares
directly at him. She defends herself by fighting him so ferociously that the shameless man is left
astounded. This attracts cheers and jeers and hearty laughs of approval from the other women at
the market.
Lastly, Ninema is prudent. She is a poor girl living a modest lifestyle but she has big plans. She
saves part of her money with a view of buying a big house of her own. Currently her house has
neither hot running water nor a kitchen inside. She has to wash her face and feet using cold water
in the outside tap. However, with the money she‘s saving she plans to buy a house with the
running hot water and a kitchen inside. It will have a big garden where she can plant fruits.
In conclusion, Ninema is the pinnacle of magnificence. Because of her praiseworthy traits, she
seems remarkably superior to her peers. Indeed, exemplary attributes attract respect and make us
stand out.
4. People living on the streets apply wisdom in order to survive the difficult conditions. Write
an essay to qualify this statement citing illustrations from Rem'y Ngamije’s The
Neighbourhood Watch. (20 marks)
Living conditions on the streets are difficult. To survive, one needs not only determination and
effort but also experience, knowledge and good judgment. Members of the Neighbourhood
Watch apply wisdom to survive the arduous conditions on the streets.
First, the crew is judicious enough to secure territory-a safe haven for sleeping or just to lay low
when they weren‘t out on a foraging mission. The bridge‘s underside is precious real estate to the
Neighbourhood Watch. It is an important shelter when it rains and during cold winter nights. The
letters NW sprayed on the columns have the same effect as musty pee at the edge of a leopard‘s
101
territory. Other crews know better than to encroach it lest they face bloody retaliation. It is also a
safe place to hide their stash so that they don‘t have to lug their scant possessions everywhere
they go. More luggage would slow them down as they rummage their neighbourhoods for food
and other essentials. Elias calls their territory headquarters. In the morning, he wakes up the rest
of the crew and they share a can of water for washing their faces. To a street family a safe
territory is indispensable.
Secondly, they are wise enough to rise early to go searching for food. Elias, Lazarus and
Omagano set out before the light of day is full born. They leave early so that they can score the
real prizes-that is the overflowing bins behind restaurants. In the early morning one can get
edible semi-fresh morsels. In the late morning, the food starts rotting. The neighborhood watch
knows: ―the early bird does not catch the worms‖. In order to get there in good time Elias,
Lazarus and Omagano lengthen they are strides. They know that time is of the essence on the
streets.
The crew knows that they have to maintain a good bond with other people in order to survive.
Elias has a good rapport with most of the kitchen staff in the city. They refer to him by the
monikers ‗Soldier‘ or ‗Captain‘. Sometimes, they leave out almost decaying produce for him and
his group. Because of the good relationship, Elias would sometimes be lucky to get potatoes with
broken skins, rotting mangoes, and wrinkled carrots. The staff would be generous enough to give
them smushed leftovers from the previous night for instance half eaten burgers, chips drowning
in sauce or salads. Most of the kitchen staff are poor and many a time they would need to take
the leftovers to their own families. It is amazing that Elias manages to get some food from them.
The Neighbourhood Watch crew is so astute that they have organized themselves into specialised
units. Elias, Lazarus and Omagano are always on full duty whereas Silas and Martin are tasked
with searching for other essentials. Before, Elias was in on his own so when he met Lazarus he
suggested that they form an alliance because it was taxing to rummage for food and other
paraphernalia necessary for survival in the streets. At first, Lazarus was resistant. Cold winter
nights forced him to comply. It worked for them since two people could cover more ground. One
searches for food and the other for other essentials and thus they could do more in a day. Now,
they know that children and women are valuable recruits. Some obstinate guards demand for a
10 or 20 dollar bribe to let them scavenge through fenced off bins. Elias usually pays them but
when he has no money Omagano goes behind the dumpster with a guard and does what needs to
be done. The valuables crew on the other hand provide discarded blankets, mattresses, clothing,
reusable shoes, trolleys etc. Trolleys are useful but they can also be traded for better necessities.
The two teams work separately and meet in the late afternoon. They share the food that is bread,
mashed potatoes, grapes and water. The valuables crew brings newspapers, plastic piping and
poorboy caps.
The Neighbourhood Watch also understands the city and its neighbourhoods. Elias asks the crew
to sleep since they plan to go foraging in Ausblick tonight. It is too hot to be on the streets now.
