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The question becomes who is more detached from reality? Though Torvald's attitude pervades every word he speaks to Nora, his objectification of her is most evident in his use of animal imagery. He refers to her as his little "lark" and "squirrel" small harmless animals. Similarly, Torvald repeatedly calls Nora his "little one" or "little girl", maintaining the approach of a father rather than husband. Nora is fullyPage 15 dependent on Torvald, from money to diet the macaroons ; and, because she is so sheltered, her perception of the world is romanticized. Nora's skewed vision of the world is most evident in her interactions with Mrs. Linde. Whereas her old school friend is wizened and somber, Nora is impetuous. Her choice to tell Mrs. Linde about her secret seems to be more of a boast of a small child than a thoughtful adult; in fact, Nora only reveals her secret after being called a child by Mrs. Linde. Similarly, in her talk with Krogstad, Nora seems unable to accept that what she sees as acts of love could be seen as illegal and wrong. She refuses to believe that she is just as guilty as Krogstad. However, it is apparent that Nora is at least partly aware of the falseness of her life. When pressed as to whether she will ever tell Torvald about the loan, she replies that she would, but only in time. For now, she believes that it would upset the lies that have built her home: Torvald's "manly independence" and even the basis of their marriage. This suggests that Nora is at least vaguely aware that Torvald's position as the manly provider and lawgiver is just as fabricated as her role as the helpless child-wife and mother. Indeed, it is important to examine the language of the opening scene between Nora and Torvald and realize that Nora's words can be read as both sincere and insincere; the text suggests an ambiguity in Nora's awareness of her situation. However, though Nora is somewhat aware, she does not want to face the implications of this reality, believing that material wealth will render her "free from care", allowing her to play with her children, keep the house beautifully, and do everything the way that Torvald likes. The lie can be preserved. |
Indeed, it is important to examine the language of the opening scene between Nora and Torvald and realize that Nora's words can be read as both sincere and insincere; the text suggests an ambiguity in Nora's awareness of her situation. However, though Nora is somewhat aware, she does not want to face the implications of this reality, believing that material wealth will render her "free from care", allowing her to play with her children, keep the house beautifully, and do everything the way that Torvald likes. The lie can be preserved. Moreover, it seems that it is her lie, her knowledge that she has done something for Torvald that keeps Nora happy. Mrs. Linde's complaint that she feels unspeakably empty without anyone to care for reinforces the importance of this role for women in general in the text. Consequently, Nora is content to continue to act as a child, romping with her children as if she is one of them. Indeed, it is clear that, just as she is not as much a wife as a child in her marriage, she is not a mother in any real sense either. It is the nurse who actually takes care of the children; Nora mostly plays with them and occasionally takes on more serious responsibilities but only because she views them as "great fun". When Nora realizes that all may not go to plan after her talk with Krogstad because she is unable to either influence Torvald or talk to him on a straight level about her predicament, she begins to feel helpless. In the last scene of the act, when Nora is trimming the tree and conversing with Torvald, the full falseness of her situation becomes clear. Acting helpless, Nora tells Torvald that she absolutely needs his help, even with such a trifling thing as picking a costume for the upcoming ball. Torvald is not surprised and is even delighted, promising to help her. When the subject turns to the more serious matter of Torvald's views on Krogstad, it becomes apparent that Torvald is perhaps hopelessly invested in a false and twisted image of the world in which women are charged with the moral purity of the world, claiming that if men turn out badly it is because of poor mothering. |
Acting helpless, Nora tells Torvald that she absolutely needs his help, even with such a trifling thing as picking a costume for the upcoming ball. Torvald is not surprised and is even delighted, promising to help her. When the subject turns to the more serious matter of Torvald's views on Krogstad, it becomes apparent that Torvald is perhaps hopelessly invested in a false and twisted image of the world in which women are charged with the moral purity of the world, claiming that if men turn out badly it is because of poor mothering. As a result, at the end of the scene, when Nora reassures herself that "it must be impossible", she is worried both about the impossibility of her position in the immediate sense i.e., concerning the loan as well as the impossibility of her larger situation as a participant in a marriage and family built on lies. In fact, it is possible to view her last words of the act a defiance of Torvald's views on women as the beginning of her rejection of the marriage altogether. Act II: Summary: The second Act begins where the first left off--Nora still pacing the living room uneasily, worried that Krogstad will expose her. Still denying the possibility of negative repercussions, Nora is interrupted byPage 16 the Nurse who brings in Nora's ball dress. Nora asks if her children have been asking for her. The Nurse confirms that they have and Nora, continuing to hint at negative events yet to come, tells the Nurse that Nora will not be able to be with her children as much as before. When the Nurse comments that the children will be able to cope with such a loss, Nora wonders aloud if they would forget her altogether if she were to go away. The Nurse is shocked. Nora then asks her a question she claims to have had for a long time: how the Nurse could have felt comfortable leaving her own children among strangers while she came to work as Nora's nurse when Nora was little. The Nurse tells her that she was grateful for such a good position and, given her financially unstable situation and her dislike of her husband , something she could not pass up. Nora further probes if the Nurse's daughter, as a result of her absence, had forgotten the Nurse. Nurse says no. Nora throws her arms around the Nurse, telling the Nurse what a wonderful mother she had been for her. |
Nora further probes if the Nurse's daughter, as a result of her absence, had forgotten the Nurse. Nurse says no. Nora throws her arms around the Nurse, telling the Nurse what a wonderful mother she had been for her. Nora also begins to say that she is sure that the Nurse would also be a wonderful mother to Nora's children if they were suddenly without a mother but dismisses her thought as silly and sends the Nurse back to the children, turning the conversation to the ball. While alone, Nora unsuccessfully tries to concentrate on the ball and forget the problem of the possibility of Krogstad revealing her secret. She is interrupted by Mrs. Linde's arrival. Happy to see her, Nora asks Mrs. Linde to help her repair her dress for the ball the next evening. While sewing, Mrs. Linde thanks Nora for her hospitality and begins to ask about Dr. Rank and whether he is usually as depressing as he had been the day before. Nora reports that, as Mrs. Linde expected, he had been particularly bad and explains to her friend that Dr. Rank suffers from a very dangerous consumption of the spine that he has had from childhood; Nora hints that Dr. Rank's problem is the result of his father's sexual indiscretions though it is unclear as to whether Nora is really hinting and aware of the fact that they were sexual in nature . Shocked by Nora's understanding of the matter, Mrs. Linde drops her sewing and asks Nora how it is that she knows of such things. Nora dismisses Mrs. Linde's inquiry by telling her that the married women friends that occasionally stop by have a good knowledge of medical problems. Resuming her sewing, Mrs. Linde quietly continues her probe of Nora's relationship with Dr. Rank, asking Nora if he is often at the house. Nora replies that Dr. Rank is a good friend of both she and Torvald and stops by the house daily. Curious about Dr. Rank's motives as well as his familiarity with Mrs. Linde's name and Torvald's lack of familiarity , Mrs. Linde asks Nora to describe her relationship with the Doctor. Nora confesses that, because of Torvald's own tastes, she does often tell Dr. Rank things that she does not share with Torvald. Suspicious of Dr. Rank, Mrs. Linde, citing her superior experience and knowledge of the world, counsels Nora to end her relationship with Dr. |
Nora is relieved that Dr. Rank has actually been talking about himself and not her own situation and comments on the ugliness of the matter. Dr. Rank agrees and asks Nora to prevent Torvald from entering Rank's sickroom once Rank knows that he is about to enter the final stages of death because Rank does not want Torvald to witness the ugliness of the disease since he knows that Torvald's refined nature gives Torvald an unconquerable disgust of everything ugly. Nora, upset by his pessimistic and ugly tone, comments that she had hoped that he would be in good spirits today. Rank scoffs at the idea of being in good humor pun probably not intended when he knows that he is dying for the sins of his father. Besides, he says, such revenge for indiscretion is being exacted in every household. Unclear as to what Rank is talking about, Nora comments that Rank's father must have eaten a lot of unhealthy foods and alcohol when he was younger. The conversation it is unclear as to whether the two have really understood each other throughout the exchange peters out with Nora commenting that the biggest tragedy has been that Dr. Rank has not been able to enjoy these pleasures himself. Dr. Rank is intrigued by this nebulous statement and makes a small exclamation. The conversation becomes confused and degenerates into a comment on the silly moods that two are in. Nora, rising and placing her hands on Dr. Rank's shoulders, commentsPage 18 that she and Torvald would hate to lose Dr. Rank to death. Dr. Rank replies that those who are gone are easily forgotten, piquing Nora's interest. Dr. Rank, explaining the matter, observes that Mrs. Linde has already begun to replace him. Nora tells him to be quiet and promises that, if he is nice, she will dance the next day and he will be able to imagine that it is all for him and, as a quick qualifier, Torvald as well . Nora, continuing consciously or unconsciously to flirt with the Doctor, pulls out a pair of silk stockings to show him. They banter a bit about how much leg Nora will have to show him for him to form an opinion of the stockings. Dr. Rank comments on the great deal of intimacy and comfort he has enjoyed with the Helmers and how he would like to leave some token of appreciation for their generosity before he passes away. |
They banter a bit about how much leg Nora will have to show him for him to form an opinion of the stockings. Dr. Rank comments on the great deal of intimacy and comfort he has enjoyed with the Helmers and how he would like to leave some token of appreciation for their generosity before he passes away. Nora, interested, begins to ask him about doing her a big favor when Dr. Rank reveals that he is in love with her and would give his life for her, saddening Nora and deterring her from pursuing the favor. Nora, chastising Dr. Rank for making such a comment, leaves the room to bring in a lamp. Steering the conversation back to safer territory, Nora explains why she loves Torvald but seems to enjoy her time with Dr. Rank more. While she is observing how similar her relationship with Torvald is with that of her deceased father, the maid enters with the news that Krogstad is in the house and refuses to leave until he sees Nora. Dr. Rank, unaware of the circumstances, retires to Torvald's study, buying Nora's explanation that she has just received a new dress about which she would prefer Torvald not know. Temporarily alone while the maid fetches Krogstad, Nora comments to herself that "this dreadful thing is going to happen! It will happen in spite of me! No, no, no it can't happen it shan't happen!". When Krogstad enters, Nora tells him to speak low, warning him that Torvald is home. Krogstad, unperturbed, asks her for an explanation of his dismissal. Nora replies that she did her best pleading his case, but could not sway her husband. Krogstad, assuming that Nora told him everything, comments that Torvald must love her very little to have made such a decision. Nora informs him that Torvald does not know anything about the matter, inspiring Krogstad to make a few derogatory remarks about Nora's husband. Settling down a bit, Krogstad asks Nora if she now has a clearer idea of what she has done than the day before. Nora replies that she does indeed. In fact, she says that she understands more than Krogstad could ever teach her and asks him what he wants of her. Krogstad replies that, despite the words exchanged in their last meeting, he has in fact been concerned about her and wants to know how she is doing. |
Nora replies that she does indeed. In fact, she says that she understands more than Krogstad could ever teach her and asks him what he wants of her. Krogstad replies that, despite the words exchanged in their last meeting, he has in fact been concerned about her and wants to know how she is doing. He informs her that he will not make the matter public, but will keep it between he, Nora, and Torvald. Nora protests that Torvald must not know but Krogstad replies that, even if she did have the money to pay the outstanding balance on the loan, he would still need to engage her husband. He also tells her that he will still not part with the bond and counsels her not to think of running away or committing suicide to which Nora admits considering because she will not be publicly exposed. To Nora's continued protests, Krogstad explains that he must involve Torvald because his intent is to ask Torvald not for money but for help in rehabilitating himself. Krogstad predicts that, with Torvald's help, he will soon replace Torvald as the manager of the bank. Nora, horrified, threatens him not to do any such thing. Brushing off her threats, he leaves her with the reminder that he holds her reputation in his power and the observation that it is Torvald's actions that have forced Krogstad to act this way again. He then exits and drops his letter to Torvald into the locked letter box for which only Torvald has a key. Mrs. Linde enters with the dress as Nora watches Krogstad put the letter in the box. Nora seizes Mrs. Linde and reveals her problem, asking her friend to be her witness in case anything should befall Nora. She insists that Mrs. Linde tell everyone that Nora was not insane and, more importantly, was completely responsible for everything. Mrs. Linde, confused, tells Nora that she does not understand what Nora is talking about, prompting Nora to observe that "How should you understand it? A wonderful thing is about to happen," leaving Mrs. Linde even more confused. Nora elaborates, explaining that this wonderful thing is also terrible and "musn't happen for all the world". Mrs. Linde offers to go to Krogstad and convince him to ask for the letter back using her old amorous connection with him as a method of persuasion. Nora says that it is hopeless. |
Mrs. Linde offers to go to Krogstad and convince him to ask for the letter back using her old amorous connection with him as a method of persuasion. Nora says that it is hopeless. However, while Torvald begins knocking on the door, asking to enter, Mrs. LindePage 19 resolves to go to Krogstad and exits quickly. As she leaves, Nora unlocks the door for Torvald and Dr. Rank. The two men are surprised because they expected Nora to be trying on her dress. Torvald observes that Nora looks worn out and asks her if she has been practicing too much. Nora replies that she has not been practicing at all and, in fact, she is incapable of practicing without Torvald because she cannot seem to remember anything without him. Hoping to distract him long enough to solve the letter problem, she asks him to help her all day and night until the ball. Torvald agrees. However, before they begin to practice, he begins to go out to the letterbox to check for mail. Nora, afraid, stops him by playing the first bars of the Tarantella she is going to dance; she lures him to play for her and correct her while she dances Dr. Rank, until now an observer, eventually takes over at the piano so Torvald can stand and correct Nora better . Her dancing is wild, growing more so as it continues until her hair has come all undone. While Nora is still dancing, Mrs. Linde returns and observes to Nora that she is dancing like her life depended on it, to which Nora agrees. Torvald eventually calls everything to a halt, chastising Nora for having forgotten everything he has taught her. Nora replies that she has indeed forgotten everything and needs his help to relearn the dance. She tells him that he must not think of anything else, especially not any letters. Torvald, catching on a bit, remarks that he can tell from her behavior that there is a letter from Krogstad waiting for him. Nora responds that she does not know, but that there might be; she implores him not to let anything horrible come between them until "this is all over". Dr. Rank whispers to Torvald that Torvald must not contradict her and Torvald takes her into his arms, calling her a child that must have her way. |
Nora responds that she does not know, but that there might be; she implores him not to let anything horrible come between them until "this is all over". Dr. Rank whispers to Torvald that Torvald must not contradict her and Torvald takes her into his arms, calling her a child that must have her way. He promises to work with her until after the ball but says that, after that, he will be free the words of Nora . They then all retire to dinner, Nora calling for lots of macaroons. As they leave, Torvald and Dr. Rank exchange a few words on Nora's state of mind, making it clear that they have discussed it before. Dr. Rank, concerned, asks if Nora is expecting something, but Torvald dismisses the concerns as evidence of childish nervousness. They exit. Alone, Mrs. Linde tells Nora that Krogstad has gone out of town. Nora seems unconcerned, telling Mrs. Linde that she should not have bothered because nothing should impede the "wonderful" thing that Nora claims will soon happen. Mrs. Linde presses Nora to explain this wonderful thing, but Nora dismisses her questions, telling her she would not understand and sends Mrs. Linde into the dining room. Nora alone, composes herself, and checks the time. She observes that she has thirty-one hours to live until after the tarantella . Torvald's voice is then heard asking for his "little skylark" and the Act ends with Nora going to him with outstretched arms. Analysis: Whereas Act I set up the initial invasion of reality into Nora's world and the rattling of the basic underpinnings of the falseness of Nora's life i.e., marriage and motherhood , Act II eventually sees her set up a test that will determine whether or not her world is false. In other words, she is confronted with the fact that Torvald will find out about her lie but believes that, if he is the man she thinks he is, his discovery will only strengthen their marriage. Her reaction to Krogstad finally dropping his letter in the letter box is the climax of the play. In the traditional well made play, this would be followed by a unraveling and moral resolution of the dilemma set up in the first act and brought to head in the second. |
In other words, she is confronted with the fact that Torvald will find out about her lie but believes that, if he is the man she thinks he is, his discovery will only strengthen their marriage. Her reaction to Krogstad finally dropping his letter in the letter box is the climax of the play. In the traditional well made play, this would be followed by a unraveling and moral resolution of the dilemma set up in the first act and brought to head in the second. However, Ibsen deviates from this mold, turning the third act into a discussion. At the beginning of the second Act, before the climax, Nora is still trying to confront the fact that her world can be touched and shattered. Though she is shaken, she still believes that her family and her material comforts will protect her. However, she is worried enough about the matter that she has already begun to consider the idea of both running away and committing suicide though she admits that she does not have the courage for this last part . Luckily, the ball temporarily distracts her. This ball is extremely important for Nora because, through the costumes and dance, she is able to embrace the basic elements of the basis of her relationship with Torvald that she is still trying to preserve; she can sing and dance forPage 20 him as a lovely creature. Mrs. Linde refers to Nora's dress as her "fine feathers" reinforcing the general perception of Nora as a non-human entity, a creature free of cares. In fact, the dress itself serves as a potent symbol of Nora's "character". Like Nora, it is torn and in need of repair. However, as in real life, Nora feels she is incapable of fixing the problem herself, giving the dress to Mrs. Linde to mend. The idea of the dress serving as a symbol for Nora's everyday mask is reinforced when Nora reports that Torvald dislikes seeing dressmaking in action. In other words, Torvald enjoys the character that Nora adopts but has no desire to see its origins, the real Nora. Indeed, Nora tries to maintain her relationship with Torvald, unsuccessfully attempting to manipulate him on behalf of Krogstad through playing the part of his innocent and darling creature. One of the key turning points of the play comes when Torvald tells her that, come what may, he will take everything upon himself. |
In other words, Torvald enjoys the character that Nora adopts but has no desire to see its origins, the real Nora. Indeed, Nora tries to maintain her relationship with Torvald, unsuccessfully attempting to manipulate him on behalf of Krogstad through playing the part of his innocent and darling creature. One of the key turning points of the play comes when Torvald tells her that, come what may, he will take everything upon himself. Whereas before, Nora merely sought to find some way to avoid this disaster, now the idea that this episode may prove the strength of her marriage has been planted in her head. An important quotation to look at is Nora's remarks after she is left alone that "He was capable of doing it. He will do it. He will do it in spite of everything. No, not that! Never, never! Anything rather than that! Oh, for some help, some way out of it!". One way to read this is as a comment on Krogstad's actions that he will reveal her after all. Another way to read this statement is as a commentary on Torvald's decision to fire Krogstad and the problems it will cause. Still another way to read this is as concern that Torvald will take responsibility for her actions as he promised. After this realization, Nora begins to act a bit more daring than before, using her awareness of the possibility of Dr. Rank's affection to manipulate him. When things go too far for her, however, and he admits that he is in love with her, she can not continue, her manipulation ruined by the blatant statement of reality. After all, Dr. Ranks' revelation that he, like Torvald, would give his life to save Nora's ruins her belief that Torvald's position is somehow unique. Nora's hopes of averting disaster are dashed when she sees Krogstad drop the letter into Torvald's box. Perhaps already aware of the inherent problems of the relationship, she exclaims that all is lost for her and Torvald as Krogstad deposits the letter. Nora's fear, now that she knows that there is no turning back, is that the "wonderful thing" will happen: that Torvald will try to take this all upon himself and that, by knowing what she has done for him, they will become equal partners in the marriage. Nora both fears this and wishes for it. But, Nora is not ready to face this just yet. |
Nora's fear, now that she knows that there is no turning back, is that the "wonderful thing" will happen: that Torvald will try to take this all upon himself and that, by knowing what she has done for him, they will become equal partners in the marriage. Nora both fears this and wishes for it. But, Nora is not ready to face this just yet. She wants to act out her last chance to be a creature for Torvald, dancing the tarantella. It is only after this dancing that she consents to letting him free. Interestingly, her last statement that she only has thirty-one hours to live can be read two different ways. On the one hand, it can be interpreted as saying that she plans on committing suicide in order to free Torvald from having to take the responsibility on himself; she would die knowing that she had once again saved his life. On the other hand, it may be a comment only that her life as she knows it will be over and that, in thirty-one hours, she will have to embark upon a new, radically different life because her relationship with Torvald will be over. Act III: Summary: Act III opens with Mrs. Linde ostensibly trying to read in the living room the next night. As the sounds of dance music suggest, Torvald and Nora are upstairs at the ball. Mrs. Linde is waiting for Krogstad so that she can talk to him about Nora's predicament. When Krogstad arrives, he and Mrs. Linde turn almost immediately to a discussion of why Mrs. Linde jilted him for her now-deceased husband many years ago. Mrs. Linde explains that, though she questioned her decision many times, she had to pursue her former husband's money given the number of people that depended on her at the time for their livelihood. Page 21 Krogstad reveals that her departure left him a shipwrecked man clinging to wreckage. Mrs. Linde replies that, like him, she is now a shipwrecked woman clinging to wreckage and asks if it would not be smart if they should join forces. She tells him that he is the reason that she came to town and that, since he believes that he could be a better man with her and she wants a family to look after, they should be together. The music of the tarantella is heard above and Mrs. Linde urges Krogstad to be quick. |