Night is better and more lucrative for the Neighbourhood Watch. The crew knows that if they hit
the bins early, they may score some good things in Ausblick for instance broken toasters,
blenders, water bottles, teflon pots or pans, flat screen TV cardboard boxes and even some food.
People in Ausblick still know how to throw away things. Elias, Lazarus and Silas will scout
ahead rummaging for valuables while Martin and Omagano push the trolley. They know that
soon Ausblick will be overcrowded like Olympia and Suiderhof. Pionierspark used to be
worthwhile but not anymore. Now, the Neighbourhood Watch are deterred by peeking heads,
102
barking dogs and patrolling vehicles with angry shouting men. They know that the earlier they
get to Ausblick the better.
The neighborhood watch understands that in order to survive on the streets one must focus on the
present, not the past or the future. Everyone brings a past to the streets. Lazarus‘s tattoos are
evidence of his prison stint. Elias is not scared of him since he faced gunfire against the South
African Defence Forces. Because of hunger or need for food on the streets, they have no time to
think about the past. Elias shares some street smartness with Lazarus. He says the streets has no
future, there is only today. ―Today you need food. Today you need shelter. Today you need to
take care of today‖. On Fridays and Saturdays, the crew avoids the streets and retreats safely to
Headquarters. They do this to avoid clashing with patrolling police. Silas wants to leave but is
forbidden from taking Martin with him. Elias and Lazarus mock the fools who sit on the roadside
in Klein Windhoek and Eros waiting to paint a room, fix a window, install a sink or lay some
tiles because they are too proud to forage for food. They end up going home hungry. Martin
thinks that sometimes those ―fools‖ can get a job and maybe things will be better. Elias insists
that ―maybe is tomorrow‖ and there is only today. On the street one needs to focus on the present
to survive. ―Every day is today.‖
Elias and Lazarus share what they have learned on the streets with the rest of the crew including
how they decided to change tack. The crew learned that you cannot survive by being around
people trying to survive. When foraging in the poor neighbourhoods, you only get what they
don‘t need to survive. The Neighbourhood Watch realise that poor people only throw away
garbage which is disgusting and babies which are useless. In the poor neighborhoods you had to
be ready to find shit: old food, used condoms, women‘s things with blood, and broken things.
When looking for newspapers to light a fire once, Elias and Lazarus was shocked when they
found a dead baby. They knew it was time to upgrade. They only went there because they needed
to survive. To survive you go everywhere and do everything. You cannot be picky. But now they
know that they should upgrade and go to places where people have enough to throw away.
Neighbourhoods with white people and black people trying to be white people have such people.
They finally get smart and decide to move away from poor people who have nothing to throw
away by themselves.
Lastly the Neighbourhood Watch is wise enough to know that there are some neighbourhoods
you have to avoid. They avoid Khomsadal which is overcrowded and people drink too much
there. They lost their friend Amos there due to his pride end alcohol. He used to curse people,
use ugly swear words and always refused to apologize. He was then stabbed to death. The
Neighbourhood Watch knows that on the streets are dead bodies bad. Police would roughly
demand explanations from witnesses. They used baton bashes, frustrating paperwork and
throwing innocent people in holding cells. When Amos, died everyone including Elias and
Lazarus knew they had to run away. They were also wise enough to stick to the initial story that
they had nothing to do with the murder when the police caught up with them. They were beaten,
bruised, bleeding, with swollen eyes broken ribs and injured limbs but that was better than losing
life. They are smart enough to completely avoid Khomsadal.
In conclusion, difficult experiences make people wise enough to cope and survive. Acuity is
essential for survival.
5. Explore and analyze the existence of the following themes in the short story titled Cheque
Mate. (20 marks)
Corruption / Fraud/ bribery
103
Deceit and Betrayal
Loyalty cheques
Corruption / Fraud/ bribery
The banks and government will surely unravel and nab the cartel‘s underhand deals in
cryptocurrency camouflaged in the cheque deposits and contracts.
The first eyebrows are raised when the bank teller repeats the question, ―Ms Chansing,? Do you
want the ‗thirty million dollars‘ deposited in your savings account or would you prefer to open a
U.S. dollar account?‖ (p98).
The official deductible salary standard for top executives does not show in her actual income
through platinum credit cards.
Sukiya has accumulated over ten thousand dollars, an amount she deposits five times every
month. (p99).