She tells him that he is the reason that she came to town and that, since he believes that he could be a better man with her and she wants a family to look after, they should be together. The music of the tarantella is heard above and Mrs. Linde urges Krogstad to be quick. Krogstad grows suspicious, questioning Mrs. Linde as to whether she is saying all of this simply on behalf of Nora i.e., to get him to take the letter back ; she denies it and he offers to take the letter back. However, she urges him not to, admitting that this had been her original intention. She tells him that, since her first discovery of the problem the day before, she has witnessed enough in the house to convince her that Torvald must read the letter. Mrs. Linde observes that, in order for a complete understanding between Nora and Torvald which she believes to be key to a successful marriage , all secrets must be revealed. Krogstad leaves, promising Mrs. Linde that he will meet her in a few minutes. Mrs. Linde, hearing Nora and Torvald coming, prepares to leave, commenting on what a difference having people to care for makes in her life. Still in costume Nora as a Capri maiden and Torvald in evening wear and a domino , Torvald brings Nora into the room, almost by force. She is trying to get him to return to the ball for as long as possible. Torvald refuses, citing their earlier agreement. They greet Mrs. Linde, who explains that she had stayed up in order to see Nora in her dress. Torvald brags about how lovely Nora looks, describing his wife's successful evening. He tells Mrs. Linde that Nora danced the tarantella marvelously, if a bit too realistically for proper artistic appreciation, and that he tried to make her exit after such a success equally artistic by ushering her around the room for a last bow and then disappearing into the night; he complains that Nora did not appreciate his attempts. Torvald then goes off to light some candles and air out the house a bit, leaving Nora the chance to ask Mrs. Linde for news from Krogstad. Mrs. Linde tells Nora that Nora must tell Torvald everything. Nora is not shocked and simply thanks Mrs. Linde and tells her that she now knows what she must do. |
Linde tells Nora that Nora must tell Torvald everything. Nora is not shocked and simply thanks Mrs. Linde and tells her that she now knows what she must do. Torvald returns and gives a short speech on the merits of embroidery over knitting to Mrs. Linde who has forgotten her knitting. Mrs. Linde soon leaves, and Torvald exclaims that he is happy that she is finally gone, calling her a bore. Nora then asks Torvald if he is tired, telling him that she is quite sleepy. Torvald replies that he is in fact, quite awake; moreover, he has been waiting to be alone with his wife all evening. He calls her beautiful and fascinating, telling her that she is his treasure all his. Nora tells him that he must speak that way to her tonight, but he only finds this more alluring, observing that she must still have the tarantella in her blood. He then launches into an explanation of why he pretends not to know her at parties: he is fantasizing about meeting and seducing her for the first time; in fact, while they are leaving, he pretends that she is his new bride about to be his for the first time. Nora tries to push him off much to Torvald's confusion and displeasure. They are interrupted, however, by Dr. Rank who Torvald earlier claimed had been in quite high spirits all night. Annoyed but pretending to be delighted, Torvald welcomes the Doctor into the room. The three talk about the ball and all its finery. Unknown to Torvald, Dr. Rank reveals to Nora through his conversation that he has made his final diagnosis today and that he will soon die. Dr. Rank elaborates on how much he has enjoyed himself this evening, telling them how much he has indulged in the wine and sights; he also asks Torvald for a cigar, further indulging himself. Dr. Rank eventually leaves, with Nora wishing him a good sleep. Torvald, still unaware, comments on what he believes to be Dr. Rank's drunkenness and begins to head out to empty the mailbox so that the morning paper will be able to fit. Nora unsuccessfully tries to stop him. At the mailbox, Torvald is surprised to find that someone has tried to pick the lock with one of Nora's hairpins. |
Rank's drunkenness and begins to head out to empty the mailbox so that the morning paper will be able to fit. Nora unsuccessfully tries to stop him. At the mailbox, Torvald is surprised to find that someone has tried to pick the lock with one of Nora's hairpins. Nora tells him that it must have been one of the children and Torvald tells her to keep them away from the box. Page 22 Torvald is surprised to find two letters from Dr. Rank, one of which has a black cross through his name. Torvald comments on the morbidity of such a mark and Nora confirms that it is their friend's way of announcing his death. Torvald briefly muses on the sadness of losing their friend but concludes that it is probably better for both Dr. Rank and for he and Nora, for now he and his wife are quite alone. Torvald embraces Nora, telling her how much he cares for her. In fact, he says, he wishes that he could somehow save her from some great danger so that he could risk everything for her sake. Nora disengages herself from his embrace and tells him in a resolved tone that he must now read his letters. Torvald replies that he would much rather be with her, but Nora questions whether this would be appropriate given Dr. Rank's news. Torvald assents that something ugly has come between them because of the news and that it would be best to spend the night apart. Nora hangs on his neck and tells him good night and Torvald goes off to read his letters in another room. Alone, Nora prepares to rush off to commit suicide by jumping into the icy depths of the river, throwing on Torvald's domino and her shawl. As she bids adieu to her family and rushes out the door, Torvald hurries out of his room and stops her, letter in hand. Torvald asks her if she knows what is in the letter but Nora still tries to leave, telling him that he "shan't save" her. Torvald stops her, locking the door, and continues to wonder out loud how this could be true, dismissing her pleas that all was done out of love and protests that he will not suffer at her hands. |
As she bids adieu to her family and rushes out the door, Torvald hurries out of his room and stops her, letter in hand. Torvald asks her if she knows what is in the letter but Nora still tries to leave, telling him that he "shan't save" her. Torvald stops her, locking the door, and continues to wonder out loud how this could be true, dismissing her pleas that all was done out of love and protests that he will not suffer at her hands. When Nora realizes, however, that Torvald has no intention of taking the burden the problem upon himself and only blames Nora for ruining his life claiming that he should have probably seen this coming given the character of her father , she grows still. Torvald only continues to berate her and her character, going on about how horrible it is that the actions of a thoughtless woman could ruin his life, prompting Nora to only grow colder. Not allowing Nora to speak, Torvald begins to speculate about their future, saying that they will keep up appearances but, of course, Nora will not be allowed near the children nor will their marriage be maintained. He is interrupted by the maid, who is bearing a note from Krogstad to Nora. Torvald intercepts the letter and reads it himself, learning that Krogstad has had a change of heart and has sent back the bond. Torvald, overjoyed, shouts, "I am saved," prompting Nora to ask whether she is as well. Having a change of heart, Torvald replies that she is also saved. Overcome with relief, he comments on how hard this all must have been for Nora and tells her that he has forgiven her; he tells her that he will think of it only as a bad dream and that, in his mind, it is all over. Realizing perhaps that Nora is not having the same reaction, Torvald explains to her that he knows that she did this all out of love and that he can forgive her because he also knows that, as a woman, she is unequipped to make the proper decisions. In fact, he tells her that her helplessness and full dependency on him make her all the more endearing to him. Nora thanks him for his forgiveness and leaves the room to take off her ball dress. |
Realizing perhaps that Nora is not having the same reaction, Torvald explains to her that he knows that she did this all out of love and that he can forgive her because he also knows that, as a woman, she is unequipped to make the proper decisions. In fact, he tells her that her helplessness and full dependency on him make her all the more endearing to him. Nora thanks him for his forgiveness and leaves the room to take off her ball dress. As she is removing her dress, Torvald stands in the doorway and muses about the comfort of their home and how much he wants to and will protect her, assuring her that everything will soon be as it was before. He tells her that the helplessness of a wife makes the wife even more attractive to a husband because she becomes both a wife and child, doubly his own. And, he continues, when a husband forgives a wife, he gives her new life and becomes even closer to her. As he is promising to be her will and conscience, he notices that she has changed not into bed clothing but into everyday clothing. Torvald is confused. Nora explains to him that she shall not sleep tonight and asks him to sit down with her at the table for a serious "settling of accounts". Alarmed, Torvald tells her that he does not understand her. Nora agrees, telling him that he has never understood her and that, before tonight, she has never understood him. Torvald asks what she means. Rather than replying directly, Nora points out the fact that, in their eight years of marriage, they have never before sat down to have a serious discussion. Torvald protests that such conversations would not have made sense, given Nora's interests. Nora tells him that she has been greatly wrong by both her father and her husband. Shocked, Torvald asksPage 23 how this could be possible given that they are the men who have loved her the most. Shaking her head, Nora corrects him, telling him that he has never loved her but has only thought it pleasant to be in love with her. She explains to him that, just as her father did, Torvald has treated her as a doll to be played with, arranging everything to suit himself and forcing her to live only to entertain him. As a result, she has not made anything of her life or even ever been truly happy. |
Shaking her head, Nora corrects him, telling him that he has never loved her but has only thought it pleasant to be in love with her. She explains to him that, just as her father did, Torvald has treated her as a doll to be played with, arranging everything to suit himself and forcing her to live only to entertain him. As a result, she has not made anything of her life or even ever been truly happy. Torvald agrees to this analysis, though he qualifies it as exaggerated and strained, and tells her that, from now on, he will stop playing with her and start educating her. Nora refuses, observing that he is not the man to educate her; after all, only a few minutes before, he had told her that she was unfit to raise her children. Nora tells him that she agrees with him about her inability; she acknowledges that she first needs to educate herself before she tries to educate the children and tells him that this is why she is going to leave him. Torvald, shocked, jumps out of his chair, calling her mad and trying to prevent her from leaving. She calmly rebuffs his attempts to forbid her, telling him that she will go to her old home tomorrow. Torvald accuses her of neglecting her "most sacred duties" as wife and mother, refusing to acknowledge Nora's opinion that her duty to herself as a reasonable human being is just as sacred, if not more so. Torvald, at a loss, first appeals to her sense of religion and then morality, both of which Nora shoots down by explaining that she has never had a chance to examine and embrace these things on her own and, as a result, does not know if she agrees with them. Torvald, unable to sway her, tells her that all that he can conclude is that she does not love him. Nora, apologetic, agrees with him, telling him that he lost her love earlier tonight and that, because of this, she cannot stay in the house. She tells him that her love was lost because the wonderful thing did not happen: he did not refuse Krogstad's conditions and try to take all the blame upon himself which Nora says she would have refused anyway . Torvald replies that, though he would gladly work day and night for her, he would never assent to jeopardizing his honor for a loved one. Nora simply replies that many wives have done just that. |
The act is also the deciding point of Nora's life: will the "wonderful thing" happen or not? It begins with a foil for Nora and Torvald's marriage. In fact, Mrs. Linde and Krogstad's decision to be together can be seen as ironic in the context of Nora and Torvald's marriage because, though Mrs. Linde and Krogstad both suffer from significant personal and moral problems, they have a better chance of a happy and true marriage than Nora and Torvald. Mrs. Linde advocates revealing all to Torvald because, as her union with Krogstad suggests, she believes that it is possible to build a relationship of mutual dependence ofPage 24 unformed characters as long as both parties are fully aware of each other's motives. Mrs. Linde hopes that, through this union, both she and Krogstad can become the better people they know that they can be. The extent of Torvald's investment in a fantasy world and the importance of Nora's false characterization is revealed when he describes how, at parties, he pretends not to know her so that he may seduce her all over again. And, perhaps more importantly, Nora is quite candid about her understanding of all this, telling him flatly that she knows. It is important to notice that Nora's time at the party has been the first time that she has left the confines of the one room in the entire play. Moreover, she has to be dragged back in. This suggests that it is Torvald's own desires to have Nora entertain him that necessarily forces Nora to journey into the real world. Also, it is interesting to note that she also temporarily leaves the room to exchange her party dress for everyday clothing, her first lone foray from the room. This new trend is the beginning of her final departure from the room a departure that ends the play, shattering the values that had supported the walls of the house. But, when she leaves for the final time, she is leaving for reasons other than what she had intended at the beginning of the Act. Before Torvald confronts her with the letter, she is on her way to commit suicide, determined that Torvald should not have to sacrifice his life for hers. She considers this the appropriate thing to do because she believes that he would willingly give his life for hers as well. In this way, they have an equal relationship. |
Before Torvald confronts her with the letter, she is on her way to commit suicide, determined that Torvald should not have to sacrifice his life for hers. She considers this the appropriate thing to do because she believes that he would willingly give his life for hers as well. In this way, they have an equal relationship. However, she is extremely disappointed to discover that he clearly has no intention of sacrificing himself for her. Instead of refusing to abide by Krogstad's demands and taking the blame on himself, Torvald accuses Nora of ruining his life, telling her that she will no longer be able to see her children or maintain their marriage except in public appearances. Nora even asks him whether he would give his life for her and her fears are confirmed when he answers that he would never sacrifice his honor for a loved one. Consequently, Nora resolves to leave Torvald, aware that true wedlock is impossible between them because neither of them loves the other, or is even capable of doing so. Nora realizes that, before she can be a wife, she must first discover herself through venturing out into the world. She leaves an unformed soul, determined to become a full person rather than the doll of the male figures in her life. |
He also fathered an illegitimate son by the servant of the apothecary. Despite his unhappy lot, Grimstad is where Ibsen began to write in earnest. Inspired by the revolution of 1848 that was being felt throughout Europe, Ibsen wrote satire and elegant poetry. At the age of twenty-one, Ibsen left Grimstad for the capitol. While in Christiania now Oslo , Ibsen passed his exams but opted not to pursue his education, instead turning to playwriting and journalism. It was here that he penned his first play, Cataline. Ibsen also spent time analyzing and criticizing modern Norwegian literature. Still poor, Ibsen gladly accepted a contract to write for and help manage the newly constituted National Theater in Bergen in 1851. Untrained and largely uneducated, Ibsen learned much from his time at the theater, producing such works as St. John s Night. The majority of his writings of this period were basedPage 2 on folksongs, folklore, and history. In 1858, Ibsen moved back to Christiania to become the creative director of the city s Norwegian Theater. That same year, Ibsen married Suzannah Thoresen, with whom he fathered a child named Sigurd Ibsen. Though his plays suggest otherwise, Ibsen revered the state of marriage, believing that it was possible for two people to travel through life as perfect, happy equals. During this period, Ibsen also developed a daily routine from which he would not deviate until his first stroke in 1901: he would rise, consume a small breakfast, take a long walk, write for five hours, eat dinner, and finish the night off with entertainment or in bed. Despite this routine, Ibsen found his life in Bergen difficult. Luckily, in 1864, his friends generously offered him money that they had collected, allowing him to move to Italy. He was to spend the next twenty-seven years living in Italy and Germany. During this time abroad, he authored a number of successful works, including Brand 1866 and Peer Gynt 1867 . Ibsen moved to Dresden in 1868 and then Munich in 1875. It was in Munich, in 1879 that Ibsen wrote his groundbreaking play, A Doll s House. |
During this time abroad, he authored a number of successful works, including Brand 1866 and Peer Gynt 1867 . Ibsen moved to Dresden in 1868 and then Munich in 1875. It was in Munich, in 1879 that Ibsen wrote his groundbreaking play, A Doll s House. He pursued his interest in realistic drama for the next decade, earning international acclaim; many of his works were published in translation and performed throughout Europe. Ibsen eventually turned to a new style of writing, abandoning his interest in realism for a series of so-called symbolic dramas. He completed his last work in exile, Hedda Gabbler, in 1890. After being away from Norway for twenty-seven years, Ibsen and Suzannah returned in 1891. Shortly afterwards, he finished writing The Master Builder and then took a short break. In late 1893, in need of moist air to help cure her recurring gout, Suzannah left for southern Italy. While his wife was away, Ibsen found a companion in a young female pianist, Hildur Andersen, with whom he spent a great deal of time and corresponded with even after Suzannah s return. Ibsen s relationship with Andersen was characteristic of his larger interest in the younger generation; he was famous for seeking out their ideas and encouraging their writing. After suffering a series of strokes, Ibsen died in 1906 at the age of seventy-eight after having been unable to write for the last few years of his life. About A Doll's House: Ibsen's A Doll's House 1879 , written while Ibsen was in Rome and Amalfi, was born in a time of revolution in Europe. Charged with the fever of the 1848 revolution, a new modern perspective was beginning to emerge in the literary and dramatic world, challenging the romantic tradition; it is Ibsen whoPage 3 can be credited for mastering and popularizing the realist drama derived from this new perspective. His plays were both read and performed throughout Europe in numerous translations like no other dramatist before. A Doll's House was published and premiered in Copenhagen. His success was particularly important for Norway and the Norwiegian language. Freed from four centuries of Danish rule in 1814, Norway was just beginning to shake off the legacy of Danish domination. |
A Doll's House was published and premiered in Copenhagen. His success was particularly important for Norway and the Norwiegian language. Freed from four centuries of Danish rule in 1814, Norway was just beginning to shake off the legacy of Danish domination. A Doll's House was written in a form of Norweigan that still bore heavy traces of Danish. Ibsen deliberately chose a colloquial language style to emphasize the theme of realism. Ibsen quickly became Norway's most popular dramatic figure. But, it is the universality of Ibsen's writings and particularly A Doll's House that have made this play a classic. A Doll's House was the second in a series of realist plays by Ibsen. The first, The Pillars of Society, penned in 1877, caused a stir throughout Europe, quickly spreading to the avant guarde theaters of the island and continent. In adopting the realist form, Ibsen abandoned his earlier style of saga plays, historical epics, and verse allegories. Ibsen's letters reveal that much of what is contained in his realist dramas is based on events from his own life. Indeed, he was particularly interested in the possibility of true wedlock and in women in general, later writing a series of psychological studies on women. One of the most striking and oft-noted characteristics of A Doll's House is the way in which it challenged the technical tradition of the so-called well made play in which the first act offered an exposition, the second a situation, and the third an unravelling. This had been the standard form from the earliest fables up until A Doll's House. Ibsen's play was noteable for exchanging the last act's unravelling for a discussion. Critics agree that, up until the last moments of the play, A Doll's House could easily be just another modern drama broadcasting another comfortable moral lesson. However, when Nora tells Torvald that they must sit down and "discuss all this that has been happening between us", the play diverges from the traditional form. With this new technical feature, A Doll's House became an international sensation and founded a new school of dramatic art. Additionally, A Doll's House subverted another dramatic traditions, this one related to character. Namely, Ibsen's realist drama disregarded the tradition of the older male moral figure. Dr. |
Additionally, A Doll's House subverted another dramatic traditions, this one related to character. Namely, Ibsen's realist drama disregarded the tradition of the older male moral figure. Dr. Rank, the character who should serve this role, is far from a moral force; instead, he is sickly--rotting from a disease picked up from his father's earlier sexual exploits--and lascivious, openly coveting Nora. The choice to portray both Dr. Rank and the potentially matronly Mrs. Linde as imperfect, real people was a novel approach at the time. The real nature of Ibsen's characters were and remain a challenge for actors. Many actresses find it difficult to portray both a silly, immature Nora in the first act or so and the serious, open-minded Nora of the end of the last act. Similarly, actors are challenged to portray the full depth of Torvald's character. Many are tempted to play him as an slimy, patronizing brute, disregarding the character's range and genuininess of emotion and conviction. A more obvious importance of A Doll's House is the feminist message that rocked the stages of Europe when the play was premiered. Nora's rejection of marriage and motherhood scandalized contemporary audiences. In fact, the first German productions of the play in the 1880s had an altered ending at the request of the producers. Ibsen referred to this version as a "barbaric outrage" to be used only in emergencies. In large part, Ibsen was reacting to the uncertain tempo of the time; Europe was being reshaped with revolutions. The revolutionary spirit and the emergence of modernism influenced Ibsen's choice to focus on an unlikely hero a housewife in his attack on middle-class values. Quickly becoming the talk ofPage 4 parlors across Europe, the play succeeded in its attempt to provoke discussion. In fact, it is the numerous ways that the play can be read and read it was the printed version of A Doll's House sold out even before it hit the stage that make the play so interesting. Each new generation has had a different way of interpreting the book, from feminist critique to Hegelian allegory of the spirit's historical evolution. The text is simply that rich. |
In fact, it is the numerous ways that the play can be read and read it was the printed version of A Doll's House sold out even before it hit the stage that make the play so interesting. Each new generation has had a different way of interpreting the book, from feminist critique to Hegelian allegory of the spirit's historical evolution. The text is simply that rich. A DOLL'S HOUSE INTRODUCTION by William Archer ON June 27, 1879, Ibsen wrote from Rome to Marcus Gronvold: "It is now rather hot in Rome, so in about a week we are going to Amalfi, which, being close to the sea, is cooler, and offers opportunity for bathing. I intend to complete there a new dramatic work on which I am now engaged.". From Amalfi, on September 20, he wrote to John Paulsen: "A new dramatic work, which I have just completed, has occupied so much of my time during these last months that I have had absolutely none to spare for answering letters.". This "new dramatic work" was Et Dukkehjem, which was published in Copenhagen, December 4, 1879. Dr. George Brandes has given some account of the episode in real life which suggested to Ibsen the plot of this play; but the real Nora, it appears, committed forgery, not to save her husband's life, but to redecorate her house. The impulse received from this incident must have been trifling. It is much more to the purpose to remember that the character and situation of Nora had been clearly foreshadowed, ten years earlier, in the figure of Selma in The League of Youth. Of A Doll's House we find in the Literary Remains a first brief memorandum, a fairly detailed scenario, a complete draft, in quite actable form, and a few detached fragments of dialogue. These documents put out of court a theory of my own that Ibsen originally intended to give the play a "happy ending," and that the relation between Krogstad and Mrs. Linden was devised for that purpose. Page 5 Stated in the Fortnightly Review, July 1906, and repeated in the first edition of this Introduction. Here is the first memorandum:- NOTES FOR THE TRAGEDY OF TO-DAY ROME, 19 10 78. |
Linden was devised for that purpose. Page 5 Stated in the Fortnightly Review, July 1906, and repeated in the first edition of this Introduction. Here is the first memorandum:- NOTES FOR THE TRAGEDY OF TO-DAY ROME, 19 10 78. There are two kinds of spiritual laws, two kinds of conscience, one in men and a quite different one in women. They do not understand each other; but the woman is judged in practical life according to the man's law, as if she were not a woman but a man. The wife in the play finds herself at last entirely at sea as to what is right and what wrong; natural feeling on the one side, and belief in authority on the other, leave her in utter bewilderment. A woman cannot be herself in the society of to-day, which is exclusively a masculine society, with laws written by men, and with accusers and judges who judge feminine conduct from the masculine standpoint. She has committed forgery, and it is her pride; for she did it for love of her husband, and to save his life. But this husband, full of everyday rectitude, stands on the basis of the law and regards the matter with a masculine eye. Soul-struggles. Oppressed and bewildered by belief in authority, she loses her faith in her own moral right and ability to bring up her children. Bitterness. A mother in the society of to-day, like certain insects, ought to go away and die when she has done her duty towards the continuance of the species. Love of life, of home, of husband and children and kin. Now and then a womanlike shaking off of cares. Then a sudden return of apprehension and dread. She must bear it all alone. The catastrophe approaches, inexorably, inevitably. Despair, struggle, and disaster. The definite article does not, I think, imply that Ibsen ever intended this to be the title of the play, but merely that the notes refer to "the" tragedy of contemporary life which he has had for sometime in his mind. In reading Ibsen's statement of the conflict he meant to portray between the male and female conscience, one cannot but feel that he somewhat shirked the issue in making Nora's crime a formal rather than a real one. |
Despair, struggle, and disaster. The definite article does not, I think, imply that Ibsen ever intended this to be the title of the play, but merely that the notes refer to "the" tragedy of contemporary life which he has had for sometime in his mind. In reading Ibsen's statement of the conflict he meant to portray between the male and female conscience, one cannot but feel that he somewhat shirked the issue in making Nora's crime a formal rather than a real one. She had no intention of defrauding Krogstad; and though it is an interesting point of casuistry to determine whether, under the stated circumstances, she had a moral right to sign her father's name, opinion on the point would scarcely be divided along the line of sex. One feels that, in order to illustrate the "two kinds of conscience," Ibsen ought to have made his play turn upon some point of conduct if such there be which would sharply divide masculine from feminine sympathies. The fact that such a point would be extremely hard to find seems to cast doubt on the ultimate validity of the thesis. If, for instance, Nora had deliberately stolen the money from Krogstad, with no intention of repaying it, that would certainly have revealed a great gulf between her morality and Helmer's; but would any considerable number of her sex have sympathised with her? I am not denying a marked difference between the average man and the average woman in the development of such characteristics as the sense of justice; but I doubt whether, when women have their full share in legislation, the laws relating to forgery will be seriously altered. A parallel-text edition of the provisional and the final forms of A Doll's House would be intensely interesting. For the present, I can note only a few of the most salient differences between the two versions. Helmer is at first called "Stenborg"; it is not till the scene with Krogstad in the second act that the name Helmer makes its first appearance. Ibsen was constantly changing his characters' names in the course of composition- trying them on, as it were, until he found one that was a perfect fit. Page 6 This name seems to have haunted Ibsen. It was also the original name of Stensgard in The League of Youth. The first scene, down to the entrance of Mrs. |
Page 6 This name seems to have haunted Ibsen. It was also the original name of Stensgard in The League of Youth. The first scene, down to the entrance of Mrs. Linden, though it contains all that is necessary for the mere development of the plot, runs to only twenty-three speeches, as compared with eighty-one in the completed text. The business of the macaroons is not even indicated; there is none of the charming talk about the Christmas-tree and the children's presents; no request on Nora's part that her present may take the form of money, no indication on Helmer's part that he regards her supposed extravagance as an inheritance from her father. Helmer knows that she toils at copying far into the night in order to earn a few crowns, though of course he has no suspicion as to how she employs the money. Ibsen evidently felt it inconsistent with his character that he should permit this, so in the completed version we learn that Nora, in order to do her copying, locked herself in under the pretext of making decorations for the Christmas-tree, and, when no result appeared, declared that the cat had destroyed her handiwork. The first version, in short, is like a stained glass window seen from without, the second like the same window seen from within. The long scene between Nora and Mrs. Linden is more fully worked out, though many small touches of character are lacking, such as Nora's remark that some day "when Torvald is not so much in love with me as he is now," she may tell him the great secret of how she saved his life. It is notable throughout that neither Helmer's aestheticism nor the sensual element in his relation to Nora is nearly so much emphasised as in the completed play; while Nora's tendency to small fibbing- that vice of the unfree- is almost an afterthought. In the first appearance of Krogstad, and the indication of his old acquaintance with Mrs. Linden, many small adjustments have been made, all strikingly for the better. The first scene with Dr. Rank,- originally called Dr. Hank- has been almost entirely rewritten. There is in the draft no indication of the doctor's ill-health or of his pessimism; it seems as though he had at first been designed as a mere confidant or raisonneur. This is how he talks:- HANK. Hallo! What's this? A new carpet? I congratulate you! |
What's this? A new carpet? I congratulate you! Now take, for example, a handsome carpet like this; is it a luxury? I say it isn't. Such a carpet is a paying investment; with it underfoot, one has higher, subtler thoughts, and finer feelings, than when one moves over cold, creaking planks in a comfortless room. Especially where there are children in the house. The race ennobles itself in a beautiful environment. NORA. Oh, how often I have felt the same, but could never express it. HANK. No, I dare say not. It is an observation in spiritual statistics- a science as yet very little cultivated. As to Krogstad, the doctor remarks:- If Krogstad's home had been, so to speak, on the sunny side of life, with all the spiritual windows opening towards the light,... I dare say he might have been a decent enough fellow, like the rest of us. MRS. LINDEN. You mean that he is not....? HANK. He cannot be. His marriage was not of the kind to make it possible. An unhappy marriage, Mrs. Linden, is like small-pox: it scars the soul. NORA. And what does a happy marriage do? HANK. It is like a "cure" at the baths; it expels all peccantPage 7 humours, and makes all that is good and fine in a man grow and flourish. It is notable that we find in this scene nothing of Nora's glee on learning that Krogstad is now dependent on her husband; that fine touch of dramatic irony was an afterthought. After Helmer's entrance, the talk is very different in the original version. He remarks upon the painful interview he has just had with Krogstad, whom he is forced to dismiss from the bank; Nora, in a mild way, pleads for him; and the doctor, in the name of the survival of the fittest,1 denounces humanitarian sentimentality, and then goes off to do his best to save a patient who, he confesses, would be much better dead. This discussion of the Krogstad question before Nora has learnt how vital it is to her, manifestly discounts the effect of the scenes which are to follow: and Ibsen, on revision, did away with it entirely. |
Of the famous silk-stocking scene- that invaluable sidelight on Nora's relation with Helmer there is not a trace. There is no hint of Nora's appeal to Rank for help, nipped in the bud by his declaration of love for her. All these elements we find in a second draft of the scene which has been preserved. In this second draft, Rank says, "Helmer himself might quite well know every thought I have ever had of you; he shall know when I am gone.". It might have been better, so far as England 1 It is noteworthy that Darwin's two great books were translated into Danish very shortly before Ibsen began to work at A Doll's House. Page 8 is concerned, if Ibsen had retained this speech; it might have prevented much critical misunderstanding of a perfectly harmless and really beautiful episode. Between the scene with Rank and the scene with Krogstad there intervenes, in the draft, a discussion between Nora and Mrs. Linden, containing this curious passage:- NORA. When an unhappy wife is separated from her husband she is not allowed to keep her children? Is that really so? MRS. LINDEN. Yes, I think so. That's to say, if she is guilty. NORA. Oh, guilty, guilty; what does it mean to be guilty? Has a wife no right to love her husband? MRS. LINDEN. Yes, precisely, her husband- and him only. NORA. Why, of course; who was thinking of anything else? But that law is unjust, Kristina. You can see clearly that it is the men that have made it. MRS. LINDEN. Aha- so you have begun to take up the woman question? NORA. No, I don't care a bit about it. The scene with Krogstad is essentially the same as in the final form, though sharpened, so to speak, at many points. The question of suicide was originally discussed in a somewhat melodramatic tone:- NORA. I have been thinking of nothing else all these days. KROGSTAD. Perhaps. But how to do it? Poison? Not so easy to get hold of. Shooting? It needs some skill, Mrs. Helmer. Hanging? Bah- there's something ugly in that.... NORA. Do you hear that rushing sound? KROGSTAD. The river? Yes, of course you have thought of that. |
KROGSTAD. The river? Yes, of course you have thought of that. But you haven't pictured the thing to yourself. And he proceeds to do so for her. After he has gone, leaving the letter in the box, Helmer and Rank enter, and Nora implores Helmer to do no work till New Year's Day the next day is over. He agrees, but says, "I will just see if any letters have come "; whereupon she rushes to the piano and strikes a few chords. He stops to listen, and she sits down and plays and sings Anitra's song from Peer Gynt. When Mrs. Linden presently enters, Nora makes her take her place at the piano, drapes a shawl around her, and dances Anitra's dance. It must be owned that Ibsen has immensely improved this very strained and arbitrary incident by devising the fancy dress ball and the necessity of rehearsing the tarantella for it; but at the best it remains a piece of theatricalism. As a study in technique, the re-handling of the last act is immensely interesting. At the beginning, in the earlier form, Nora rushes down from the children's party overhead, and takes a significant farewell of Mrs. Linden, whom she finds awaiting her. Helmer almost forces her to return to the party; and thus the stage is cleared for the scene between Mrs. Linden and Krogstad, which, in the final version, opens the act. Then Nora enters with the two elder children, whom she sends to bed. Helmer immediately follows, and on his heels Dr. Rank, who announces in plain terms that his disease has entered on its last stage, that he is going home to die, and that he will not have Helmer or any one else hanging around his sickroom. In the final version, he says all this to Nora alone in the second act; while in the last act, coming in upon Helmer flushed with wine, and Nora pale and trembling in her masquerade dress, he has a parting scene with them, the significance of which she alone understands. In the earlier version, Rank has several long and heavy speeches in place of the light, swift dialogue of the final form, with its different significance for Helmer and for Nora. There is no trace of the wonderful passage which precedes Rank's exit. |
In the final version, he says all this to Nora alone in the second act; while in the last act, coming in upon Helmer flushed with wine, and Nora pale and trembling in her masquerade dress, he has a parting scene with them, the significance of which she alone understands. In the earlier version, Rank has several long and heavy speeches in place of the light, swift dialogue of the final form, with its different significance for Helmer and for Nora. There is no trace of the wonderful passage which precedes Rank's exit. To compare the draft with the finished scene is to see a perfect instance of the transmutation of dramatic prose into dramatic poetry. Page 9 There is in the draft no indication of Helmer's being warmed with wine, or of the excitement of the senses which gives the final touch of tragedy to Nora's despair. The process of the action is practically the same in both versions; but everywhere in the final form a sharper edge is given to things. One little touch is very significant. In the draft, when Helmer has read the letter with which Krogstad returns the forged bill, he cries, "You are saved, Nora, you are saved!". In the revision, Ibsen cruelly altered this into, "I am saved, Nora, I am saved!". In the final scene, where Nora is telling Helmer how she expected him, when the revelation came, to take all the guilt upon himself, we look in vain, in the first draft, for this passage:- HELMER. I would gladly work for you night and day, Nora- bear sorrow and want for your sake. But no man sacrifices his honour, even for one he loves. NORA. Millions of women have done so. This, then, was an afterthought: was there ever a more brilliant one? It is with A Doll's House that Ibsen enters upon his kingdom as a world-poet. He had done greater work in the past, and he was to do greater work in the future; but this was the play which was destined to carry his name beyond the limits of Scandinavia, and even of Germany, to the remotest regions of civilisation. Here the Fates were not altogether kind to him. |
It is with A Doll's House that Ibsen enters upon his kingdom as a world-poet. He had done greater work in the past, and he was to do greater work in the future; but this was the play which was destined to carry his name beyond the limits of Scandinavia, and even of Germany, to the remotest regions of civilisation. Here the Fates were not altogether kind to him. The fact that for many years he was known to thousands of people solely as the author of A Doll's House and its successor, Ghosts, was largely responsible for the extravagant misconceptions of his genius and character which prevailed during the last decade of the nineteenth century, and are not yet entirely extinct. In these plays he seemed to be delivering a direct assault on marriage, from the standpoint of feminine individualism; wherefore he was taken to be a preacher and pamphleteer rather than a poet. In these plays, and in these only, he made physical disease a considerable factor in the action; whence it was concluded that he had a morbid predilection for "nauseous" subjects. In these plays he laid special and perhaps disproportionate stress on the influence of heredity; whence he was believed to be possessed by a monomania on the point. In these plays, finally, he was trying to act the essentially uncongenial part of the prosaic realist. The effort broke down at many points, and the poet reasserted himself; but these flaws in the prosaic texture were regarded as mere bewildering errors and eccentricities. In short, he was introduced to the world at large through two plays which showed his power, indeed, almost in perfection, but left the higher and subtler qualities of his genius for the most part unrepresented. Hence the grotesquely distorted vision of him which for so long haunted the minds even of intelligent people. Hence, for example, the amazing opinion, given forth as a truism by more than one critic of great ability, that the author of Peer Gynt was devoid of humour. Within a little more than a fortnight of its publication, A Doll's House was presented at the Royal Theatre, Copenhagen, where Fru Hennings, as Nora, made the great success of her career. The play was soon being acted, as well as read, all over Scandinavia. |
Hence, for example, the amazing opinion, given forth as a truism by more than one critic of great ability, that the author of Peer Gynt was devoid of humour. Within a little more than a fortnight of its publication, A Doll's House was presented at the Royal Theatre, Copenhagen, where Fru Hennings, as Nora, made the great success of her career. The play was soon being acted, as well as read, all over Scandinavia. Nora's startling "declaration of independence" afforded such an inexhaustible theme for heated discussion, that at last it had to be formally barred at social gatherings, just as, in Paris twenty years later, the Dreyfus Case was proclaimed a prohibited topic. The popularity of Pillars of Society in Germany had paved the way for its successor, which spread far and wide over the German stage in the spring of 1880, and has ever since held its place in the repertory of the leading theatres. As his works were at that time wholly unprotected in Germany, Ibsen could not prevent managers from altering the end of the play to suit their taste and fancy. He was thus driven, under protest, to write an alternative ending, in which, at the last moment, the thought of her children restrained Nora from leaving home. He preferred, as he said, "to commit the outrage himself, rather than leave his work to the tender mercies of adaptors.". The patched-up ending soon dropped out of use and out of memory. Ibsen's own account of the matter will be found in his Correspondence, Letter 142. It took ten years for the play to pass beyond the limits of Scandinavia and Germany. Madame Modjeska, it is true, presented a version of it in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1883, but it attracted no attention. In the following year Messrs. Henry Arthur Jones and Henry Herman produced at the PrincePage 10 of Wales's Theatre, London, a play entitled Breaking a Butterfly, which was described as being "founded on Ibsen's Norah," but bore only a remote resemblance to the original. In this production Mr. Beerbohm Tree took the part of Dunkley, a melodramatic villain who filled the place of Krogstad. In 1885, again, an adventurous amateur club gave a quaint performance of Miss Lord's translation of the play at a hall in Argyle Street, London. |
In this production Mr. Beerbohm Tree took the part of Dunkley, a melodramatic villain who filled the place of Krogstad. In 1885, again, an adventurous amateur club gave a quaint performance of Miss Lord's translation of the play at a hall in Argyle Street, London. Not until June 7, 1889, was A Doll's House competently, and even brilliantly, presented to the English public, by Mr. Charles Charrington and Miss Janet Achurch, at the Novelty Theatre, London, afterwards re-named the Kingsway Theatre. It was this production that really made Ibsen known to the English-speaking peoples. In other words, it marked his second great stride towards world-wide, as distinct from merely national, renown- if we reckon as the first stride the success of Pillars of Society in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Charrington took A Doll's House with them on a long Australian tour; Miss Beatrice Cameron Mrs. Richard Mansfield was encouraged by the success of the London production to present the play in New York, whence it soon spread to other American cities; while in London itself it was frequently revived and vehemently discussed. The Ibsen controversy, indeed, did not break out in its full virulence until 1891, when Ghosts and Hedda Gabler were produced in London; but from the date of the Novelty production onwards, Ibsen was generally recognised as a potent factor in the intellectual and artistic life of the day. A French adaptation of Et Dukkehjem was produced in Brussels in March 1889, but attracted little attention. Not until 1894 was the play introduced to the Parisian public, at the Gymnase, with Madame Rejane as Nora. This actress has since played the part frequently, not only in Paris but in London and in America. In Italian the play was first produced in 1889, and soon passed into the repertory of Eleonora Duse, who appeared as Nora in London in 1893. Few heroines in modern drama have been played by so many actresses of the first rank. To those already enumerated must be added Hedwig Niemann-Raabe and Agnes Sorma in Germany, and Minnie Maddern-Fiske and Alla Nazimova in America; and, even so, the list is far from complete. |
In Italian the play was first produced in 1889, and soon passed into the repertory of Eleonora Duse, who appeared as Nora in London in 1893. Few heroines in modern drama have been played by so many actresses of the first rank. To those already enumerated must be added Hedwig Niemann-Raabe and Agnes Sorma in Germany, and Minnie Maddern-Fiske and Alla Nazimova in America; and, even so, the list is far from complete. There is probably no country in the world, possessing a theatre on the European model, in which A Doll's House has not been more or less frequently acted. Undoubtedly the great attraction of the part of Nora to the average actress was the tarantella scene. This was a theatrical effect, of an obvious, unmistakable kind. It might have been- though I am not aware that it ever actually was- made the subject of a picture-poster. But this, as it seems to me, was Ibsen's last concession to the ideal of technique which he had acquired, in the old Bergen days, from his French masters. It was at this point- or, more precisely, a little later, in the middle of the third act- that Ibsen definitely outgrew the theatrical orthodox of his earlier years. When the action, in the theatrical sense, was over, he found himself only on the threshold of the essential drama; and in that drama, compressed into the final scene of the play, he proclaimed his true power and his true mission. How impossible, in his subsequent work, would be such figures as Mrs. Linden, the confidant, and Krogstad, the villain! They are not quite the ordinary confidant and villain, for Ibsen is always Ibsen, and his power of vitalization is extraordinary. Yet we clearly feel them to belong to a different order of art from that of his later plays. How impossible, too, in the poet's after years, would have been the little tricks of ironic coincidence and picturesque contrast which abound in A Doll's House! |
They are not quite the ordinary confidant and villain, for Ibsen is always Ibsen, and his power of vitalization is extraordinary. Yet we clearly feel them to belong to a different order of art from that of his later plays. How impossible, too, in the poet's after years, would have been the little tricks of ironic coincidence and picturesque contrast which abound in A Doll's House! The festal atmosphere of the whole play, the Christmas-tree, the tarantella, the masquerade ball, with its distant sounds of music- all the shimmer and tinsel of the background, against which Nora's soul-torture and Rank's despair are thrown into relief, belong to the system of external, artificial antithesis beloved by romantic playwrights from Lope de Vega onward, and carried to its limit by Victor Hugo. The same artificiality is apparent in minor details. ". Oh, what a wonderful thing it is to live to be happy!". Cries Nora, and instantly "The hall-door bell rings" and Krogstad's shadow falls across the threshold. So, too, for his second entrance, an elaborate effect of contrast is arranged, between Nora's gleeful romp with her children and the sinister figure which stands unannounced in their midst. It would be too much to call these things absolutely unnatural, but the very precision of the coincidence is eloquent of prearrangement. At any rate, they belong to an order of effects which in future Ibsen sedulously eschews. The one apparent exception to this rule which I can remember occurs in The Master Builder, where Solness's remark, "Presently the younger generation will come knocking at my door," gives the cue forPage 11 Hilda's knock and entrance. But here an interesting distinction is to be noted. Throughout The Master Builder the poet subtly indicates the operation of mysterious, unseen agencies- the "helpers and servers" of whom Solness speaks, as well as the Power with which he held converse at the crisis in his life- guiding, or at any rate tampering with, the destinies of the characters. This being so, it is evident that the effect of pre-arrangement produced by Hilda's appearing exactly on the given cue was deliberately aimed at. Like so many other details in the play, it might be a mere coincidence, or it might be a result of inscrutable design- we were purposely left in doubt. |
Throughout The Master Builder the poet subtly indicates the operation of mysterious, unseen agencies- the "helpers and servers" of whom Solness speaks, as well as the Power with which he held converse at the crisis in his life- guiding, or at any rate tampering with, the destinies of the characters. This being so, it is evident that the effect of pre-arrangement produced by Hilda's appearing exactly on the given cue was deliberately aimed at. Like so many other details in the play, it might be a mere coincidence, or it might be a result of inscrutable design- we were purposely left in doubt. But the suggestion of pre-arrangement which helped to create the atmosphere of The Master Builder was wholly out of place in A Doll's House. In the later play it was a subtle stroke of art; in the earlier it was the effect of imperfectly dissembled artifice. The fact that Ibsen's full originality first reveals itself in the latter half of the third act is proved by the very protests, nay, the actual rebellion, which the last scene called forth. Up to that point he had been doing, approximately, what theatrical orthodoxy demanded of him. But when Nora, having put off her masquerade dress, returned to make up her account with Helmer, and with marriage as Helmer understood it, the poet flew in the face of orthodoxy, and its professors cried, out in bewilderment and wrath. But it was just at this point that, in practice, the real grip and thrill of the drama were found to come in. The tarantella scene never, in my experience- and I have seen five or six great actresses in the part- produced an effect in any degree commensurate with the effort involved. But when Nora and Helmer faced each other, one on each side of the table, and set to work to ravel out the skein of their illusions, then one felt oneself face to face with a new thing in drama- an order of experience, at once intellectual and emotional, not hitherto attained in the theatre. This every one felt, I think, who was in any way accessible to that order of experience. For my own part, I shall never forget how surprised I was on first seeing the play, to find this scene, in its naked simplicity, far more exciting and moving than all the artfully-arranged situations of the earlier acts. |