She avoids encounters with bank managers for a bank manager might wonder how a fifty-
thousand-a-month salary becomes seven million dollars in savings within six years. He would
know enough to make some educated guesses. (p99).
The bank teller reminds Ms Chansing that the cheque is for five million dollars, U.S. equivalent
to 30,242,000 Trinidad and Tobago dollars. (p99).
She is responsible for moving vast sums through various channels when the oil and gas boom
starts and money flows into the company. Sukiya will need to provide the source of funds, of
course. (p101).
Randall had watched too many movies where unrealistically cunning criminals cleaned out
businessmen‘s offshore accounts by hacking into them. (p100).
Ironically, when Sukiya, a lawyer, is hired as a corporate secretary to detect and close financial
loopholes in documents, she gets paid the largest cheques for creating such loopholes. (p103).
The five million cheques she gets she assumes is her fee for having drawn up for the sale of the
methanol plant by Randall. It could be a surprise bonus. But now, according to Randall, it is her
fee for keeping her mouth shut during that deal. (p101— 107).
Then the truth about the trick unfolds: the money is a fee for keeping her mouth shut on the
Chinese methanol deal which Sukiya undervalues the shares by 50 percent. (p107, 109).
It is a deal that the Chinese considered protocol even with the (p103).
It is clear that the frauds committed, both inadvertent and deliberate, are rewarding, but
eventually, the perpetrators will have to pay dearly.
She is almost at the point of betraying herself, insinuating in her mind her readiness to offer
herself unto Randall, for he is a man. Sukiya wants every advantage if the meeting turns into a
negotiation. (p105).
Deception and manipulation
Randall, the main antagonist of the story, is shown to be a master of deception and manipulation.
He uses forged signatures, kickbacks, and other underhanded tactics to keep the company afloat
and protect himself.
Sukiya also employs deception and manipulation in her own way, by recording her conversation
with Randall and using it as leverage against him.
Loyalty and betrayal
Sukiya is portrayed as being fiercely loyal to Randall throughout the story.
She does everything she is asked, no matter how questionable, and is willing to sacrifice herself
to protect him.
104
However, when she realizes the extent of his deceit and manipulation, she turns on him and uses
her own tactics to take control of the situation.
The theme of loyalty and betrayal is a prevalent one, as the characters are constantly questioning
who is truly on their side.
6. War has devastating effects and thus should be avoided at all cost. Using illustrations from
‘Ghosts’ by Chimamanda Adichie write an essay to support this claim. (20 marks)
The destructive aftermath of the war include:
Displacement of families
Loss of loved ones / Death – Zik, two lectures, Chris Okigbo, Ikenna's entire family
Destruction of property - After the civil war ended in 1970, Prof James and Ebere returned to
Nsukka from America. They were, however, disappointed to find some of their properties having
been destroyed and others missing. ―Our books were in a charred pile in the front garden.. the
lumps of calcified faeces in the bathtub were strewn with pages of my mathematical annals, used
as toilet paper, crusted smears blurring the formulas I had studied and taught Our piano – Ebere‘s
piano was gone. our photographs were ripped, their frames broken.‖
On their way home that day, Prof James and Ebere saw a landscape of ruins, blown-out roofs and
houses riddled with holes, injuries, and physical pain. The day Prof James and Ebere drove back
to Nsukka, Biafran soldiers stopped them and shoved a wounded soldier into their car, and his
blood dripped onto the backseat of their vehicle
Landscapes with ruins, blown out roofs, houses with holes
Trauma – Wounded soldier, Ikenna Okoro pale shadow of his former self
Separation of families – Nkiru and his son live in America
Harrowing conditions – muddy bunkers
No food – cassava peels, malnutrition, relief food, picking through dustbins
Counterfeit/fake drugs - fie selling of expired medicine is the current plague in the country
Ikenna tells James that he has been reading about fake drugs in the papers (pg. 65).
The effect of fake drugs has been felt by James, whose wife Ebere‘s death is linked to the
counterfeit drug deal. Prof James thinks that Ikenna must have heard of ‗How Ebere had lain in
the hospital getting weaker and weaker, how her doctor had been puzzled that she was not
recovering after her medication how none of us knew until it was too late that the drugs were
useless‘. In addition, Prof James bitterly remembers how he had watched some broadcast of an
interview on NTA. Through the interview, a man accused of importing fake drugs – typhoid
fever drugs, had defended himself by claiming that his drugs do not kill people but only fail to
cure illness
7. Many individuals struggle with ghosts from their past. Show how true this assertion is based
on ‘Ghosts’ by Chimamanda Adichie. (20 marks)
The title "Ghosts" is appropriate for the story for several reasons.