But when Nora and Helmer faced each other, one on each side of the table, and set to work to ravel out the skein of their illusions, then one felt oneself face to face with a new thing in drama- an order of experience, at once intellectual and emotional, not hitherto attained in the theatre. This every one felt, I think, who was in any way accessible to that order of experience. For my own part, I shall never forget how surprised I was on first seeing the play, to find this scene, in its naked simplicity, far more exciting and moving than all the artfully-arranged situations of the earlier acts. To the same effect, from another point of view, we have the testimony of Fru Hennings, the first actress who ever played the part of Nora. In an interview published soon after Ibsen's death, she spoke of the delight it was to her, in her youth, to embody the Nora of the first and second acts, the "lark," the "squirrel," the irresponsible, butterfly Nora. ". When I now play the part," she went on, "the first acts leave me indifferent. Not until the third act am I really interested- but then, intensely.". To call the first and second acts positively uninteresting would of course be a gross exaggeration. What one really means is that their workmanship is still a little derivative and immature, and that not until the third act does the poet reveal the full originality and individuality of his genius. SUMMARY OF PLAY Act I: Summary:Page 12 Nora enters a late nineteenth-century living room furnished comfortably and tastefully but not extravagantly carrying a Christmas tree and presents. After she nibbles on a few macaroons, she begins unwrapping parcels. Torvald, from his study adjacent to the living room , hears her and comes out. Nora hides her macaroons. When Torvald sees the numerous purchases Nora has made, he chastises her for being a spendthrift. Torvald's tone is of a father talking to a small child. Nora responds to Torvald's concerns by saying that money is not important and that, should it become so, they will simply borrow money until Torvald gets paid again. Torvald gently objects to the idea of being in debt. Seeing that Nora is put out by his chastisement, Torvald offers her money for housekeeping, much to Nora's excitement. |
Nora responds to Torvald's concerns by saying that money is not important and that, should it become so, they will simply borrow money until Torvald gets paid again. Torvald gently objects to the idea of being in debt. Seeing that Nora is put out by his chastisement, Torvald offers her money for housekeeping, much to Nora's excitement. Nora shows him the presents she has bought. Torvald then asks Nora what she would like for Christmas. After hesitating for a bit, Nora says that she would most like money. Laughing, Torvald again patronizingly accuses Nora of being a spendthrift. Torvald then asks if Nora has been breaking rules and eating sweets. Nora lies and denies that she has been eating macaroons, protesting that she would never go against Torvald's wishes. Torvald believes her and they begin discussing how much they are looking forward to Christmas. They reminisce about the past, including how Nora locked herself up in a room in order to surprise everyone with homemade ornaments the year before only for them to be torn up by the cat. Nora begins to talk to Torvald about her plans for after Christmas when the maid interrupts with news of visitors. Torvald retreats to his study where his friend Doctor Rank has gone while Nora receives Mrs. Linde, an old friend from school. At first, Nora does not recognize Mrs. Linde, who she has not seen for about a decade. The two quickly catch up on the events of their lives, including the death of Mrs. Linde's husband. Mrs. Linde reports that she feels that she has become much older but quickly asks Nora to tell her about herself. Nora happily shares that Torvald has been appointed to manager of the bank and that she is relieved that they will soon have heaps of money. Mrs. Linde, smiling, chastises Nora for fixing on money and they reminisce about Nora being a spendthrift when they were younger. Nora qualifies this comment by revealing that she and Torvald have both had to work very hard to make what they have. In fact, she reports that, early in their marriage, Torvald fell ill from overwork and they had to take a very costly vacation to Italy, paid for by Nora's father, in order to allow Torvald to recover. |
Linde, smiling, chastises Nora for fixing on money and they reminisce about Nora being a spendthrift when they were younger. Nora qualifies this comment by revealing that she and Torvald have both had to work very hard to make what they have. In fact, she reports that, early in their marriage, Torvald fell ill from overwork and they had to take a very costly vacation to Italy, paid for by Nora's father, in order to allow Torvald to recover. Nora laments the fact that, because she was looking after Torvald and expecting her first child, she could not nurse her father when he fell fatally ill just prior to their departure for Italy. Returning to the present, Nora happily reports that Torvald has been in good health ever since their trip. The two women then turn to a discussion of Mrs. Linde. At Nora's request, Mrs. Linde explains why she married her husband despite the fact that she did not love him, reporting that the draw of his financial status was too compelling, given her circumstances. Mrs. Linde reports that, unfortunately, her husband died penniless and she has had to work to make ends meet and support her relatives for the last few years. Now that her mother is dead and her brother comfortable, Mrs. Linde says that she feels empty because she has no one for whom to care. She slyly asks Nora if Torvald would be able to secure some work for her. Nora agrees. Mrs. Linde makes an off-hand remark about how little Nora has had to worry about in life, calling Nora a child. Nora objects, challenging Mrs. Linde's superior attitude. To prove how much she has been through, Nora shares with Mrs. Linde that, despite what she had just told her, it was actually Nora who, through a loan from an undivulged source, procured the money necessary to go to Italy and save Torvald's life. Mrs. Linde wonders aloud if Nora has not acted imprudently, having never shared this secret with her husband. Nora rejects this view, claiming that Torvald and her marriage could not sustain the knowledge of this secret. Mrs. Linde questions Nora as to whether Nora ever plans to tell Torvald. |
Nora rejects this view, claiming that Torvald and her marriage could not sustain the knowledge of this secret. Mrs. Linde questions Nora as to whether Nora ever plans to tell Torvald. Nora replies that she may some day, if her good looks and charm wear off and she is in need of some compelling way to keepPage 13 Torvald, but not for quite a while. She then launches into a description of how hard it has been to find the money she has needed to repay this loan and how happy she is that she will be free of its burden thanks to Torvald's promotion. The doorbell rings and the maid informs Nora that Krogstad desires to see Torvald. Nora, shocked and worried that Krogstad has come to inform Torvald of Nora's secret, questions Krogstad about his business. Krogstad assures her that it is mere bank business and so Nora assents. Mrs. Linde reveals that she once knew the man. When Krogstad goes into the study, Dr. Rank comes out to chat with Nora and Mrs. Linde. Discussing the human urge to sustain life, Dr. Rank grudgingly admits that he does want to preserve his own despite his physical pain resulting from a disease. He then begins to discourse on the pervasiveness of morally corrupt characters, including Krogstad. Nora feigns ignorance and inquires about Krogstad about whom Dr. Rank only has unflattering reports. Nora suddenly breaks out into laughter. Avoiding a direct reply to the questioning looks of Mrs. Linde and Dr. Rank, she asks if the employees of the bank will be under the power of Torvald after his promotion. She revels in the idea. Still happy, she offers a macaroon to Dr. Rank, falsely claiming that they were a gift from an unaware Mrs. Linde after Dr. Rank expresses surprise knowing that they are forbidden . Nora then impulsively shares with Mrs. Linde and Dr. Rank that there is something that she would very much like to say if Torvald was able to hear: "I'll be damned!". Her companions' reactions are cut short, though, by the emergence of Torvald from the study. Hiding the macaroons, Nora introduces Torvald to Mrs. Linde after he emerges from the study. After the initial introductions and explanation of Mrs. |
Nora further probes if the Nurse's daughter, as a result of her absence, had forgotten the Nurse. Nurse says no. Nora throws her arms around the Nurse, telling the Nurse what a wonderful mother she had been for her. Nora also begins to say that she is sure that the Nurse would also be a wonderful mother to Nora's children if they were suddenly without a mother but dismisses her thought as silly and sends the Nurse back to the children, turning the conversation to the ball. While alone, Nora unsuccessfully tries to concentrate on the ball and forget the problem of the possibility of Krogstad revealing her secret. She is interrupted by Mrs. Linde's arrival. Happy to see her, Nora asks Mrs. Linde to help her repair her dress for the ball the next evening. While sewing, Mrs. Linde thanks Nora for her hospitality and begins to ask about Dr. Rank and whether he is usually as depressing as he had been the day before. Nora reports that, as Mrs. Linde expected, he had been particularly bad and explains to her friend that Dr. Rank suffers from a very dangerous consumption of the spine that he has had from childhood; Nora hints that Dr. Rank's problem is the result of his father's sexual indiscretions though it is unclear as to whether Nora is really hinting and aware of the fact that they were sexual in nature . Shocked by Nora's understanding of the matter, Mrs. Linde drops her sewing and asks Nora how it is that she knows of such things. Nora dismisses Mrs. Linde's inquiry by telling her that the married women friends that occasionally stop by have a good knowledge of medical problems. Resuming her sewing, Mrs. Linde quietly continues her probe of Nora's relationship with Dr. Rank, asking Nora if he is often at the house. Nora replies that Dr. Rank is a good friend of both she and Torvald and stops by the house daily. Curious about Dr. Rank's motives as well as his familiarity with Mrs. Linde's name and Torvald's lack of familiarity , Mrs. Linde asks Nora to describe her relationship with the Doctor. Nora confesses that, because of Torvald's own tastes, she does often tell Dr. Rank things that she does not share with Torvald. Suspicious of Dr. Rank, Mrs. Linde, citing her superior experience and knowledge of the world, counsels Nora to end her relationship with Dr. |
Suspicious of Dr. Rank, Mrs. Linde, citing her superior experience and knowledge of the world, counsels Nora to end her relationship with Dr. Rank. Puzzled, Nora asks Mrs. Linde exactly what it is that she should be ending. Mrs. Linde explains that she is afraid that Dr. Rank is the rich admirer who Nora described the day before as a potential source of money. Interrupting her, Nora clarifies that such a man does not exist. Still pursuing her line of thought, Mrs. Linde calls Dr. Rank tactless and tells Nora that it is obvious that he is the man from whom Nora has borrowed money. Nora denies this, but muses on the potential help that a man could bring to rectifying the situation. Sensing a change in Nora's disposition, Mrs. Linde asks Nora what has happened in the last day. Hearing Torvald approaching, Nora does not answer and asks Mrs. Linde to retire to another room with her sewing, explaining that Torvald dislikes seeing dressmaking. Mrs. Linde obliges Nora but warns her that she will not leave the house until Nora explains what has happened. Torvald enters and asks if it was the dressmaker who had just left. Nora tells him that it was Mrs. Linde and replies that he must be very pleased that she had taken his advice to ask Mrs. Linde for help. Scoffing at the idea that he should be pleased that his wife had done his bidding, he excuses himself, saying that she will probably want to be trying on her dress. Nora remarks that she expects that he will retire to the study with his work. As he leaves, Nora stops him, asking him repeatedly if he would do something for his "little squirrel" or "skylark" if she were to act very "prettily", dancing and singing for him. Torvald answers that, despite these promises, he would still like to hear what the deed would be before he agrees. While Nora continues to promise that she will act like a fairy and dance for him in the moonlight, he abruptly asks her if she is making her request from earlier the appeal to not fire Krogstad. When NoraPage 17 confirms that she is, begging him to reconsider, Torvald grows angry, observing that it is Krogstad's post that he has promised Mrs. |
Torvald answers that, despite these promises, he would still like to hear what the deed would be before he agrees. While Nora continues to promise that she will act like a fairy and dance for him in the moonlight, he abruptly asks her if she is making her request from earlier the appeal to not fire Krogstad. When NoraPage 17 confirms that she is, begging him to reconsider, Torvald grows angry, observing that it is Krogstad's post that he has promised Mrs. Linde; Torvald implies that he is annoyed that Nora seems to think that he would change his mind simply because of Nora's promise to Krogstad. Nora interrupts him, telling him that it is not just her promise that makes the matter so urgent-- she is concerned that Krogstad will besmirch their name in the newspapers. Torvald, thinking that Nora is afraid of libel because of past experiences with her father's name being trashed in the newspapers after his death, reassures Nora that, unlike her father, he is beyond reproach. Nora again pleads, warning that men like Krogstad are certainly capable of contriving things to bring harm to their happy, snug home. Torvald finally replies that Nora's pleas make it all the more impossible for him to change his mind; what would happen to his reputation if word got out that he had reversed his decision simply because of his wife's entreaties? Moreover, Torvald argues that Krogstad is not only morally corrupt, but he also takes advantage of their early childhood friendship to speak to him in what Torvald believes to be an inappropriately familiar manner. Torvald believes that this would make his position as manager intolerable. Incredulous, Nora tells Torvald that he surely must not be so narrow-minded. Angry at being called narrow-minded which Nora tries to qualify , Torvald orders the maid to send Krogstad his dismissal which Torvald has already composed. Horrified, Nora begs him to call the letter back, warning Torvald that he must do it for the sake of the marriage and family. Torvald says it is too late and Nora agrees. Torvald then launches into a speech on how insulting he finds Nora's alarm but concludes by telling her that he forgives her because her worries are surely only an expression of her great love for him. |
Nora is relieved that Dr. Rank has actually been talking about himself and not her own situation and comments on the ugliness of the matter. Dr. Rank agrees and asks Nora to prevent Torvald from entering Rank's sickroom once Rank knows that he is about to enter the final stages of death because Rank does not want Torvald to witness the ugliness of the disease since he knows that Torvald's refined nature gives Torvald an unconquerable disgust of everything ugly. Nora, upset by his pessimistic and ugly tone, comments that she had hoped that he would be in good spirits today. Rank scoffs at the idea of being in good humor pun probably not intended when he knows that he is dying for the sins of his father. Besides, he says, such revenge for indiscretion is being exacted in every household. Unclear as to what Rank is talking about, Nora comments that Rank's father must have eaten a lot of unhealthy foods and alcohol when he was younger. The conversation it is unclear as to whether the two have really understood each other throughout the exchange peters out with Nora commenting that the biggest tragedy has been that Dr. Rank has not been able to enjoy these pleasures himself. Dr. Rank is intrigued by this nebulous statement and makes a small exclamation. The conversation becomes confused and degenerates into a comment on the silly moods that two are in. Nora, rising and placing her hands on Dr. Rank's shoulders, commentsPage 18 that she and Torvald would hate to lose Dr. Rank to death. Dr. Rank replies that those who are gone are easily forgotten, piquing Nora's interest. Dr. Rank, explaining the matter, observes that Mrs. Linde has already begun to replace him. Nora tells him to be quiet and promises that, if he is nice, she will dance the next day and he will be able to imagine that it is all for him and, as a quick qualifier, Torvald as well . Nora, continuing consciously or unconsciously to flirt with the Doctor, pulls out a pair of silk stockings to show him. They banter a bit about how much leg Nora will have to show him for him to form an opinion of the stockings. Dr. Rank comments on the great deal of intimacy and comfort he has enjoyed with the Helmers and how he would like to leave some token of appreciation for their generosity before he passes away. |
A DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO THE MEMORIES WE LOST AND OTHER STORIES. ANTHOLOGY OF SHORT STORIES COMPILED BY CHRIS WANJALA. TABLE OF CONTENT Introduction page Authors Copyright Table of content Memories we lost. ............................................ 1 How much land does mannee.........................8 Light.................................................................13 My Fathers Head. The Umbrella Man............................................24 The President...................................................31 Window Seat Almost Home...................................................... 45 The Folded Leaf...................................................55 Hitting Budapest Missing Out.........................................................68 No need to Lie The Handsomest Drowned Man In the world. Stones Bounce On WaterSAMPLE ANSWERED QUESTIONS.................................96 1. MEMORIES WE LOST By Lidudumalingani Mqombofhi About the Author The author Lidudumalingani was born in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa in a village called Zikhovane. Lidudumalingani is a writer, filmmaker and a photographer. He grew up herding cattle and moulding goats from clay and later grew fond of words and images. He writes about music, art, culture and films for the Mail, Guardian and Africa is my country. He has published in literature journals Chimurenga chronic and pufrock and the second short, sharp story collection Adults only. He currently lives in Cape Town The Title Memories we lost is a biography. The life of a sister seen by a younger sister. The story is about mental illnessghigpphrenig and its effect. It is first described as this thing that takes the narrator's younger sister. Over time it robs the sister of the ability to speak and remember hence the title Memories we lost. The title is a reflection of loss and regret. The setting The story is set in South Africa, indeed the author Lidudumalingani is a South African. A number of South African indigenous words are used in the story. The plot The story Memories we lost is about challenges brought by mental illness to the victim and those around them. The mental illness is schizophrenia. It is a mental disorder Characterized by many symptoms. It causes a breakdown in the relationship between thoughts, feelings and actions. There are many causes Of the disease and hereditary is one of them. It's No wonder the disease runs in the narrator's family. The narrator's father was a scherophrene. Events and actions in the story rotate around a sick sister. The sickness is terrifying and attacks without warning. |
The narrator's father was a scherophrene. Events and actions in the story rotate around a sick sister. The sickness is terrifying and attacks without warning. The narrator tells us that after the attack is over she would mumble c prayer and would embrace the sister for a long time. This suggests . The reader that the illness is horrific and painful. In one of these attacks the sick sister screams and disappears intr, the night. All men and boys go out in search of her The men Or boys disoriented and peered shuffled in the dark and split into smc groups as instructed by a man " Pg 1 0. Hours later they return bu without the sister. It is the mother who returns the following dot carrying the daughter. In a different episode as the narrator is telling her sister a story, she is seized by an attack and knocks her head on the wall so much one so hard that she bleed profusely. An effort to shield her from doing this fails because of the abnormal strength that the sister has during an attack. The episode is so memorable to the mind of the narrator and says, "The smell of blood lingered after many sunsets had come; even after the rain had come " Pg 1 2. The disease makes the sister violent and destructive. This is evident ir a case where she flung a desk across a room smashing the glass window. In yet another moment of attack the ill sister pours hot porridge on the sister's chest causing her a lot of pain and harm. It is due to the disease that the narrator's sister drops out of school and cannot continue with her schooling 'This thing, this thing that took over her followed her to school and had to drop out ' This makes the narrator who loves the sister so much to absent himself from school. Eventually suffering the same fate The narrator spends much time with the sister playing e g drawing sketches. It is while narrator is in school that she learns about schizophrenia. She comes to understand that it is what the sister was suffering from. She further learns that there is not medication for the disease and has no cure. The medicine she was taking was of no help. The sisters secretly decide not to take the medicine anymore "The first thing my sister and I got rid of was her arsenal of medicaitrion " Pg 1 3, Henceforth they buried all the herbs and the narrator demonstrated to the sister how to fake taking medication drinks. Like any good mother, the mother has made many attempts to have the girl cured. |
The medicine she was taking was of no help. The sisters secretly decide not to take the medicine anymore "The first thing my sister and I got rid of was her arsenal of medicaitrion " Pg 1 3, Henceforth they buried all the herbs and the narrator demonstrated to the sister how to fake taking medication drinks. Like any good mother, the mother has made many attempts to have the girl cured. She has used herbs, modern medication, prayers and even consulted. The younger sister tries as much as possible to bring the sister to be her old self. In one such episode the sisters are playing in the rain. They are happy and the disease appears to have 'left' the sister " We jumped in the rain in that moment, my sister returned; she smiled and laughed. That day we began to form new childhood memories, filling the void left by one that had been wiped out " Pg 1 4 The mother sees them in this state and she imagines that the disease was going to come again. She organizes for another ritual to cure the daughter. This time round she organizes for a Nkunzi witchdoctor from another village famous for baking people on a fire from cow dung and wood. The narrator is aware that effects of ritual is unknown as dangerous ritual and says "l had not heard anyone who had survived either " She could not allow this to happen to the sister. The both ran away to the unknown place. Just like the father before them the two sisters are escaping from their village and the people. The want to put enough distance between themselves and the home memories and secrets that stamp them as belonging to a family known for mental illness. But at the end hope is on sight, for after walking the whole night they reached a town and a hospital in sight. They knowingly fifteen each other grip. CHARACTERIZATION THE NARRATOR She is a sister to the mentally ill sister. The narrator and the sister have no names because they symbolize or represent others like them who love and live with mentally ill relatives. The narrator is loving or affectionate. She loves the mentally ill sister despite her state. This is unlike many families where the mentally ill have no one to take care of them. When the sister 'comes out' of an attack she is always there for her "The embraces I remember, were always tight and long as if she hoped the moment would last forever " There seem to be a very strong bond of love between the two sisters. |
She loves the mentally ill sister despite her state. This is unlike many families where the mentally ill have no one to take care of them. When the sister 'comes out' of an attack she is always there for her "The embraces I remember, were always tight and long as if she hoped the moment would last forever " There seem to be a very strong bond of love between the two sisters. The sibling's relation is loving and cordial. They even discuss their physical growth including the emergence of the sister's growth. The narrator is curious inquisitive when she hears the mother and the uncle discussing the sister's illness in the morning she crouches near them to hear what they are saying. She is quite protective and protects the sister from the wrath of Nkunzi a sangoma who 'bakes' patients with mental illness. They run away to another village. The narrator emphasizes with the sister. When called by an old aunt from the house, the narrator says, "wehugged tightly, my sister and I wiped each other's tears " She is inseparable from her sister, "the only way to have me turn away from her would be to cut us apart " The narrator is courageous because she walks throughout the night with the sister alone in the villages as they are fleeing even with the dogs barking. She is religious and prayful. When the sister came out of an attack from mental attack she says "I stretched my arms out in all directions, mumbled two short prayers " THE SICK SISTER Most of the things we know about her are told by the sister. She is mentally ill and because of this she is violent. She hauls a desk breaking the window in a class. She also violently harms herself by hitting her head against tree trump until she bleed. She pours hot porridge on her sister. But she also loves and her relation to the sister is cordial and loving. She is also secretive and emotional because she cries the whole night of the ritual but does not want the brother to know "...and she sunk her teeth in the pillow so that she would not cry. THE MOTHER She is determined. Her determination to have the daughter healedj of the mental illness is admirable. She tries all forms of reme including prayers, herbs, witchdoctors etc. We also see this determination when the daughter has a seize illness and runs away at night. All the men and boys return wi the girl hopeless. |
She tries all forms of reme including prayers, herbs, witchdoctors etc. We also see this determination when the daughter has a seize illness and runs away at night. All the men and boys return wi the girl hopeless. The mother comes far much later the following day after finding the daughter "...only returned home when the sun was up in the sky the next day, carrying my sister on her back. She is a loving mother and her love is illustrated by the efforts she makes to make her daughter cured. She trays prayers, herbal medicine, modern medicine and witchcraft She is paranoid fearful. On seeing her two daughters play in the rain she fears the disease might come back again, she calls the entire village for another ritual THE FATHER There is only a mention of the father. He was a schizophrenia just like the daughter is but nobody mentions it. He left one day never to come back. He was this mysterious and escapist because he was running away from the village and the people. THEMES 1. Effects of mental illness The author looks at mental illness and especially the effect on the victim and those living with a mentally ill person. The mentally ill sister first loses her speech "The first thing that this took from us was speech " Pg 8. The sister is not coherent and speaks in a language that was unfamiliar, her words trembling as if trying to relay unthinkable revelations from the gods. The disease has affected the thinking or the mental faulty of the sister in such a way that she cannot remember. Thus the disease takes away all her ability to remember "memories faded one after the other until our past was a blur" Mental illness appears to have horrifying and dehumanizing effect on the victim. The attacks tear her apart so that when she regains herself she is totally different "Every time this nothing took her she returned altered, unrecognizable as if two people were trapped inside her. The whole community is affected by mental illness. When the sister runs away due to the disease attack everybody is concerned and men. The ritual to be performed by the Sangoma is attended by all the Villagers showing it is a concern for everybody. MENTAL ILLNESS When the writer writes about mental illness the description is so viv, It is as if you are right there with the victim. He describes this illnes, that the nameless protagonist calls this thing. Mental illness is a harrowing mindless and violent disease. |
MENTAL ILLNESS When the writer writes about mental illness the description is so viv, It is as if you are right there with the victim. He describes this illnes, that the nameless protagonist calls this thing. Mental illness is a harrowing mindless and violent disease. It's n only the disease but the cure for the illness "The next day my sister would be taken to Nkunzi to be 'baked'. Had heard of how Nkunzi baked people. He would make a fire fro-cow dung and wood and once the fire burnt red he would tie the demon possessed person into a section of the zinc rooting then place it on fire. He claimed to be baking the demons and that the perso would recover from the burns a week later. I had not heard of anyon who died but I had not heard of anyone who lived either "The reade is saddened by the fate of those African countries who suffer fro mental illness, how they are caught in violent superstition. The story brings out the reality in any African countries where ther are no facilities for the mentally ill. What serves as cure is often times cruel beyond telling of it. The mother does not understand why the same disease that afflicte her husband now afflicts her daughter. She doesn't know the disea is hereditary. People had come to believe that baking people from a fire by d cow dung and wood would release them off demons. This leads death of patients rather than cure them "I had not heard of anyo who had died but I had not heard of anyone who had lived either " LOVE AND EMPATHY Memories we lost is a troubling piece depicting the great between two siblings in a beautifully drawn landscape. Memories we lost is more than a story about mental illness. It between siblings who show great love and feeling towar other despite their faults. The narrator organizes for her and her sister to flee not only she cannot allow her sister to be 'baked' but helps her to r from the village to escape the embarrassment as shame ofIGNORANCE AND SUPERSTITION The elders refer to the disease as this thing and say it is the work of the devil and demons. Narrator says, "None of them knew my sister; none of them cared " The villagers are ignorant of the fact that the disease as a medical condition and should be treated as such. IMAGERY The writer uses powerful images with the writings that are inspiring. |
The narrator organizes for her and her sister to flee not only she cannot allow her sister to be 'baked' but helps her to r from the village to escape the embarrassment as shame ofIGNORANCE AND SUPERSTITION The elders refer to the disease as this thing and say it is the work of the devil and demons. Narrator says, "None of them knew my sister; none of them cared " The villagers are ignorant of the fact that the disease as a medical condition and should be treated as such. IMAGERY The writer uses powerful images with the writings that are inspiring. The mental illness is not called by the name but this thing to show how embarrassed and shameful it is but also to portray ignorance of a community. The team returning from the search is described as 'morphed into defeated men' and 'their bodies slouched as if they had carried a heavy load 'to show the fatigue and frustration after the search from the sick girl. The modern building and a hospital that the narrator and the girl see after a sign of hope that finally the sister might be cured of her disease. After the sister hits her head on a tree continuously and she bleeds, the narrator says the bloodstain remained visible on the wall long after my mother scrubbed it off; long after she had applied three layers of mud and new water paint. The writer shows how horrible the incident was and that it will never be scrubbed in the narrator's memory. USE OF SYMBOLISM The disease symbolizes a nation that once suffered schizophrenia of apartheid and just like the sister the country is trying to understand it and cure it. The nation is trying to understand and heal a national disorder. After the night's sleep, the sister will wake up once the sun is up and alk again to somewhere. This symbolizes a better South Africa. USE OF SATIRE Both the community and the religion are satirized for instead looking for a cure the community goes for medication that is ver. Dangerous like calling the Nkunzi to 'bake' a living person. This endanger the girl more than cure her. Religion is also satirized because even after much prayer it is providing a solution. 2.How much land does man need By. Leo Tolstoy THE AUTHOR. When Tolstoy died at the age of 82 from pheumonia, he may have been the most famous man in the world. He was the leading RUSSian novelist in the world. |
Leo Tolstoy THE AUTHOR. When Tolstoy died at the age of 82 from pheumonia, he may have been the most famous man in the world. He was the leading RUSSian novelist in the world. Leo Tolstoy was born in 1828 the wealthy aristocratic parents. He was orphaned at the age of 9 and thus grew up under the care of aunts and uncles. He once served in the Russian army during the Crimean war lt is the suffering that he witnessed during the war that heeped to bring out his serious, morally questioning nature. Tolstoy greatest works are war and peace and Anna karennia regarded as the finest novels ever written. Although Tolstoy was a pacifist, a Christian and an aristocrat his books were never banned. His rural grave is a major Russian tourist attraction and his house in Moscow is now Tolstoy museum. THE TITLE. The title is a question Pahom tries to get as much land ashe could, However, at the end he dies frying to get this land and is buried in a grave six feet by three. The end of the story answer the question, How much land does a man need, that six feet is all we require because when we die we do not carry anything with THE SETTING. The setting is in Russian countryside. Events rotate mainly arotmd Pahom met his death in the Bahkir's land. The Plot. How much land does a man need? Is one of the est moral tales that Tolstoy wrote. Written in 1886 the story tells about Paho who is corrupted by materialism and greed and eventually dest yed by greed. The Protagonist Pahom is a peasant. At th eginning we are told he owns '1 23 acres of land pasture' page and a big house animals and a family of five but he is not conte ed. One day a passing dealer informs Pa m that he had bought 1 300 acres of land at 1000 roubles and ev n goes further to show Pahom the title deed. The dealer creates the impression at the seller the Bashkirs are simple minded who own large tracks f land. Pahom makes up his mind that he was going to buy land from theBashkirs. |
One day a passing dealer informs Pa m that he had bought 1 300 acres of land at 1000 roubles and ev n goes further to show Pahom the title deed. The dealer creates the impression at the seller the Bashkirs are simple minded who own large tracks f land. Pahom makes up his mind that he was going to buy land from theBashkirs. He buys presents for them and with a servant makes a seven days journey to the land of the Bashkirs to take as much land for a low price. He gives the Bashkirs the presents he had bought for them. The chief informs him that as a token of appreciation, he would be rewarded with whatever he wanted. Pahom chooses land. Their offer is very unusual; for a sum of 1000 roublles, Pahom can walk around as large area as he wants, starting at daybreak, marking his route with a spade along t he way. If he reaches his starting point by sunset that day, the entire area of land his route encloses would be his, but if he does not reach hs starting point he would lose money and receive no land. Pahom is happy with the arrangement and decides he will start the following morning. He is so excited by the idea of owning large tracks of land that he cannot even sleep. He 'onlky dozed off just before dawn'pg 22.Before sunrise he is taken to the hillock and shown the spot he will start at sunrise. Pahom takes a spade to mark the land and as soon as the sun OPpears he starts walking towqrds the medow. He walks fast and at certain point has to take off his coat and shoes because of the heat and so that he can walk faster. He walks straight and far until the hillock and the people are no longer visible. He stops to takes water and luch. After the meal he starts walking but is soon very exhausted and sleepy because its is too hot. When he thought he had walked enough and should start to go boo he is tempted by o damp hollow "It would be a pity to leave thos out... Flax would do well there". Greed makes him not to turn when would have been very necessary to do so. By the time he makes up his mind to go back to the hillock, the sun i: overhesd and he is exhausted. |
When he thought he had walked enough and should start to go boo he is tempted by o damp hollow "It would be a pity to leave thos out... Flax would do well there". Greed makes him not to turn when would have been very necessary to do so. By the time he makes up his mind to go back to the hillock, the sun i: overhesd and he is exhausted. By this time he is very tired, the temperatures are very high, his feet are cut and bruised and the legz are failing him. He regrets having walked too far. Because of serious pain and exhaustion, he throws away everything else he was carrying, coat shoes, flask and his cap. Fear of not achieving his goals makes him to start running, this i',despite the heat, dehydration and pain. At one point he is aware that strain will kill him "Though afraid of death, he could not stop" He ran on and on. This is the climax of the story when he decides to keep going even though he is dying. He dies of exhaustion once he reaches the top of the hill. The Bashkirs exclaims "He has gained much land "But he is dead. The servant quickly buries Pahom using his own spade that he used to mark the land. Only six feet of land is needed to burry him. Six feet of land is how much land a man needs because every man dies in the end. CHARACTERIZATION. The only fully developed character in the story How much landdoesa man need is Pahom. The author intends his readers to focus entirely on the peignt of Pahom as he seeks his fortune. He is a peasant who keeps frying to gain more land and never seems to have enough. He is a dynamic character who is well developed even tough negatively. At first he is content with his life but then he becomes greedy and ambitious in his persuit of wealth new land Pahom is an industrious and a hardworking person. He owns 123 qcres of land on which he farms and 'the number of cattie kept increasing' pg 21 .1t is this trait that makes him 90 to the Bashkirs search of new landsBut Pahom is also greedy and materialistic we are told that 'he wpnted wider and more fertile lands and had an desire to 21. He kept on thinking of one thing 'How can I have more land. |
At first he is content with his life but then he becomes greedy and ambitious in his persuit of wealth new land Pahom is an industrious and a hardworking person. He owns 123 qcres of land on which he farms and 'the number of cattie kept increasing' pg 21 .1t is this trait that makes him 90 to the Bashkirs search of new landsBut Pahom is also greedy and materialistic we are told that 'he wpnted wider and more fertile lands and had an desire to 21. He kept on thinking of one thing 'How can I have more land. Because of greed and materialism he goes out the Bashkirs land in search of cheap land. At the Bashkirs he becomes carried away by his greed and covers a distance that is too much for him and is responsible for his own demise. Pahom is rustling to return to the hillock before sunset, dying in the process. He knows that he is dying and considers stopping but he doesn't because of greed. Pahom potrays the nature of greed in humans. Pahom is also a very generous person this is seen when he buys presents for the Bashkirs and are happy with him ln fact as a token of appreciation of the generousity the Bashkir's chief offers to give him any reward he chooses. He is also a determined person because when he makes up his mind to get the Bashkir's land he makes a seven day journey to their land, he even buys presents for the Bashkir's. The Chief of the Bashkir's. He is a static character who does not change or develop. He is appreciative and thankful of the presents given to him by Pahom and because of this he make; a goog deal with Pahom about how much land he can get from their tribe. For accommodating Pahom and offering him land he is very hospitable and generous. The dealer. Not much is revealed about the dealer but it is apparent that he is sincere and honest. He even shows Pahom his tiltle deed to proof his point. THEMES. Pahom the main character reflects the characteristic of greed. Tolstoy through Pahom want to tell us that greed does not pay and might lead to self destruction. |
THEMES. Pahom the main character reflects the characteristic of greed. Tolstoy through Pahom want to tell us that greed does not pay and might lead to self destruction. Pahom the main character has enough of what one requires in life ln fact he is rich, he owns 1 23 acres of land, a family and land but is not contented. He goes out in the Bashkir's land to look for more at g very low price. The author wants to show that what we have with us does not set, -satisfactory, and it keeps us to look for more. Pahom become; carried away with his ambition and greed and loses contentme, even though he already has land to make him happy. On his trip to the Bashkir's to find land, he has an opportunity to gain land as much as he wanted. After paying 1000 roubles, he told to make a mark and walk as much but be back by sunset and aj the land he would have covered, would be his provided he was back by sunset. But Pahom full with greed walks beyond his limit. On reaching he is running short of time he starts running so as to get back to the starting point. Unfortunately he dies of exhaustion just when he was about to reach the starting point. Greed leads to self destruction. He is buried by his servant and at the end the only land he requires is 6 by 3 feet big enough for his grave. The end of the story teaches us that greed does not pay and how much we actually need in life. After death we do not carry anything with us. STYLES. 1. Use of parables. Tolstoy story is a parable. Like the parables of Jesus a parable parablesrt simple tale that has moral lessons. Like Pahom many people in the world today believe that we need material things and wealth in order to be happy. Such people often waste their tiem to gai more for themselves. The author tries to tell us that we should not have greed on materials that are meaningless but do things that are worthy. The story concludes with a moral lesson that the only thing Ne need in the end, is a little piece of land. Thus we should learn to be content with what we have having more doesn't always make you happier and greed can consumr and destroy your life. At the end Pahom gets a titting end. |
The story concludes with a moral lesson that the only thing Ne need in the end, is a little piece of land. Thus we should learn to be content with what we have having more doesn't always make you happier and greed can consumr and destroy your life. At the end Pahom gets a titting end. Use of irony When Pahom dies and is buried by his servant the author describes his grave as being six feet as all the land he needed. Six feet is unexpected answer to the title of the story. Use of Dialogue. There is a dialogue between Pahom and the dealer. ". Is it true there is a place where land sells such cheap there must"It could not be look at this title deed" pg 21 The dialogue brings out the honesty of the dealer and the inquinsitive and greedy nature of Pahom. There is also the dialogue between the chief of the Bashkir's and The dialogue brings out the greed of Pahom and the Chiefs genoristy. 3. LIGHT: By Lesley Nneka Arimah BACKGROUND Lesley Nneka Arima was born in United Kingdom and grew up wherever her father was stationed to work. This was sometimes in Nigeria or even out of Nigeria. She has been published in the New Yorker and Granta. Her story, the light was winner of the 2015 commonwealth short story prize for Africa. Her work has received grants and awards from Commonwealth writers, AWP, the Elizabeth George Foundation, the Jerome foundation and others. She is currently living in Minneapolis. The Light touches on key issues, which revolve around education and parenting. Having grown up separated from her mother, Nneka understands what this kind of schism can do to relationships: Mother to child and wife to husband. The story handles effectively the themes of separation, parenting, technology and emancipation. It is an exciting story about expectations for both teenagers and young couples. The author ridicules parents who abandon their parenting responsibilities and expect their children to be straight. Therefore, the story is about how good relations and understanding can be maintained between parents and the teenagers in our modern society. SYNOPSIS Lesley Nneka Arima revolves around Enebeli's family. Enebeli ha, sent his daughter to the world expecting her to maintain her innocence "dew". He lives with his daughter in Nigeria while his wives studies master's in Business Administration in America. |
SYNOPSIS Lesley Nneka Arima revolves around Enebeli's family. Enebeli ha, sent his daughter to the world expecting her to maintain her innocence "dew". He lives with his daughter in Nigeria while his wives studies master's in Business Administration in America. Enebeli and her daughter go through a lot when his wife is out including blooming of their daughter who apparently gets shocked by her first menstrual cycle and being summoned in school for a case involving his daughter who is accused of writing a loveletter to a boy. Enebeli promises to chastise his daughter and assures the head teacher that the same would not happen again. The wife and the husband keep communicating through Skype and the mother plays her role of nurturing her daughter. The relationship between the mother and the daughter is smooth at first but soon changes and none is excited as before. This comes when the mother m reprimands the daughter in attempt to make a better woman fro her. During the first holiday, Enebeli's wife comes home but has with her visa during the return journey. This leads to a decisionstudies that at she would never come home again until she finishes h finishing studies however, Enebeli's wife decides to live there. She goes with her daughter. SETTING The story is set in Southern Nigeria. It is set in modern times as seen by use of advanced technology in communication; the Sk ype. It is set in contemporary Africa, as it addresses contemporary themes like THEMES education, emancipation, parenting and technology a Education in the hope to emancipate and liberate Africa, education Is critical. Enebell's wife goes to study her Masters degree its America. She hopes to get a good job when she gets badt, This translates to good pay and increased living stcmciar ",i, Enebeli takes his daughter to school to learn and grow. This has effects however as she comes back changed. Among other things she learns how to write love letters. A Parenting The author addresses the theme of parenting as a role of every parent. It should not be left to either the male or female parent. Light' is a warm story, beautiful and deeply felt. |
A Parenting The author addresses the theme of parenting as a role of every parent. It should not be left to either the male or female parent. Light' is a warm story, beautiful and deeply felt. Fluid and delightful, its theme of parenting across continents will strike a chord with readers throughout the world Enebeli demonstrates poor parenting when he still washes dishes and cooks for her daughter who is now fourteen p 29 He does not teach her responsibility as they still share house chores. On the other hand, Enebeli's wife does not spend quality time with her daughter and yet expects her daughter to be morally upright. The few attempts he makes over the phone to teach her manners only widen the gap between them. B Change It is said that change is inevitable and it is as good as rest. Change is the act or instance of making or becoming different. When Enebeli sends his daughter to school he did not expect her to change. According to him, she is well brought up and appropriately cultured. However, she soon changes and learns how to write love letters. As a result, he is summoned by the head teacher to discuss the changes in her daughter. Similarly, Enebeli's wife goes to the USA to study so she can get a good job back in Nigeria. Her taste changes and she looks for a job in the US and comes for her daughter. TECHNIQUES AND LANGUAGE l. Narrative voice and point of view The author has used third person narrative voice to narrate the story. This is the omniscient narrator. Enebelis parenting ways are smartly highlighted through thi. Narration voice. He loves his daughter to an extent that he still cook. For her even when she is fourteen. He takes her to the salon for hair to be relaxed. This use of 'He' pronoun makes the narrator small president, who is ruling the world of the story, making it vividly described one. This is the kind of narrator who is able to get in the characters thoughts and feelings besides narrating on events that happen on places where ordinary people would not venture. He is all knowing and reveals to the readers the thoughts, motives and intentions of different characters. He gets into the mind of characters and reveals to us their intentions. Imagery The author has used a number of metaphors and similes to develop aesthetic and fantastical descriptions that can be quite memorable. |
He is all knowing and reveals to the readers the thoughts, motives and intentions of different characters. He gets into the mind of characters and reveals to us their intentions. Imagery The author has used a number of metaphors and similes to develop aesthetic and fantastical descriptions that can be quite memorable. Among them, include: "would shrivel like a parched plant" "he massages the cream into her scalp like lotion" "feathery clumps that swirl into the drain like fuzzy fish" "an elephant of mistrust and awkwardness" "she strings his virtues out like Christmas lights" 1. Humour The quality of being amusing or comic, especially as expressed in, literature or speech. The author uses humour to ease the rather sad mood prevailing in theStory. She uses humorous expression as though saying, this is so funny but take it with a lot of seriousness. For instance: "Buki, I love you. I will give you many sons" p 29 "It happens two or more times before the girl learns to paw notes better" We expect the girl to Stop writing love letters after -be reprimands her but she only learns how to pgss them segre4' CHARACTERISATION Enebeli He appears to be comical. However, he is concerned, remorseful and Loving. He loves his daughter to an extent that he still cooks for her even when she is fourteen. He takes her to the salon for her hair to be relaxed P.29 He is also depicted as being a true Domineering man. When his wife wants to go with the daughter, he refuses the idea and stands firm on the decision. Enebeli's wife She is depicted as being a caring and a loving mother, She is indeed helpful, supportive and a concerned lady, who cares for her daughter and although she is away tries to bring her up in the right way p 32 ACTIVITY 1. Discuss the character traits of the following characters Enebeli 1 Enebeli's wife 1 Enebeli's daughter. 2. Discuss the theme of Emancipation as brought out in this short story. 3. What are the effects of distance relationship to good parenting 4. Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad. 5. Our parents get a lot of challenges when it comes to balancing career and parental responsibility. It is like serving two masters at a go. Discuss some of these challenges. |
Our parents get a lot of challenges when it comes to balancing career and parental responsibility. It is like serving two masters at a go. Discuss some of these challenges. 4. My Father's Head ,By: Okwiri OduorBACKGROUND Okwiri Oduor, the author of My Father's Head, was born in Nairobi Kenya. She has won a number of prizes among them the 2014 prize. She has also written a novella, The Dream Chasers, which highly commended in the 201 2 Commonwealth Book Prize. Speaking about herself Okwiri Oduor says, "l am an African writer and so what next? I am interested in fullness of the human experience like creating characters that are dynamic, that are real people, which have strengths. My Father's Head was published during post-colonial Kenya. During this period, Kenya, like any other African continent, is struggling with post-colonial evils ranging from poor governance to corruption to poverty. Themes of violence, religion, death, memory and heritage have prevailed in this prizewinning short story. The mention of the 1998 bomb blast on the Kenyan embassy is a proof of violence against human race in post-colonial Africa. This short story presents a recollection of painful and repressed memory. The members of the said society are relinquishing in abject poverty and the old have no willing family members to take care of. They live in a home for the old people. SYNOPSIS This story starts interestingly as a simple story but later proceeds in complexity as the narrator tries to recall her father. Seemingly, the narrator cannot remember the head of her father. The narrat0 ' Simbi, works in old peoples' home. She starts to think about her father when the one Father Ignatius visits the home. His coming reminds her so much of her father, but never the head. The figure of the priest acts as a trigger that prompts the narrator's journey to search for her Due to loneliness, Simbi, the narrator, has distorted images of the people she has encountered. She has been away from home for a long time and silently mourns the death of her father. It is for this reason therefore that the people she relates with are presented a faceless and to an extent nameless. As readers, it is only by description that we get to know them. Thus vivid description, as a literary technique comes in handy. |