It refers to Ikenna Okoro, who was thought to have died during the war, but has unexpectedly
returned as a "ghost" of his former self.
James describes Ikenna as a prominent voice against widespread corruption, and also presumably
for Biafran independence.
This theme of the unexpected return of a person believed to be dead is a recurring motif
throughout the story and sets the stage for the reader to consider the weight of the past and how it
haunts the present.
105
The title also refers to the visits of the narrator's deceased wife, Ebere, who appears to him in the
form of a ghost.
The narrator's belief in her ghostly presence and the impact it has on his life is central to the story
and highlights the idea that the past cannot be fully escaped, and the memories of loved ones can
linger long after they have passed away.
The theme of the war also ties in to the title of "Ghosts" as it is a haunting presence throughout
the story.
The war is described as something that has left its mark on the characters, shaping their lives and
memories, and the lingering effects of the war on the narrator and his community can be seen as
a form of ghost that still haunts them even though the war has ended.
In James' mind, the war should've been an easy victory for his side
Furthermore, the university's current state of corruption, and pension issues faced by Ikenna and
the narrator, can also be seen as a ghost of the past, in the sense that the negative effects of past
actions and leadership continue to haunt and affect the present.
This further highlights how the past can't be ignored and it keep looming over people's lives.
The fake drugs menace is another example of a present-day issue that is linked to the past, as it is
a symptom of a broken system that has not been fully addressed since the war.
Overall, the title "Ghosts" is fitting as it references the idea of the past, in various ways,
continuing to linger and affect the present and the people in it.
8. What is the significance of Aksionov's wife's dream?
What forms of justice are depicted in "God Sees the Truth, But Waits"?
What role does acceptance play in "God Sees the Truth, But Waits"?
Answers
What is the significance of Aksionov's wife's dream?
Before Aksionov sets off on his journey to Nizhy Fair, his wife asks him not to leave, as she has
dreamt about him returning from the fair with grey hair. While she interprets the grey hair as
symbolic of some terrible fate befalling her husband, Aksionov dismisses her concern, saying
that it must be good luck. However, the wife's premonition proves significant, as it foreshadows
how Aksionov prematurely ages due to the stress of being wrongfully imprisoned. Over his
twenty-six years in Siberia, Aksionov grows a grey beard and his hair turns white as snow.
8. What forms of justice are depicted in "God Sees the Truth, But Waits"?
In "God Sees the Truth, But Waits," Tolstoy uses dramatic irony to instill in the reader sympathy
for Aksionov, whom the reader knows to be innocent. As Aksionov is put through the
tribulations of being punished for a crime he didn't commit, the reader watches Aksionov calmly
accept his fate as the victim of a flawed criminal justice system composed of people eager to see
the crime pinned on him. Tolstoy also depicts the inverted and private justice that Aksionov
practices in relation to Semyonich: even though he knows Semyonich to be guilty, Aksionov
doesn't repeat the cruelty used against himself, choosing instead to spare Semyonich any
punishment. The leniency and mercy Aksionov demonstrates so profoundly shake Semyonich's
sense of morality that he confesses to Aksionov and begs forgiveness. Aksionov says that God
will forgive him, which points to Aksionov's faith in God's justice.
What role does acceptance play in "God Sees the Truth, But Waits"?
As one of the story's major themes, acceptance plays a central role in "God Sees the Truth, But
Waits." Even though Aksionov is subjected to profound injustice, he tries to accept his fate as a
wrongfully imprisoned person, putting his life in God's hands. Although Aksionov develops a
106
new personality in prison as a devout Christian and peacemaker, his calm demeanor is rattled
when Semyonich arrives and inflames in Aksionov feelings of misery at his unjust treatment.
Aksionov's response to Semyonich reveals how he has never truly accepted his fate. But once
Aksionov grants God's forgiveness to Semyonich, Aksionov finds that a lightness enters his heart.
He is free of carrying the burden of never accepting his life, and once he accepts his life, he no
longer needs to live it, dying soon after.