Her - naivety and easy going disposition increases the entertainment and aesthetic value of this masterpiece. TRAITS Generouslwelcoming: she welcomes her father to her house and you have offered me makes her some tea. Her father says, tea " Nostalgic: she misses all the moments she shared with her father during her childhood and tries to bring them back. However, she hos lost all the memories and even when she tries to draw her father on paper she can only remember his clothes and not his head. She says, "His head refuses to appear on the paper " Nciive: She thinks her father has shapes- circles, triangles anc squares on his eyes. She does not realise that those are reflections. She actually says, "l had wondered how those shape had got inside my father's eye ' Mournful: Throughout the short story, Simbi mourns the death of father ond spends time trying to ecall what his b Bwibo Friendly: Of all the workers around the old peoples' home, the narrator formed an easy camaraderie with her. Convincing: She convinces Simbi that she cannot remember her father's head because he was a good man and according to her, "good men never show you their heads; they show you their faces " Sympathetic: She feels for the narrator because she cannot remember her father. She tries to console her for the lost memories of her father by telling her that it was all because her father was a good man. Pessimistic: she does not believe that the narrator will receive a warm welcome when he goes back to her home. She tells her to anticipate a negative welcome from her people when she visits. A The narrator's fatherHe is a loving and a caring man. He loved her daughter and both shared beautiful moments. He could make visits to her house once she requested so. Chauvinistic: He shows dominance of the male gender over the female gender when he tells his daughter to untie his shoelaces. Selfless: He would live his duties unattended to help a fixed neighbour. Sometimes could hear a neighbour saying, "Johnson, there is no time to put on clothes; iust come the way you are " Role The narrative gains its momentum through him. He is the vehicle of communication and the mirror that reflects the world of reality as depicted by Okwiri Oduor. The narrations aesthetic beauty is seen through his bildungsroman and his daughters too. |
Sometimes could hear a neighbour saying, "Johnson, there is no time to put on clothes; iust come the way you are " Role The narrative gains its momentum through him. He is the vehicle of communication and the mirror that reflects the world of reality as depicted by Okwiri Oduor. The narrations aesthetic beauty is seen through his bildungsroman and his daughters too. I FURTHER ACTIVITY 1. What kind of a person do you think the narrator's father. Discuss. 2. The narrator says love is not for the old. Do you agree with he, point of view about love? Explain 3. Discuss the following themes as brought out in this short story; Moral decadence Poverty Memory and Heritage 4. In note form, highlight the challenges people face when the, return home. 5. Write notes on the character traits of: Simbi, The Narrator Father Ignatius! Bwibo. 6. Identify the cases of hyperbole and explain them and thei effect to the masterpiece. 5. THE UMBRELLA MAN BY SIPPHAR THAGIGOOSiddhartha Gigoo is an Indian author and film-maker. He studie English Literature at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, in New Delhi India. His short story 'The Umbrella Man' is the Asia'winner of th Commonwealth Short Story prize of 201 5. He has books of fictions under his name: These are, The Garden oi solitude 201 1 and A fistful of Earth and Other Stories 2015 .Furthermore he has book of poems entitled "falland other poems" and "Reflections " SETTING The story happens in an asylum for mentally challenged persons. Thi is a hospital for the confinement of people who have a menta breakdown and thus they have to be kept in isolation, in solitary sod that they are treated and to improve on their health condition 0k; is a member of this asylum facility. ". The Umbrella Man" is about an inmate, Number 7, living in a mental asylum. All he possesses is an umbrella with yellow-and-Red stripes. Number 7 suffers from unknown psychosis. He yearns for rain. During evenings, he strolls in the asylum compound, carrying along the Yellow-and Red striped umbrella hoping to experiencing rainfall. |
Number 7 suffers from unknown psychosis. He yearns for rain. During evenings, he strolls in the asylum compound, carrying along the Yellow-and Red striped umbrella hoping to experiencing rainfall. In a confinement with little freedom, he is the only one allowed to walk and saunter out of the gates but still in the confinements of the asylum. He is allowed this limited freedom because of his obedience and calm disposition. Number 7 speaks to a ghostly, imagined child in his cell every night. While strolling around, he picks an imaginary conversation with his only friend The Puny little fellow. They have a discussion about rainfall and how they have waited for it. The puny little fellow points out how rain can be destructive. He does this till one day when he is set free, he unfurls his umbrella and sets off beyond the gates of the asylum, towards a world he has never seen before, the only thing he leaves behind are the wet footprints. There are moments in one's life when one experiences an inmate-inan-asylum-like feeling, as though one has been magically transported to an asylum. This can be as a result of a temporary aberration of the mind or by crafty intrusions of our own secret personas. One can imagine oneself living in an asylum, bereft of worldly possessions. It's a very depressing thought, so it's natural human tendency to inventhope, to cling to something, to long for something. The solitary man chances upon an umbrella, clings to it and yearns for rain. THEMATIC CONCERNS CONFINEMENT The mentally challenged inmates, together with Number 7 are locked up in an asylum where their freedom and movement is limited. It is only in the evening that the inmates are allowed to go out of their ' wards and stroll about in the asylum's compound. The freedom ended at the wall. Be ond the wall there was nowhere to go. HUMAN EMOTIONS The story captures the emotions of Number 7 and the other inm, in the asylum. Number 7 yearns for rain to fall. He strolls eve' evening with his umbrella with the hope of it raining. He gets exciterof at the sight of clouds. In his solitude, he finds something to cling on; the umbrella, his only companion and playmate. He is melancholic and finds peace in the yellow-and-red striped umbrella which no one knows how it came be in his possession. |
He gets exciterof at the sight of clouds. In his solitude, he finds something to cling on; the umbrella, his only companion and playmate. He is melancholic and finds peace in the yellow-and-red striped umbrella which no one knows how it came be in his possession. The lonesome nights also lead Number 7 to speak to a ghostly, imagined child, whom he prays for every night and also soothes to sleep. It is in human nature to have different emotions and feelings; a feeling of belonging, a feeling of companionship and possession. Number 7 finds time to talk to the mysterious puny little fellow. When he comes to the meeting point and does not find him, Number 7 wonders if the puny little fellow would appear. LOVE FOR ONES POSSESSION Number 7 adores his Yellow-and-Red striped Umbrella, which is his only companion and playmate. He does not go out without the umbrella, no one knows how he came to own the umbrella but they have become inseparable. He takes leisurely walks with it in the evenings. The umbrella was the most beautiful thing in the entire asylum. It brought smiles on his lips. Through the windows of wards fellow inmates look at Number 7 in awe and wonder as they wanted to hold the umbrella in their hands, they wanted to be in its shade. Inmates do not have other wldl possessions apart from two sets of clothina or y MENTAL HEALTH Due to emotional instability and mental disturbance, Number 7 with others are put in a mental hospital asylum, for treatment and care. Mentally challenged fellows are put in isolation to necessitate their care and treatment. Due to his mental state, Number 7 has a conversation with mysterious ant, and also chats at night with an imaginary, non-existent child. He feels its obligation to ensure the well being of that imaginary child. He soothes the baby, lulls it and even prays for the child. More so Number 7 walks in the evenings with an umbrella yet it doesn't rain. NATURE VALUE OF NATURAL ENVIRONMENT The place has not experienced rain for quite a while now. Rain has evaded the place for several months. Number 7 waits for the rain, he longs for it. But still nature is bountiful, flowers are growing, bees are present. Nature has miracles. It can rain without announcing it. |
But still nature is bountiful, flowers are growing, bees are present. Nature has miracles. It can rain without announcing it. Number 7 strolls in the narrow avenue hedged with tall eucalyptus trees for leisure, and stumbles against a bench, where he sits, it is his favorite place. OPTIMISM Number 7 is full of hope every time, when evening comes he ventures out with the yellow-and-red striped umbrella, with the hope of it raining. He is fascinated by the thought of rain; he in fact gets excited when clouds gather. When asked by the barber if it will rain, Number 7 answers full of hope that it will soon. At night he prays for the child and hopes that some powers would heed his prayers and bestow grace on the child. Sociable: In his imaginary world he becomes friends with the lit ,. Puny fellow with whom they have a hearty talk about re - and how nature is bountiful and full of miracles. Prayerful: he prays in silence for the child being convinced that some powers should heed to his prayers and bestow grace upon the child. Contradictory: On the last night in the asylum facility, Number 7 is not concerned about the following morning that he is to be free. He is the same as other days as he talks to the imaginary child. Caring: He takes care and soothes the child to sleep. He always worries and frets over the child "...all he wanted was a peaceful sleep for the child " Inquisitive: he questions the little puny fellow on what makes him to delay to come to their meeting point. He wants to know about his where about. Obedient: his obedience and calm disposition has made the doctors to write a positive report about the assessment of Number 7's condition. This enables the committee to agree to his release. Little puny fellow Accommodative: He does not show displeasure with the coming ofNumber 7 despite the fact that he is a distraction. Number 7 talks about rain, nature and hope with him "... he did not betray displeasure, knowing that the man had come for a friendly chat " Industrious: He beseeches Number 7 to let him to carry on with his work for his fellows may think he is more interested in gossiping with a stranger than attending to his work. |
Little puny fellow Accommodative: He does not show displeasure with the coming ofNumber 7 despite the fact that he is a distraction. Number 7 talks about rain, nature and hope with him "... he did not betray displeasure, knowing that the man had come for a friendly chat " Industrious: He beseeches Number 7 to let him to carry on with his work for his fellows may think he is more interested in gossiping with a stranger than attending to his work. Cautious: He notes that though they long for rains to come, the rains can be quite destructive towards hapless fellows like them Observant: notices that Number 7 never ventures out without the umbrella. USE STYLE Narrative Technique The story is told from a third person point of view, where the narrator gives us the story from what he observes. Vivid Description The area in the asylum that is allowed for movement is described as "...the wall around the one hundred and twenty-square-meter compound ninety something yards in the narrow avenue outside the gates that ended at another wall. Beyond that brick-and stone wall was a vast darkness " this brings out the picture of the confinement of the inmates in the asylum, the place with limited freedom. The umbrella possessed by Number 7 is described as a yellow-andred striped, beautiful Umbrella. It was the most beautiful thing in the entire asylum. More beautiful than the bed of wild flowers along the wall. Dialogue Number 7 converses with the barber about rain which shows Number 7's fascination with rain. Dialogue between doctors and Number 7 reveals change in the state of Number 7's health such that he is free to go. The dialogue between Number 7 and his friend the puny little fellow, z reveals Number 7's anticipation for freedom and the little puny fellow's fear of destruction that can be brought about by rain,Personification The little puny fellow, the cnt talks with Number 7 about the of nature, how nature is bountiful and full of miracles. Number 7 is greeted by a small puddle when he steps out of his when he is allowed to leave the asylum like him, the umbrella too had not seen the battering The dance of raindrops on the nylon of the umbrella seemed distant dream; it seemed impossible for it to rain. It shows th significance of the umbrella can only be truly seen when it rains. |
The dialogue between Number 7 and his friend the puny little fellow, z reveals Number 7's anticipation for freedom and the little puny fellow's fear of destruction that can be brought about by rain,Personification The little puny fellow, the cnt talks with Number 7 about the of nature, how nature is bountiful and full of miracles. Number 7 is greeted by a small puddle when he steps out of his when he is allowed to leave the asylum like him, the umbrella too had not seen the battering The dance of raindrops on the nylon of the umbrella seemed distant dream; it seemed impossible for it to rain. It shows th significance of the umbrella can only be truly seen when it rains. Irony Number 7 is always moving out with the Yellow-and-Red striped umbrella with the hope of it raining yet still he wonders of what use is hope. He yearns for rain and yet when it rains he walks slowly in th compound busy avoiding splashes from rainfall. Symbolism The rain is symbolically used by the writer to indicate the getting wel by the inmates, as Number 7, more so it is the freedom that Number has been yearning for. You talk of freedom 1 thought you cared for the rain. Rain can be destructive. The wild bush represents the uncertainty of life The Yellow-and-Red striped umbrella symbolizes the calt disposition, the change in behavior of Number 7 such that the doctor are able to write a favorable report to facilitate the freedom Number 7. No one was attracted to the dainty beauty of fri and-red umbrella. REVISION QUESTIONS 1 . With reference to the story "The Umbrella Man, " discuss the truthfulness of the statement, No condition lasts forever. 2. Citing examples from "The Umbrella Man, " discuss the character traits of Number 7. 3. The writer has employed the use of vivid description and dialogue in the story "The Umbrella Man, " discuss these stylistic devices and give their effectiveness. 4. Mentally challenged patients should be put in isolation. Do you agree? 5. Natural environment offers solace to lonely souls. Discuss. 6. The will to live is necessitated by the never giving up attitude. Discuss. 6. The President By Mariatu Kamara Mariatu Kamara is a UNICEF Special Representative for Children in Armed conflict, author and survivor of the civil war in Sierra Leone. |
Her cousins Ibrahim and Mohamed are captured and tie while Adamsay, the last daughter of Marie is dragged away by her hair. During the attack many people are killed while others are amputated. Kamara is reunited in Freetown with her cousins and Aunt Marie and her husband Alie whom she had lived with since she was a child. They stay together in an amputees' camp, which is full of filthy litter, dirty bodies and rubbish. They fend for themselves by begging on the streets. Kamara gets a baby boy, Abdul, who dies later from malnutrition. There is information of well wishers in Freetown and other countries like Canada who are willing to take in and help children affected by the war and violence. Kamara is taken to Toronto Canada by Bill, who offers her food and shelter. Later she is taken in by a Sierra Leonean family of Kadi and Abou. She yearns to better her life by acquiring education such at she is in position to help her family back at home. She is helped by Kadi to enroll in an English as a Second language course ESL to learn the English language and also be able to commcmicate She graduates from ESL with a Diploma. She is enrolled in high school where she encounters more challengers in writing for the lack of hands, but her undying spirit makes her not to give up. She eventually manages to attain Cs. THEMATIC CONCERNS POLITICAL VIOLENCE Rebels attack manarma village where they kill many people and also amputate others. They cause violence for they want to overthrow the government they claim to be corrupt. Kamara is amputated by same rebels. More so there is a camp for amputees in free town with over 400 amputated people. Marie and Alie hide and flee to Freetown to escape the havoc caused by the rebels. Furthermore, many families are taken in at Toronto Canada by Kadi and Abou Nabe to escape the violence in Sierra Leone. The violence caused by the rebels leads to a lot of suffering to the people. Some are left handicapped and cannot fend for themselves; others are forced to relocate from their homes, while it also leads to poor living conditions like in the amputees' camp and also begging on the streets. |
Furthermore, many families are taken in at Toronto Canada by Kadi and Abou Nabe to escape the violence in Sierra Leone. The violence caused by the rebels leads to a lot of suffering to the people. Some are left handicapped and cannot fend for themselves; others are forced to relocate from their homes, while it also leads to poor living conditions like in the amputees' camp and also begging on the streets. EDUCATION Mariatu Kamara, together with young Asian women, grandmothers from the Middle East and men from Southern Africa are enrolled in an English as a second Language course where they learn the language. She graduates with a diploma. Later she is enrolled to a high school. She finds it difficult but with her endurance she manages to attain Cs. She gets a laptop to use to aid in her studies. Kamara hopes to better her life through education such that she able to support her family back at home. Kamara is raped by Salieu who leaves her pregnant and threatens Rebels have no regard for human life as they kill people and maim others mercilessly. There is a camp for amputees in Freetown. Children are made soldiers and be involved in such barbaric activities as killing and torture which is not appropriate to their development. SUFFERING Most people in Manarma are attacked by rebels and are while others are amputated. Kamara is amputated, Adam z taken away. In addition Ibrahim and Mohamed are capture d, tied. The displaced and amputated people are forced to pathetic conditions such as what is witnessed in amputees' which is full of filthy litter and full of dirty bodies. They are force t s: beg on the streets to get what to eat. War has taken toll on innocent, children and women. IMPACT OF WAR ON CIVILIANS The hatred and animosity among citizens leads to unrests violence. This leads to suffering of people. Violence facilita, ? Deaths of people, Injuries and torture such as cutting of people: hands Kamara displacement of people from their homes such Marie and Alie, Kamara and more families that end up in Canadt More there is it facilitates poor living conditions like the filth, amputees camp in Freetown. CHILDREN IN WAR Most children suffer during war. Some are made children soldier:like those who capture Kamara are her age mates while other: endure atrocities; Kamara as a child has her hands cut off. |
Deaths of people, Injuries and torture such as cutting of people: hands Kamara displacement of people from their homes such Marie and Alie, Kamara and more families that end up in Canadt More there is it facilitates poor living conditions like the filth, amputees camp in Freetown. CHILDREN IN WAR Most children suffer during war. Some are made children soldier:like those who capture Kamara are her age mates while other: endure atrocities; Kamara as a child has her hands cut off. Adamsab Ibrahim and Mohamed are captured by rebels which in itself i: torturous. THE POWER OF HUMAN SPIRIT RESILIENCE The human spirit is undying, enduring and resilient. Despite atrocitie that Kamara undergoes, she doesn't lose the zeal to live on. She ho: an indomitable spirit to overcome adversity. When Kamara regain: consciousness after her hands are chopped off, she picks herself up The amputees in the camp do not have hands but still they are able to feed and wash themselves. Kamara learns to cook, tie shoe laces, up zips and even goes to school to learn to better her life despite the Well wishers cannot sit and watch human rather help to take in victims of such violereag acquire educations. Humans have the inner strength to push on CHARACTERS AND CHARACTERIZATION Mariatu Kamara Narrator Ndjve: She does not understand what Salieu has done to her after he forcefully has intercourse with her. She blatantly that she only knows that only women get babies but not girls. More she doesn't know that pregnancy is as a result of sexual Resilient enduring: Rebels cut off her hands, but this does not deter her from going on with life. She doesn't lose the zeal to live on. She has an indomitable spirit to overcome adversity; she picks herself up and ensures she moves to safety. Kamara learns to cook, tie shoe laces, do up zips and even goes to school to learn to better her life despite the lack of limps. She learns English Language as a second language and graduates with a diploma. Thoughtful: She minds about the welfare of her family back at home and wants to study and be in a position to assist them. |
Kamara learns to cook, tie shoe laces, do up zips and even goes to school to learn to better her life despite the lack of limps. She learns English Language as a second language and graduates with a diploma. Thoughtful: She minds about the welfare of her family back at home and wants to study and be in a position to assist them. Optimistic: she undergoes a lot of challenges in the hands of her captors; she lives in pathetic conditions in the camp, but still hopes of making it in life through acquisition of education. She I need to get education and better my life ' says. Fearful: She fears going to school as she will be alone among strangers. She is also worried of how she would write without 1 was afraid of making a fool of myself ' hands Salieu Itiumane: despite Kamara's tender age, he forces himself on her leaving her pregnant and more so intimidates her not to Infimidating: Orders Kamara not to reveal to anyone about the rape the ordeal. Kadi and Abou Nabe Hospitable: they offer shelter and food to Kamara after she has come from Freetown, and stayed with Bill. They also bring in more family members to Toronto to escape the violence back PPortive: Kadi takes the initiative to enroll Kamara to the English as a send Language course where she graduates with a diploma. Bill Concerned: His family reads about girl, Kamara and her suffer - war ravaged village of Manarma, in a newspaper Gr and thereafter he wants to find her and offer her he'- providing money for food and clothes. Helpful: Offers to take Kamara from Freetown to Toronto Canada I act which facilitates her to get education and humanita I assistance. Rebels Cruel: They mercilessly cut off hands of their victims, for instant I Kamara's, as a way of sending a message to the presider I whom they see as corrupt, yet the children have nothing to a I with the presidency '... I remember asking myself, "What is c I president"...' Inhumane: They kill people during their attack on Manarma village I they torture their victims by cutting off their hands anc 1taunting them. One child soldier tell Kamara... We are net I going to kill you go to the, president as the president to give you new hands. |
I remember asking myself, "What is c I president"...' Inhumane: They kill people during their attack on Manarma village I they torture their victims by cutting off their hands anc 1taunting them. One child soldier tell Kamara... We are net I going to kill you go to the, president as the president to give you new hands. LANGUAGE USE STYLE Narrative Technique This story is told from a first person point of view by Mariatu Kamarc who narrates to us her ordeal in the hands of her captors in the war torn village of Manarma and her escape to Freetown ana eventually her life in Toronto Canada. Flashback Kamara recounts her ordeal in the hands of Salieu who fchimself on her leaving her pregnant. She also recalls her stay Marie, her father's sister and Marie's husband Alie in Magb village. Vivid Description The amputees camp is described as '... was a size of a foot field, was filthy wit litter, the smell of rubbish, dirty bodies, bring out the pathetic conditions that the people in the camps wr living In. The laptop she Is bought for is described by the narrator as '... computer was special with a mouse shaped like a big ball so that I car easily manoeuvre it the key board was L oam Dialogue ra converses with the rebels who want her to ch Karr 10 h ent before leaving punis m 'You must choose a punishment before you leave, " he said ke what?". I mumbled: Li Which hand do you want to lose first?". He asked. This dialogue brings out the cruel nature of the rebels. There is dialogue with the female doctor, "...you are pregnant "You 0 e going to have a baby " k " , :But there must be a mista e, I said "Only women hove babies, not girls " This points out how nave Kamara is. Sarcasm Mariatu is informed by the child soldiers that her hands are to be chopped off so that she would not vote for the president, then they sarcastically refer her to go to the president who should provide her with new hands. We are not going to kill you. We want you to go to the president and show him what we did to you. Ask the president to give you new hands " REVISION QUESTIONS 1. Political instability and violence breeds misery. Discuss 2. A friend in need is a friend in deed. |