9. People living on the streets apply wisdom in order to survive the difficult conditions. Write
an essay to qualify this statement citing illustrations from Rem'y Ngamije’s The
Neighbourhood Watch. (20 marks)
Living conditions on the streets are difficult. To survive, one needs not only determination and
effort but also experience, knowledge and good judgment. Members of the Neighbourhood
Watch apply wisdom to survive the arduous conditions on the streets.
First, the crew is judicious enough to secure territory-a safe haven for sleeping or just to lay low
when they weren‘t out on a foraging mission. The bridge‘s underside is precious real estate to the
Neighbourhood Watch. It is an important shelter when it rains and during cold winter nights. The
letters NW sprayed on the columns have the same effect as musty pee at the edge of a leopard‘s
territory. Other crews know better than to encroach it lest they face bloody retaliation. It is also a
safe place to hide their stash so that they don‘t have to lug their scant possessions everywhere
they go. More luggage would slow them down as they rummage their neighbourhoods for food
and other essentials. Elias calls their territory headquarters. In the morning, he wakes up the rest
of the crew and they share a can of water for washing their faces. To a street family a safe
territory is indispensable.
Secondly, they are wise enough to rise early to go searching for food. Elias, Lazarus and
Omagano set out before the light of day is full born. They leave early so that they can score the
real prizes-that is the overflowing bins behind restaurants. In the early morning one can get
edible semi-fresh morsels. In the late morning, the food starts rotting. The neighborhood watch
knows: ―the early bird does not catch the worms‖. In order to get there in good time Elias,
Lazarus and Omagano lengthen they are strides. They know that time is of the essence on the
streets.
The crew knows that they have to maintain a good bond with other people in order to survive.
Elias has a good rapport with most of the kitchen staff in the city. They refer to him by the
monikers ‗Soldier‘ or ‗Captain‘. Sometimes, they leave out almost decaying produce for him and
his group. Because of the good relationship, Elias would sometimes be lucky to get potatoes with
broken skins, rotting mangoes, and wrinkled carrots. The staff would be generous enough to give
them smushed leftovers from the previous night for instance half eaten burgers, chips drowning
in sauce or salads. Most of the kitchen staff are poor and many a time they would need to take
the leftovers to their own families. It is amazing that Elias manages to get some food from them.
The Neighbourhood Watch crew is so astute that they have organized themselves into specialised
units. Elias, Lazarus and Omagano are always on full duty whereas Silas and Martin are tasked
with searching for other essentials. Before, Elias was in on his own so when he met Lazarus he
suggested that they form an alliance because it was taxing to rummage for food and other
paraphernalia necessary for survival in the streets. At first, Lazarus was resistant. Cold winter
nights forced him to comply. It worked for them since two people could cover more ground. One
searches for food and the other for other essentials and thus they could do more in a day. Now,
they know that children and women are valuable recruits. Some obstinate guards demand for a
107
10 or 20 dollar bribe to let them scavenge through fenced off bins. Elias usually pays them but
when he has no money Omagano goes behind the dumpster with a guard and does what needs to
be done. The valuables crew on the other hand provide discarded blankets, mattresses, clothing,
reusable shoes, trolleys etc. Trolleys are useful but they can also be traded for better necessities.
The two teams work separately and meet in the late afternoon. They share the food that is bread,
mashed potatoes, grapes and water. The valuables crew brings newspapers, plastic piping and
poorboy caps.
The Neighbourhood Watch also understands the city and its neighbourhoods. Elias asks the crew
to sleep since they plan to go foraging in Ausblick tonight. It is too hot to be on the streets now.
Night is better and more lucrative for the Neighbourhood Watch. The crew knows that if they hit
the bins early, they may score some good things in Ausblick for instance broken toasters,
blenders, water bottles, teflon pots or pans, flat screen TV cardboard boxes and even some food.
People in Ausblick still know how to throw away things. Elias, Lazarus and Silas will scout
ahead rummaging for valuables while Martin and Omagano push the trolley. They know that
soon Ausblick will be overcrowded like Olympia and Suiderhof. Pionierspark used to be
worthwhile but not anymore. Now, the Neighbourhood Watch are deterred by peeking heads,
barking dogs and patrolling vehicles with angry shouting men. They know that the earlier they
get to Ausblick the better.