Political instability and violence breeds misery. Discuss 2. A friend in need is a friend in deed. Discuss this statement in light of the story "The president" by Mariatu Kamara 3. Tribal conflicts and hatred have far reaching consequences the society way effects that conflicts have on the s share in the 4. The less privileged in Discuss al 5. Describe the devastating misfortunes of the mighty in society innocent, children and women irit 6. No power is stronger than human sp 7 Window Seat By Benjamin Branoff Bseniamin Bronoff is a Tanzanian writer. His short story, Wind?vi Sent, is featured in the third volume ofTell me, My Friends, which univects stories and plays written by students and staff a h ers'tY of Dar es Salaam. SETTING The narrator, a foreigner, is in a public transport daladala in Dar es Salaam, moving from Miimani via goes to Posta down town. This story tells a humorous story of a young man, a boards a daladala from Mlimani via Mwenge to the town. The foreigner meets many people who squeeze the small van, including a beautiful Tanzanian girl who behinds of the foreigner. The mzungu is seated next to a window, in a daladala travei'ng to down town. The minivan is meant to carry about ten people but 24 people are squeezed in it. The road they are on is in a deplorable condition, full of poth m dust which fills the van. The narrator expresses how he desires to be with Monique, French girl he has met in college and she also stays across courtyard in downtown. He changes vehicles from the minivan to a bus to head to Posto Town. The bus is also overloaded and overcrowded like was. Among the passengers there is a young lady, probably some age as the narrator. She is quiet beautiful and because of narrator's lustful nature, he forgets about desires the Kanga lady. The bus is stopped by a police officer who allows go after taking a bribe he wastes a lot of time foe attendants to whom time is moriey. The vehicle picks up another passenger, a who ho. To sit. Mzungu offers his seat to the woman ho on the insistence of M,zungu she takes the seat. |
The vehicle picks up another passenger, a who ho. To sit. Mzungu offers his seat to the woman ho on the insistence of M,zungu she takes the seat. Stands throughout the req of the iourrzy, There is a lot of squeezing and holding on one another the passengers. The vehicle stops at points to drop and pick more passengers. In an instance, when the vehicle stops, Kanga, a passenger holds on the waist of Mzungu, Mzungu is. Carried away by the feeling he gets from Kanga holding him on the waist. He feels Kanga's other hand slowly slipping off his Afterwards when the vehicle stops, Kanga alights in dismay ofMzungu who thinks of having her give him the world's biggest secret. She waves to him and leaves mzungu in a blissful existence. Mzungu drifts to his world of love, a world of fantasy. He dozes off only to be awakened when all passengers have alighted. Mzungu is to pay his fare only to realize his wallet is missing, it has been stolen. THEMES: J. UWLESSNESSON THE ROADS. Vehicles should always follow traffic laws on the roads for safety. In his story however, law and order is not followed as it should be. To start with, the public transport vehicles are so much overloaded. Passengers are literally packed. Conductors carry excess passengers as the narrator says a mini-van meant to carry ten passengers now carries twenty five of them. It even becomes worse when it comes to rush hour where they carry twenty eight with others drivers also bribe the traffic policemen in order to get away with crime. Even when things seem to be okay with the vehicle the POIicemen solicit for bribes to an extent of removing the car keys fie ignition. The bribe here is a very powerful voice that the ponce use to silence the adamant drivers. Passengers suffer on roods, The no to commit to o Iono rood becouso of they don't veem to core or they ore used to it. Tip loudly when the policemen toke bribes but, "ep tt even because of overloading thol mokos it to rob rhe narrator. 2. POVERTY. Poverty is Olso portrayed in this Story. The people ot the bus said to be in sandals and others barefoot. This means afford better shoes. The passengers could be suffering he overloaded dalodalos because of poverty. |
The people ot the bus said to be in sandals and others barefoot. This means afford better shoes. The passengers could be suffering he overloaded dalodalos because of poverty. This is bee-cuz pay less money for fare. The narrator describes Kanga that she hos a trim figure cowed by a lifetime of hard work and deprivation of luxurie. That she cannot afford luxuries. We also think that "hot her to steal from the narrator is poverty. The aggressiveness of touts in town is also a sign of poverty. This P. society where one must struggle to make ends meet. That'l why t'" scream and shout and also convince people to take their daladalc: -2. Coem"nom Corruptii is also evident in this Story especially on the roads pocmerc were wpposed to guarantee zafety on the ond collude driver, in order to escape facing 10... seem to have token bribes as their bea"se even if the vehicle has everything right force by toking keys from ignitim. 4. RELATIONSHIPS. The narrator enters into a relationship with Monique the French girl in campus. He says that he gave her an unordinary smile and she returned it. At the bus station he sees her but never gets to talk to her. He regrets never getting to fix a date with her that day. The narrator treats this relationship so casually and he is not serious about it. He says that he conjured up the smile for her and when she is through ith it he can conjure it up for someone else "A man only has so many smiles " When he meets Kanga in the van he seems to also fall in love with her. He flirts with her and even imagines one part of Kongo's body. He loses his mind when Kanga grabs his trousers. He goes wild with imagination about himself and Kanga and does not realize that he was being robbed. When he meets Kanga, the narrator says that he had forgotten about Monique. He says, '...I drift in the world of my new love. Le felle is over and done with. Kanga is in. This shows how casuals he treated his relationships with women considering that he only met Kanga in thedaladala. 5.AACALSA1 The word Mzungu means a white man. The Africans call them this to mean he is from the white race. |
This shows how casuals he treated his relationships with women considering that he only met Kanga in thedaladala. 5.AACALSA1 The word Mzungu means a white man. The Africans call them this to mean he is from the white race. The Africans see this man, the narrator as more superior than them and use even a spectacle that he is using public transport. When the guard greets him at the city Chuo everybody turns to see him. Africans perceive the white men as rich and wealthy that's why Kanga robs him in the vehicle. The narrator chooses to date Monique a French girl because she is from their race. He says, I should be with the French girl Le fille because French women absolutely like American men. CHARACTER AND CHARACTERIZATION Miungu LustfulWhen he meets Kongo, the narrator says that he had forgo about Monique. He says, drift in the w or Id of my new love. L is over and done with. Kongo is in". This shows how casuals he treat his relationships with women considering that he only met Kang' the dalodala. This leads to his wallet being stolen yet he things of Kongo's touch as a sign of desire for him. Respectful He respectfully greets the old woman who moves to the back ro from the front one. Observant: Has a clear picture of how the vehicles are overcrowded and squeezed passengers, he gives a clear description of the dust on the road and also describes how bumpy the ride is. Policeman: Stubborn: couldn't let the vehicle go on unless a bribe is paid despite finding no fault with it. He picks the bribe and smiles and waves for the vehicle to proceed with the journey. Kongo Tactful: she skilfully holds on to Mzungu as if supporting herself fro' plunging forward only to rob him. Opportunist: waits at the squeezed moment and movement by the vehicle to rob Mzungu's wallet ANGUAGE USE STYLISTIC DEVICES 1. VIVID DESCRIPTION. The author makes use of vivid description which makes his own interesting and leaves an impact the readers' minds. He describes sitting position in the daladala very clearly lamina wet of sitting, fatal position. My knees are wedged between my abdur n and the sit in front of me. |
In on other attempt to resist deportation Ali dangerously ducks do' a moving trailer barely dodging the moving wheels but finds himse on Tarrant's fists on the other side. When they see Tangier harb finally Slattery pats Ali on the shoulder and tells him " Almost horn Ali knows that he would reach home without doubt despite all effort to escape. He thinks about three years in prison and suffering that his mother and sisters WOUld go through in order save him from being eaten alive in iail. Ali therefore makes dangerous decision; to jump into the sea just to resist deportation. POVERTY AND LACK OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES Ali's mother and sisters live in cramped apartments in Beni Makac This indicates that they are poor. Ali also says that they had rais the two thousand Euros to spirit him out of the country with difficul but he had not paid them even a cent. This was in an attempt to Ali get opportunities in the Ireland but he was deported with anything and to top it all he WOUId have to go to jail. This shame a fear causes him to jump into the sea. CHARACTERS AND CHARACTERIZATION Ali Mahfouz Deceitful: he tells people that he is a medical student and even puts a picture on face book that shows him at the surgeons' college with college books yet the books are only telephone directories. He only does menial jobs in Ireland. In addition he walks with little white buds in his ears as if he is listening to music from the iPod yet he doesn't even know how to load the gadget with music. Hardworking: Ali does all kinds of jobs in Ireland to cater for his upkeep. For instance he slices kebab meat; while working for two Egyptian brothers, also he power-washes cars, scrubs pots and wipes tables. Sociable: He makes many friends when he just arrives in Ireland. He is quite charming and makes Slattery to laugh all the time despite being in a serious situation. Stubborn: He has been warned by Tarrant not to cause any problem while they travel yet he attempts to escape twice. Furthermore, the government has tried to deport him twice, where every time he is disruptive on the plane threatening of blowing up the plane with a bomb in his possession. Despite all these he still lives in Ireland. Sarcastic: Tells Slattery and Tarrant that they are travelling in style and that they are on a mighty journey yet he is being deported. |
Furthermore, the government has tried to deport him twice, where every time he is disruptive on the plane threatening of blowing up the plane with a bomb in his possession. Despite all these he still lives in Ireland. Sarcastic: Tells Slattery and Tarrant that they are travelling in style and that they are on a mighty journey yet he is being deported. Determined: He attempts all means to prevent his deportation. He threatens to blow up the plane twice; he attempts to escape from Slattery and Tarrant in France and Spain. As last resort he decides to drown himself in water provided it is away to escape from being deported. Observant: He is keen enough to note that Slattery has good Fre Ali also notes that Slattery has no wedding band despite him being in mid-thirties and handsome. DNvsioned: Ali loses hope with life in his country because of pove scxh that his family is cramped together in the apartment, then imagines of life in prison, lack of food, clothing and having to pay bribes. This shame and fear causes him to jump into the sea. Slattery Jovial: He is charming and laughing all the time when Ali cracks jokes. Tactful: He manipulatively talks the French woman out of her thinking of helping Ali. He manages to convince her that any interference will mean they Slattery and Tarrant will leave Ali to be the responsibility of the French government. Tarrant Aggressive: He blocks Ali into a corner before barking orders to him, and threatens to smack him if he tries any nonsense. When Ali attempts to escape in Spain, he hits him to the Serious: He does not get involved in laughter when Ali cracks jokes that leave Slattery in stitches. He remains stony faced as strict: orders Ali to go back where they were when Ali runs LANGUAGE USESTYLES PERSONIFICATIONThe author uses personification a great deal in this story. This is very effective because we get a clear description of events. In the first paragraph, it is said that the Oscar Wilde ferry rested in the Welford harbor. Resting being a human attribute has been given to the ferry. Other examples include; The room hummed as the turbine span. The sound of the ship as it moves becomes very clear here, humming. The tiny fish seemed inquisitive. Inquisitive is also a human attribute given to fish to make the description clear. |
The different two types of rains in the two countries symbolize their different challenges to survival as Ali says it is easy in Morocco than in Ireland. REVISION QUESTIONS Poverty and lack of employment largely contribute to illegal migration. Discuss Immigration is nobody's best choice. Whys Compare and contrast the character traits of Slattery and Tarrant. Discuss the traits of All as brought out in this story. What factors contribute to people migrating illegally to other countries? Dialogue has played a key role in character and plot development in the story. Discuss. Disillusionment is detrimental to human living. Discuss 9.The Folded Leaf by Segun Afolabi Summary of the incidents Segun Afolabi's 'The Folded Leaf, is a short story that was shortlisted for Caine Prize 2015.it boasts of its urgency to address burning contemporary issues in Nigeria. Bunmi's voice introduces most of the characters through whom the narrative will move forward. While characters like Bunmi, Samuel, Tunde and Mrs Kekere are introduced with peculiar health challenges, others like Bola, Papa and the Ejiofohs accompany them; and together, they form the narrative backbone with Bunmi as the main narrator. The story is about a Christian community comprising of various family members who in spite of health challenges have had to contend with the reality of their being, and to live a normal communal Christian life. But when after a strong resolve of collective contributions, they set out on a journey to Lagos in search of healing, from a man of God who doesn't seem to have answers to their questions, a new reality which will alter or question the basis of their Christian faith and practice is unfolded. THEMES a Religion The author explores the role of religion in our daily lives portrayed in the contemporary Nigeria and the larger Afri Religion is used to brainwash the followers of some deities that f more superior to the others. Churches in the urban area a portrayed to be superior to churches in the rural areas. It is throu this portrayal that we see villagers, worse still the village preache like Reverend Abbe and Reverend Okulaia leading th congregation to a point of donating towards Mrs. Eiiofoh, Mr Kekere, Bola and Bunmi among other travellers, for their journey Lagos, going to seek for healing from pastor Fayemi "P.92" The issue of religion is becoming a melting pot in Nigeria, and Afric at large. Religion seems to rob the individual of choice. |
It is throu this portrayal that we see villagers, worse still the village preache like Reverend Abbe and Reverend Okulaia leading th congregation to a point of donating towards Mrs. Eiiofoh, Mr Kekere, Bola and Bunmi among other travellers, for their journey Lagos, going to seek for healing from pastor Fayemi "P.92" The issue of religion is becoming a melting pot in Nigeria, and Afric at large. Religion seems to rob the individual of choice. Religi extremist leads to hypocrisy, obsession, aiienation and fear. It through this religion that people lack self acceptance. Not until the get robbed of their money, do they come in termswith their physica challenges. Bumni the narrator, who cannot see, begins t understand her own life and accept it after having made a Ion journey to lagos city to be attended by pastor Fayemi's church, vain The narrator, Bunmi begins to come to good terms with her life, an self-actualization is seen whereby she accepts that her physic impairment is God given, therefore appreciates reverend Abb who prays for people, even when they have paid no mone p 94 Prayers are not left aside in all the doings. The faithful' travelling to Lagos; gather for a prayer led by Reverent Ab before setting off for their journey to Lagos. '. Bless Samuel, tamer Jehovah, "today, today, please- send him new prayers are perceived as a tool of spiritual healing, nourishment a Poverty and class barriers Another theme that comes out clearly is the class stratification in the contemporary Nigeria. The story adroitly brings to light, the ever existing gap between the rich haves and the poor have no's right from the village to the suburbs of the capital, Lagos, people are seen to be poor, compared to those who lives in the urban centers. Mrs. Kerekere pleads with the policemen on their way to Lagos, that they are not rich P.84 . In fact, the money they are spending on their way to Lagos is a donation from their local church that alone, they couldn't manage to afford it. Comparison is made with the urban people who are very rich. |
Kerekere pleads with the policemen on their way to Lagos, that they are not rich P.84 . In fact, the money they are spending on their way to Lagos is a donation from their local church that alone, they couldn't manage to afford it. Comparison is made with the urban people who are very rich. Daddy cool is better known in the account of his helicopter and Gulfstream jet, and his homes in Florida and Switzerland and somewhere in the Caribbean p 81 a perception Afolabi is trying to imply that there are multiple ways of viewing life, in different apheres, by using the narrative voice of the blind narrator Bunmi to elaborate on the theme of perception: Appearance to me may not be your own appearance. And my own understanding of own self, may not compare with other people's perceptions. But do any of us identify the same thing in exactly the same way? Is the colour blue the same? And does the leaf smell? Bola thinks sometimes. So don't worry, he says. And Bola's right about most thingsIn trying to avoid authorial interference, Afolabi tells his through this blind twelve-year-old whose narrative power inheres her strong stimulus, curiosity, perception and scepticism; a narr who relies on interviewing skills like probing, prompting, scoop and interrogation to account for the plot's progression. TECHNIQUE AND LANGUAGE USE a first person narrative voice This narration has been told from the perceptive of a first person narrator. The 'l' narrator is therefore the protagonist in the story and he narrates the events as he experienced them. This kind of narration makes the events to be quite immediate to the reader and hence, it becomes engaging to read. Segun Afolabi also uses present tense instead of the usual past tense we would expect in a story about events that happened in the past it is as if he is giving commentary on the event. A rapport therefore between the narrator and the reader is created. B Suspense The feeling of worry or excitement that a person develops when the develop a feeling that something is going to happen is what is callec suspense. The folded leaf creates some desire to know whad happens to Bumni, Sam and Mrs. Kekere who are on their way tc meet pastor Fayemi for healing. Throughout the narration, the reader is kept gluedto the text, to see how things will end. |
The folded leaf creates some desire to know whad happens to Bumni, Sam and Mrs. Kekere who are on their way tc meet pastor Fayemi for healing. Throughout the narration, the reader is kept gluedto the text, to see how things will end. Even the village preacher, reverent Abbe is wishful that God may bless, heal and lead them to the capital, Lagos. ". Bless Samuel, father today, today, please- send him new c Contrast This is a literary technique in which the author sets two people, events or objects in opposition to each other in order to show Afolabi uses contrast as a technique to drive in his thematic concerns with ease. Reverent Abbe is a servant of God in a village church, who prays to people to gain hope and restoration without pay. She leads a very humble life and she is depicted as a true believer, who loves her congregation. Her church donates whole heartedly to finance the long anticipated journey to Lagos The author contrasts her with pastor Adejola Fayemi, or Daddy Cool as he is better known on account of his helicopter, jets and lavish lifestyle. His followers deny Bumnis' access to seeing him, even after paying all the money they had carried to the church. A Use of dialogue Afolabi uses dialogue richly to develop his characters and themes. He reproduces the exact words that characters are supposed to have spoken. Cases in point are as follows; 'What do you have inside?". A voice demands from outside the bus. Police, " Bola whispers "Just people, " the driver says "we go Lagos. '. How many of you?". P 83 This conversation reveals the experience the narrator and the other travellers face as they travel to Lagos. This and many other dialogues are used to foreground the thematic concerns and enliven the plot development. B Local idiom The author uses local language. Since this story is set in the both Nigerian suburbs and Nigerian city, Lagos, the use of local dialect makes it easy not only to identify the setting, but also to give it a local flavor. The following are examples of local dialects used; agbada, which means a four-piece attire worn by men; eshayu, which means thank you, na so meaning yes, it's true; among others. Characterization a Narrator The narrator is a blind twelve-year-old whose narrative power is inheres in her strong will and introspecting personality. |
Since this story is set in the both Nigerian suburbs and Nigerian city, Lagos, the use of local dialect makes it easy not only to identify the setting, but also to give it a local flavor. The following are examples of local dialects used; agbada, which means a four-piece attire worn by men; eshayu, which means thank you, na so meaning yes, it's true; among others. Characterization a Narrator The narrator is a blind twelve-year-old whose narrative power is inheres in her strong will and introspecting personality. She is an examining girl who is young, honest and hopeful that she will receive healing after attending the church service in town. She is indeed determined to meeting pastor Daddy Cool and therefore becomes too obnoxious, on learning that it will not be possible. The story end when she is more strong and ambitious in spite of all the happenings that she has started to understand that at least she has life, a good one for that effect. B Reverend Abbe Reverend Abbe is a pastor who is depicted as a servant of God, leading a true deity church. So loving and caring she is that she organizes her church members in the village for donations to the narrator's journey to seek healing. HShe is a committed and dedicated Christian that though a deacon she is, members of the church prefer her to reverend Okulaia, who the reverend-in-charge is. She is trustable that the narrator says that she is complacent having her as a clergy, who prays for people without asking for money from them 294 c Pastor Adeiola Fayemi. He is portrayed as a fat cat tycoon, leading a wealth life. He runs a church in the Lagos capital. Religion seems to rob the individual of choice. Religious extremist people really suffer a lot through him, making him an exploitative person. Not until they get robbed of their money, do they come in terms with their physical challenges. Papa has given out all the money that had been contributed, and denied access to the pastoral place pulpit p 90 ln this case therefore, Afolabi's story represents the new face of pseudo-Christian practice in Nigeria, through him, which is hinged on the gospel of healing miracles and prosperity. Activity 1. Discuss the following oral techniques in the story: a Use of songs b Humour and comic relief c Exaggeration d Dialogue 2. |
Papa has given out all the money that had been contributed, and denied access to the pastoral place pulpit p 90 ln this case therefore, Afolabi's story represents the new face of pseudo-Christian practice in Nigeria, through him, which is hinged on the gospel of healing miracles and prosperity. Activity 1. Discuss the following oral techniques in the story: a Use of songs b Humour and comic relief c Exaggeration d Dialogue 2. Put the following excerpt in its immediate context. I have always been blind. How they appear to me and my understanding of myself, might not compare with other 3. Describe the character traits of Pastor Feyemi as exhibited in perception. The story 10. HITTING BUDAPEST By NoViolet Bulawayo. BACKGROUND The short story "Hitting Budapest" by NoViolet Bulawayo follows six African children on their trip to steal guavas from a rich neighborhood. The author has structured the short story in three scenes marked by suspension points. The first scene presents the trip to Budapest; the second focuses on the way back, while the third marks a strange incident when the children discover a hanged woman in the bushes of Paradise. The story also follows the plot elements, having an exposition, a rising action, a climax and a falling action NoViolet examines convoluted issues of social inequality and inadequate access to resources in such an amazing way through her creative determination and imagination to improve the material conditions of her characters. Africa is the richest in the world in terms of natural resource endowments, despite this poverty wracks havoc in most, if not all, parts of the continent where apparently children and women are the most affected. Summary of incidents The story is about five young girls, mostly pre-teen, moving from their shanty town of Paradise to the estates of Budapest in search Of guavas and anything that matter. As they make their tourney towards Budapest they converse as all children do. It is through this that we get to know that Chipo, a girl of ten years, has been impregnated her grandfather. At Budapest they met a white woman of 33 years who had just come from London, eating ice-cream. They looked longingly at this icecream only for her to throw what is left of it into the dustbin and take a picture of them. |
It is through this that we get to know that Chipo, a girl of ten years, has been impregnated her grandfather. At Budapest they met a white woman of 33 years who had just come from London, eating ice-cream. They looked longingly at this icecream only for her to throw what is left of it into the dustbin and take a picture of them. On their way back they shared their dreams with each other: to travel to America, get big houses and cars. Whereas IMF is a street at Budapest, AU is a street at Paradise, the shanty town. The kids steal, eat and go back to the shanty to meet a dead woman dangling from a tree. Their hunger allows them to conquer their fear of death and they steal her shoes so they can sell them in order to buy bread. But the real story is in the class divide, in the loss of innocence, immigration, violence, defilement, poverty, extreme hunger, and dejection. Initially, this story reads as a metaphor where some Africans in search of better lives travel abroad. Again, Paradise and Budapest represent the economic duality that we have in most countries where extreme poverty exists side by side with all the skyscrapers and glass-houses. However, as the story unfolds, the metaphorical view changed. Back at Paradise, the children went to ease themselves in the bush where they saw a woman dangling from a rope-a possible suicide. The children decided to remove the shoes the dead woman was wearing and sell them for bread. SETTING Published in 201 0, the short story "Hitting Budapest" by NoViolet Bulawayo is set in an African country, most likely Zimbabwe, the author's native country. Time and physical settingThe time setting is during guava season and the action spans over a day in the lives of six children. The main physical setting is the rich neighborhood Budapest, but also the way to Budapest from the shanty town called Paradise. Budapest is depicted in detail by the narrator to show the between the poor area they come from and the richness of nearby neighborhood. Buf not an ordinary country it looks like everybody woke up one day and closed their gates, doors, and windows, picked up thei passports, and left for better countries. Even the air is empty; no burning things, no smell of cooking food or something rotting. Iust plain air with nothing in its hands. |