The neighborhood watch understands that in order to survive on the streets one must focus on the
present, not the past or the future. Everyone brings a past to the streets. Lazarus‘s tattoos are
evidence of his prison stint. Elias is not scared of him since he faced gunfire against the South
African Defence Forces. Because of hunger or need for food on the streets, they have no time to
think about the past. Elias shares some street smartness with Lazarus. He says the streets has no
future, there is only today. ―Today you need food. Today you need shelter. Today you need to
take care of today‖. On Fridays and Saturdays, the crew avoids the streets and retreats safely to
Headquarters. They do this to avoid clashing with patrolling police. Silas wants to leave but is
forbidden from taking Martin with him. Elias and Lazarus mock the fools who sit on the roadside
in Klein Windhoek and Eros waiting to paint a room, fix a window, install a sink or lay some
tiles because they are too proud to forage for food. They end up going home hungry. Martin
thinks that sometimes those ―fools‖ can get a job and maybe things will be better. Elias insists
that ―maybe is tomorrow‖ and there is only today. On the street one needs to focus on the present
to survive. ―Every day is today.‖
Elias and Lazarus share what they have learned on the streets with the rest of the crew including
how they decided to change tack. The crew learned that you cannot survive by being around
people trying to survive. When foraging in the poor neighbourhoods, you only get what they
don‘t need to survive. The Neighbourhood Watch realise that poor people only throw away
garbage which is disgusting and babies which are useless. In the poor neighborhoods you had to
be ready to find shit: old food, used condoms, women‘s things with blood, and broken things.
When looking for newspapers to light a fire once, Elias and Lazarus was shocked when they
found a dead baby. They knew it was time to upgrade. They only went there because they needed
to survive. To survive you go everywhere and do everything. You cannot be picky. But now they
know that they should upgrade and go to places where people have enough to throw away.
Neighbourhoods with white people and black people trying to be white people have such people.
They finally get smart and decide to move away from poor people who have nothing to throw
away by themselves.
108
Lastly the Neighbourhood Watch is wise enough to know that there are some neighbourhoods
you have to avoid. They avoid Khomsadal which is overcrowded and people drink too much
there. They lost their friend Amos there due to his pride end alcohol. He used to curse people,
use ugly swear words and always refused to apologize. He was then stabbed to death. The
Neighbourhood Watch knows that on the streets are dead bodies bad. Police would roughly
demand explanations from witnesses. They used baton bashes, frustrating paperwork and
throwing innocent people in holding cells. When Amos, died everyone including Elias and
Lazarus knew they had to run away. They were also wise enough to stick to the initial story that
they had nothing to do with the murder when the police caught up with them. They were beaten,
bruised, bleeding, with swollen eyes broken ribs and injured limbs but that was better than losing
life. They are smart enough to completely avoid Khomsadal.
In conclusion, difficult experiences make people wise enough to cope and survive. Acuity is
essential for survival.
10. Write a composition showing how war ruins communities making reference to Boyi by
Gloria Mwaniga. (20 marks)
When conflict thrives, it destroys family ties and communal bonds. Family members are
separated from one another, some are traumatized and others killed as a result of the crisis. In
Gloria Mwaniga's Boyi,the militia meant to protect community land from strangers turns out to
be the enemy within, wreaking untold havoc on the same community they had vowed to protect.
First, as a result of the war some family members are disunited from the rest of the family. The
militia demands 40,000 land protection tax - 10,000 land protection tax and 30,000 betrayal tax
which Baba cannot raise. Baba had lent a panga and makonge ropes to the government surveyors.
Matwa Kei and his thugs deemed this betrayal. In his desperation, Baba hands over everything
he owns - his savings, precious radio and hunting gun. He promises to sell his bull Mtambakaki
to raise the cash the militia leader was demanding. His pleas fall on deaf ears. He is forced to buy
the safety of his family by handing over his 15 year old son to the militia. This pushes his mother
to the precipice of lunacy. Tearing off her kitenge headscarf she shouts at her husband - a child is
not a match or a dress that one can give away rather casually. Baba's action caused a rift between
him and Mama. He justifies his actions and says that the aggressors would have tortured or even
killed them had he not given Boyi away. He is, however, saddened that the boys who had vowed
to protect their land had turned on them like a hungry chameleon that eats its intestines. Indeed,
conflict ruins communities.
Conflict causes devastation that pushes some people to the brink of insanity. Boyi‘s sister finds
her mother seated alone on a kitimoto in the kitchen. She neither looks up nor responds to
greetings. She screams at the girl to leave some tea for her brother who will return from the
caves hungry. The screaming goes on for weeks. ―Stupid girl, you want to finish tea and your
brother will come from the caves hungry,‖ she bawls. She would sit stunned gazing at the wall,
declaring she envisions her son returning home after escaping from the snare of the militia. After
her monologues, she would sit sadly and silently. When her madness takes a walk, they would
brew tea together with a girl and she would nostalgically reminisce stories about Boyi; about
how he saved her marriage, his shiny ebony skin and eloquence in English. This is a clear
testament of a mother‘s agony, anguish and disconnection from reality. War really causes
devastation to families.
The war drives Baba, a Christian, to partake in a strange cultural practice to escort Boyi‘s spirit
away. Together with his cousin Kimutai, he digs a shallow grave and buries a banana stem
109
wrapped in a green cotton sheet. He asks death to take that body and never bother his family
again. Boyi‘s sister is taken aback that her pious father had turned his back on religion. Her
mother refuses to play a part in the mock burial. Mama‘s voice bears manic vibrancy when she
declares that she would not participate in escorting her son‘s spirit away. She has lost touch with
reality and lives in denial. This is as a result of the pointless conflict.
In her anguish, Mama is too despondent to eat. She sits muttering to herself without touching her
food. The food would be thrown away to the kitchen coop. She sits and talks to herself for hours
on end lamenting about her suffering. She asks God to tie a rope around her stomach - to help her
bear the anguish of losing her son to the ruthless militia. She asks Boyi‘s sister if she remembers
his perfect teeth. War really causes suffering of family members.
Also, war disrupts work in the village. That December the farmers do not clear their shambas for
the second planting of maize. The militia steals young crops from the fields and goats from the
pens. Instead of working, men and women sit and exchange dreadful tales of the horrendous
cruelty of the militia. The militia cut up people and throw their bodies in rivers, pit latrines and
wells. They recruit boys as young as ten who are forced to kill their own relatives. Instead of
protecting the land, the militia goes on an indiscriminate killing spree, and their kin are victims
of the aggression instead of beneficiaries. Boyi‘s sister has a terrible dream that her brother
attacks her and chops her into ―small-small‖ pieces. The thought is traumatizing.
Moreover, the war causes displacement of people who leave their homes en masse. The family of
the narrator‘s friend, Chemtai, moves away to Chwele. The villages of Kopsiro, Saromet,
Chepyuk and Chelebei are engulfed in a thick yellow fog of fear. They did not understand the
militia‘s motive anymore. The thugs take away girls to cook for them. They decapitate people
and throw their heads in Cheptap-burbur river. They also rape their own relatives. The abused
women and girls end up giving birth to transparent ―plastic bag‖ babies. The narrator imagines
the horror of seeing Boyi‘s ―plastic bag‖ baby playing childhood games. Since school is
disrupted by the war, such thoughts haunt the young girl as she spends her idle days under a
flame tree at home.
Because of the war, innocent children turn into savages. Apart from the boys who were forced to
murder or rape their own kinsmen, Boyi has also gone from a God-fearing young man to a
wanted criminal. Chesaina tells his parents that he is now a marked man. He says: ―This war has
taken with it the mind of your son.‖ The distressing news crashes Boyi‘s parents and reduces
both of them to tears. They cannot wrap their heads around the fact that their good son who
recited his psalms devotedly is now a Matwa Kei right hand man and an enemy of the state. War
really ruins families.
Lastly, Boyi‘s family is devastated by the news of his killing. The Nation newspaper headline
screams coldly, ―Ragtag Militia Leaders Killed by Army Forces.‖ Baba crumples like an old coat
due to shock. Mama is too stunned to cry. She simply laughs. Boyi‘s sister is too gutted to weep.
War has robbed them of their kin in the prime of his youth. Boyi is murdered brutally after being
flung out of a helicopter which was mid-air. There was no body to bury or for Mama to slap for
that matter. She does not roll on the ground as is the custom. She is neither bitter nor sad. She
only has the eyes of lunacy and a voice of death. She is truly devastated. She sits on Boyi‘s bed
together with her daughter who weeps uncontrollably, her tears soaking her clothes. War indeed
destroys families.
In summary, it is evident that conflict or crisis has no positive outcome. They instead destroy
families and communities.
110