Buf not an ordinary country it looks like everybody woke up one day and closed their gates, doors, and windows, picked up thei passports, and left for better countries. Even the air is empty; no burning things, no smell of cooking food or something rotting. Iust plain air with nothing in its hands. Budapest is big, big house; with the graveled yards and tall fences and walls and flowers and green trees, heavy with fruit p 98 Social setting The social setting in "Hitting Budapest" presents several aspects related to African society and the world society in general. The interactions and conversations between the children show their lack of education as they have no knowledge about human reproduction, but also the commonness of incest and rape among poor Africans Chipo is pregnant with her grandfather P. 98 THEMES The main theme of the short story "Hitting Budapest" by NoViolet Bulawayo is poverty and its dehumanizing effects, which is enhanced through the motif of the gap between the rich and the poor. The author's intention was to show the consequences of poverty experienced by African children and to bring a critique to those who turn a blind eye on the gap between the rich and the poor, hinting at the idea that it is Western states and organizations who bare most of the responsibility for it. J Effects of poverty. The short story explores the dehumanizing effects of poverty through the setting and characters. The action takes places in a poor African area probably Zimbabwe and shows through symbolical setting elements the crude reality of the gap between the rich and the poor. The characters are African children Basta, Chipo, Godknows, Sbho, Stina, and Darling who have no other option to calm their hunger but to go to neighboring rich area Budapest and steal guava fruits p 98 The fact that the children go there frequently suggests that stealing for survival has become something very common, part of their everyday lives. Poverty makes these children to steal even to a dead woman, on their way back to paradise. L Defilement To defile is to violate chastity of a person. Defilement is a major burning factor in most African states today. Defilement becomes a bee sting in that case where the molesters go for children under the age of eighteen years. It becomes a child sexual abuse when an adult or older adolescents use a child for sexual stimulation. |
Defilement is a major burning factor in most African states today. Defilement becomes a bee sting in that case where the molesters go for children under the age of eighteen years. It becomes a child sexual abuse when an adult or older adolescents use a child for sexual stimulation. This indeed ruins the Childs life and is against the children rights in many countries of the post colonial Africa. NoViolet Bulawayo did not demean the fact of existence of such people in the society, People who are child molesters. Chipo, a girl of ten years, has been impregnated by her grandfather. Chipo, a young efficacious girl who used to outrun everybody in Paradise, has something in hers stomach, put there by her grandfather P.97 However, indiscipline and immoral behaviors in the society should not go unpunished. Hitting Budapests victim does not go unpunished. He becomes a guest of the state. 2 Immigration To avoid harsh circumstances at home, Africans cross borders and dangerous water masses to go to the west. They do low paying jobs or even sometimes illegal ones. Godknows' uncle left for London long time ago. Now, he does not even write p 1 01 Basta dreams of going abroad after school, actually to Paris. Darling too, dreams of going to America once she grows up. These children have been fed with the societal believe that West is good, not knowing that Africa is rich enough to sustain its people, in terms of resources, once utilized well. Today, Africans are not captured by the slave traders but by the COIonial and post independence governments. These governments have created conditions that forces Africans to go abroad. Techniques and language use a First person narrative voice child narrator. The author uses first person point of view by a girl called Dari. Who is also part of the actions unfolding. As a result, the narrator has limited knowledge on the events and the other characters, and only depicts what happens, based on what she observes: And there, squatting and screaming, is Godknows. He is also pointing ahead in the thick trees, and we see it, a tall thing "What's that?". Somebody, I don't know who, whispers. Nobody answer P. 104 She tells the story as an eye witness, this making the rider to make the episodes in the narration more immediate to the reader. |
He is also pointing ahead in the thick trees, and we see it, a tall thing "What's that?". Somebody, I don't know who, whispers. Nobody answer P. 104 She tells the story as an eye witness, this making the rider to make the episodes in the narration more immediate to the reader. This allows the author to keep aesthetic distance and give the story an illusion of obiectivity. B Contrast The language of "Hitting Budapest" by NoViolet Bulawayo is simple and easy to follow, though it initially is ambiguous due to the contrast in the names and places which do not seem to match. The names Of the characters suggest an African setting, while the names of place suggest Western places. However, as the story unfolds, the meaning become clearer. People living in the Budapest are very rich. Mello looks pretty, jewellery, smooth brown skin and she does not have a scar to that she is a living person. They have enough to eat. The houses clean and big P. 1 01 The children are leading a shnty poor live in their village, paradise Theirs is to steal Guavas from the villagers. They even steal shoes a dead woman. C Dialogue NOViolet Bulawayo uses dialogue richly, intertwined with narrative Making the story more appealing and dynamic. Many passage, times, the dialogue is simple and humorous: it "What's one day? Tomorrow? Thursday? Next week?" '. Can't you see her stomach is still small? The baby has to grow " "A baby grows outside. That's the reason they are born. So they grow " p 97 The narrative passages, on the other hand, are quite detailed and descriptive, helping reader's better grasp of what is happening nd there, squatting and screaming, is Godknows. He is also pointing ahead in the thick trees, and we see it, a tall thing dangling in a free. ". What's that?". Somebody, I don't know who, whispers. Nobody answers because now we can all see what it is P. 104 a Humour Despite the seriousness of the incidents presented, the story is executed with a lot of humour it is effective as a means of satirizing social foibles such as poverty. The worst thing about guavas, all those seeds gets you constipated when you eat foo much. |
During this period chaos are all over the country and the sky fire red. The civil servants are underpaid and therefore strikes and go slows by the workers are common. It is such factors that drive Leila into writing about a classic situation: that of an immigrant couple Sudanese in London . Having been born to a Sudanese father, brought up and schooled in Sudan, Leila understands the plight of Africa as o continent and at the same time celebrates and champions for the values that have held the African continent together. By the use Of scarce characters, Leila uses a couple, Maidy and Samra to represent both sides of African continent: the pros and cons of living in Africa. Maidy embraces the new culture while Samra retreats more and more and becomes withdrawn and isolated from the reality of life around her. In this story of love, culture and alienation, Leila still for trading our culture with the western one but yet retain the pros of our She is not totally opposed to adapting what is good from the own. Culture 'Missing out' depicts its originality by the fact that author uses religion that is widespread in the country of its origin: Sudan. The author's own experiences, especially while at the, niversity, influenced her writing. She pursued Economics at the university, which she found difficult due to high baccalaureate scores and math being a particularly strong subject under the dedicated tutelage of her mother. Other than her personal life and the biographical, which have been major influences and sources of inspiration for her work, Aboulela's literary influences include writers such as Naguib Mahfouz and Tayeb Salih. She also admires works by Doris Lessing, J.M. Coetzee, Ahdaf Soueif, Anita Desai, ChimamandaNgozi Adichie and Abdulrazak Gurnah. SUMMARYSYNOPSIS 'Missing Out' is an emotional and moving story of love, culture, alienation and a longing for home by one of its characters while the Other character blindly sinks into the new culture and hence he is alienated. It's a story of Maidy, a young and ambitious Muslim man living in London. It's a wondrous story that moves rather swiftly, giving the readers the character's conflicts without unnecessarily dwelling too long on their problems. |
SUMMARYSYNOPSIS 'Missing Out' is an emotional and moving story of love, culture, alienation and a longing for home by one of its characters while the Other character blindly sinks into the new culture and hence he is alienated. It's a story of Maidy, a young and ambitious Muslim man living in London. It's a wondrous story that moves rather swiftly, giving the readers the character's conflicts without unnecessarily dwelling too long on their problems. This quick pace helps the author to state, though not explicitly, that the story is not about Maidy, but about a sort Of young, ambitious Muslim caught between modernity and tradition. Majdy is sympathetic and his conflict is a universal one, charmingly rendered. E Story revolves around a young man from Sudan who joins college in London. During his first term, Maidy writes home citing he would not make it and that he would give up and return. EntOuragernent from his mother, who strongly believes he can make it. Maidy weds Samra as the mother advocates. This is made to make him concentrate more on his studies and deter him from marrying a white and losing taste of his culture the beauty of his country. Samra learns that Maidy has religion as he doesn't observe the mandatory prayers and in tries to win him back. Samra is nostalgic and has refused to adapt to new life in London and observes he duties as a Muslim woman. On the other hand, Maidy sinks into the new culture and all he sees looking at his origin country, Sudan, is negativity and backwardness. He tries to discourage Samra but she stays aloof and gets excited when it is suggested to her that she was going to spend holiday in Sudan. Maidy later calls home and announces that he desired to remain in London even after his studies. This is ironical as from the beginning he had always expressed attachment to his mother country. SETTING The setting of this story shifts from London to Sudan. This could be a deliberate move by the author to compare and contrast life in Sudan and in London. London is depicted as developed politically, socially and economically. Life in London was swift and 'interfered' with normal life. Maidy argues, 'here in London praying was distraction, an interruption 'p 1 12 London was civilized. Life was easy. Samra wondered how one can buy meat already cut up for her. |
Maidy argues, 'here in London praying was distraction, an interruption 'p 1 12 London was civilized. Life was easy. Samra wondered how one can buy meat already cut up for her. The author observes, 'every Obiect she touched was perfect, qualify radiated from every little thing 13 London is so developed that even Samrc longed to be ill in order to take medicine which was so seducing. The author says, 'even the pharmacieswere stocked so full of medicine inso many different colors and flavors that she almost longed to ill ' pl 13 Sudan on the other hand is depicted as underdeveloped. Although life in Sudan is still and rhythmic, many elites like Maidy find it ra retrogressive. Unlike in London where begging is illegal, in Sudor beggars are all over. Child labor is a common practice in third world countries as inferred in this story 'Shooing away the baref00 children who passed by with loaded trays trying to sell her che gum, hairpins and matches ' P. 1 08 for the elites like Maidy Sud and by extension African Continent is underdeveloped. MOidy thought Samra would be grateful to him for rescuing her from the backwardness of Khartoum. Chaos is in the city and strikes by the civil servants prevail. This is the plight of Africa. THEMES Change. It is said that change is inevitable. Many traditions of people, particularly Africans change when they go to abroad. This is clearly shown by Maidy who abandons his culture e g the mandatory Islamic prayers. He says, "here in London praying was distraction, an interruption ' It is no wonder his mother gets really shocked when she learns about the sudden change of her son. Additionally, he even sees the very fabric of traditions that have held his life together as 'backwardness' and retrogressive. It is in that view that Maidy thinks that Samra should be grateful for saving her from 'the backwardness of Khartoum ' Maidy was hardworking back in the days. He was brilliant and always came to the top of his class. He even had appeared on a newspaper at sixteen. |
It is in that view that Maidy thinks that Samra should be grateful for saving her from 'the backwardness of Khartoum ' Maidy was hardworking back in the days. He was brilliant and always came to the top of his class. He even had appeared on a newspaper at sixteen. In London, Maidy loses his hardworking spirit and 'in his first term at college in London he complained that studies had become hard ' The plight of Africa Leila Aboulela is concerned about the staggering poverty and underdevelopment in Sudan and the inability of African governments to function at the level they ought to. African has resources but is taken away from the Africans. Sudan is underdeveloped. Children at tender age who ought to be in school are in the streets busy hawking to feed their families 'Shooing away the barefooted children who passed by with loaded trays trying to sell her chewing gum ' p 1 08 Africa is suffering from civil wars. Sudan is politically unstable. Samra's teacher says, 'you must be relieved that you are here, all that War and famine back home. The place of women in the society. This is clearly a patriarchal society that believes in the male over female. It is clear that Maidy's mother is left with the responsibility of taking care of her son. Parenting has been left to women. The relationship between Maidy and Samra is domineering one. That could be the reason why Maidy uses abusive language on his wife. She is not supposed to question her husband's behavioral changes. She is not supposed to question him for not doing his prayers and when she does Maidy calls her stupid. TECHNIQUES AND LANGUAGE USE. Narrative voice The author has employed third person narrative mode, where every character is referred to by the narrator as 'he', 'she' or 'they'. This makes it clear that the narrator is an unspecified entity or uninvolved person in the story. This kind of narration brings out the thoughts and intentions of different characters hence their character traits are fully developed. A third person narrator is omniscient and omnipresent. Such narrator has knowledge of all times, people, places and events and this makes it possible to shift the plot from London to Khartoum, Sudan. Even then the narrator's knowledge is "limited" to the characters, that is, the narrator cannot describe things unknown to the focal character. |
A third person narrator is omniscient and omnipresent. Such narrator has knowledge of all times, people, places and events and this makes it possible to shift the plot from London to Khartoum, Sudan. Even then the narrator's knowledge is "limited" to the characters, that is, the narrator cannot describe things unknown to the focal character. Local dialect To keep it original, the author has used local dialect to avoid the story been confused with European literature. Use of local dialect also helps the reader to determine the physical setting of the story. The author has used certain local words among them tobe, zed Inshallah, ka 'ba and Qibla Humour Maidy is a humorous character. He gets lazy with prayers and says that it's because life in London is swift. He tells Samra not to cover her head with a tobe because he didn't want to be associated fanatics and backwardness: His culture. It's also humorous that when Maidy complains of studies being difficult for him his mother saddles him with a wife. Ironically this to' IronyIrony is a strange, funny or sad situation in which things happen in the opposite way to what you would expect. It is ironic that Maidy, who does so well in his secondary education certificate, goes to study abroad but complains of studies being hard on him on his first term. There is irony when Maid ' calls home to complain about studies and his mother instead marries him to Samra. One wonders whether marriage makes studies easy or complicates the state of the learner. It is therefore not a surprise that Maidy abandons obligatory prayers completely. It is ironic that Maidy expects Samra to show gratitude and appreciation for saving her "the backwardness" of Khartoum but instead she continues to be nostalgic about the same backwardness and eventually travels back home during the holiday. Maidy asks Samra to take a leave to Sudan so he can also take a break from her but soon after leaving, he feels hollow and empty. CHARACTER AND CHARACTERISATION This story like any other short story uses scarcity of characters and this has given the author the opportunity to explore the characters into details giving us their character traits. Each character plays a significant role that clearly can't be overlookedMaidy He is loving: He shows love and care to Samra. He shows her around and does everything possible to make her happy and comfortable in her new environment; London. |
CHARACTER AND CHARACTERISATION This story like any other short story uses scarcity of characters and this has given the author the opportunity to explore the characters into details giving us their character traits. Each character plays a significant role that clearly can't be overlookedMaidy He is loving: He shows love and care to Samra. He shows her around and does everything possible to make her happy and comfortable in her new environment; London. He gives her his attention despite his busy schedule. He is supportive: He supports Samra to settle in her new environment. He buys her a mat to use during her obligatory prayers. He is alienatedDetached: He is detached from his culture. He blindly copies the western culture. He abandons the very fabric of his Culture that holds him together: the obligatory prayers. It is no Wonder that he views the practice of his people back in Khartoum, Sudan as 'backwardness ' e is abusive: He calls Samra stupid and sees her as retrogressive for observing her obligatory prayers. He is immoral: He sees it as an opportunity to bring other women in his matrimonial bed when Samra travels to Sudan for holiday. Majdy represents the elites who go overseas either to study or work there and fail to ever return to their countries: The plight of AfricaAfrica suffers from brain drain. Such are the people who appreciate more the western culture and abandon their own. According to Majdy, African culture is inferior to western culture. SAMRA She is religious: She observes her religious duties in a foreign country and even urges her husband to create time for prayers in her busy schedule. She is resilient: Unlike her husband who is changed by his surrounding, Samra remains as religious as she left Khartoum. She still observes her religious duties despite the fact that life in London is swift. She is naive: Amazed by the kind of development there is in London especially in the field of medicine, Samra is so much seduced by the color and flavor of medicine that she wishes to fall sick that she may use them. She is loving: As a typical African woman, Samra takes care of her husband and it is no wonder he feels hollow and incomplete when she goes back to Sudan for a holiday. She represents Africans who stick to their cultures and admonishes it so much that they actually value it even when in oversees. As a typical African woman, she adores and cherishes her husband. She represents African women who stand up for their marriages and families. |
She represents Africans who stick to their cultures and admonishes it so much that they actually value it even when in oversees. As a typical African woman, she adores and cherishes her husband. She represents African women who stand up for their marriages and families. MAJDY'S MOTHER She is caring: She calls her son to check on her. She gets worried when she learns that her son thinks of dropping because studies have become hard and encourages him to work harder. She is generous: when her son does well in examinations back Khartoum, she throws up a party for him. She invites the villagers te come and celebrate with her. She is selfish: She only thinks of herself and not her son. When he announces that he will stay in London she only complains about her being left alone other than looking at the advantages her son will get. She is hopeful: She hopes that things will not remain dark in Sudan and speaks of a better future. She says, 'But what if things improve here, son? If they strike oil or make lasting peace. She represents citizens who endure hostility and poor standards of living in their African countries with the hope that 'things will improve ' As a mother, she shows love, care and good will to her son. She wishes the very best to him. ACTITIVITY I. Compare and contrast the character of Maidy and Samra 2. The university students were demonstrating. Do you think demonstrations can solve problems? Discuss. 3. Discuss irony as used in this story. 4. Discuss the theme of religion5. Maidy's determination to remain in London symbolizes running away from the culture of his people. Discuss. 12. NO NEED TO LIE BY Rolf Schmid Background Rolf Schmid's "No Need to Lie" is an extraordinary account of a remarkable life. The author describes his rough painful struggle With cancer in the both Kenya and Germany. He became a celebrated restaurateur and sportsman and after acquiring Kenyan citizenship, he represented his new home in judo, polo, Weightlifting and pistol shooting, excelling in all four of them. He also still got time to emulate his childhood idol, Ernest Heming w as a passionate big game hunter in the African bush. Tragedy through cancer which almost killed him, but sheer determination, and the hand of God saved him. After this ordeal, he ventured become a world champion power lifter in the masters over categories. |
He also still got time to emulate his childhood idol, Ernest Heming w as a passionate big game hunter in the African bush. Tragedy through cancer which almost killed him, but sheer determination, and the hand of God saved him. After this ordeal, he ventured become a world champion power lifter in the masters over categories. For this and all his previous achievements in sports, he was bestowed with the Order of the Grand Warrior of Kenya by His Excellency President Daniel arap Moi. Rolf Schmid has surmounted many barriers in life but a diagnosis of throat cancer came as a terrible blow to the prominent chef. Summary of Incidents Rolf schmid narrates in biographic way his long painful struggle and fight with cancer. As he battled all those negative emotions, Rolf made a vow to himself that he would not let the disease take him down. After all, he was only 50 years old p 22 It was not an easy fight. The surgery, chemotherapy and medicine took a heavy toll on him. He had lost all appetite for food. However Rolf knew that if he did not put something into his tummy, his recover would be severely compromised. The terrible sores inside his mo made any contact with food a painful ordeal. To counter this, he resorted to inserting a long pipe into his gulle through which he poured in food in liquid form. But the battle with cancer was not the cue to take things easy watch life pass by. More than anything else, Rolf's battle with c sums up his character: A never-say-die attitude in the face seemingly insurmountable challen The well schemed masterpiece ends with Schmid landing back to Nairobi where he was accorded a hero's welcome, after having been treated at the Katharinen hospital in Germany. He rejoices together with his wife Asmahan and their children. He felt himself a victor and thathe was beginning a new life. Setting "No need to lie" is set in Kenya. Rolf Schmid had obtained a Kenyan citizenship after staying in Kenya and working as a leading chef in Nairobi. Places like Langata road in Kibera are mentioned in the short story where he could drive on his way to and from the job. P 1 31 After the treatments in the Nairobi hospital proved to be ineffective, Rolf was referred to Katharinen Krsnkenhaus hospital in Germany, where he went with Roland for further medication. |
Rolf Schmid had obtained a Kenyan citizenship after staying in Kenya and working as a leading chef in Nairobi. Places like Langata road in Kibera are mentioned in the short story where he could drive on his way to and from the job. P 1 31 After the treatments in the Nairobi hospital proved to be ineffective, Rolf was referred to Katharinen Krsnkenhaus hospital in Germany, where he went with Roland for further medication. This makes the setting shift from Kenya to Germany, then back to Kenya, seeking medical attention for his cancerous condition. The events are taking place between late December and early January. His medication journey begun January 8, after his personal Doctor, Mrs. Van Enk's coming back from Mombasa, where he had gone for the Christmas celebration. It begins at the Caren Surgery. Pl 23 Themes a Struggle to survive One Of his greatest battles in life was cancer. At 50, he was diagnosed with throat cancer. A fighter with a black belt in judo and a Weightlifter, Schmidt vowed the disease would not put him down. He SUrvived having gone through surgery, chemotherapy and no appetite and COntinued to forge on with life, with gusto. 0. A Burdens of sickness There is nothing that burdens Rolf, than his encounter with the throat cancer. It came after he had decided to cut weight, so that at least he, could lead a better sportsmanship life. Little had he known that he would be sick and the weight would cut down itself automatically, until the day he met Mrs. Van Enk, his private Doctor. He was informed that his medical condition needed a lot of urgency, Dr Rupani agreed that he had to admit him and take a biopsy. After ' the test, it was affirmed that he was having cancer and not Aids. P. 1 25 the greatest problem that exposed him to more harm was that his condition was in an alarming third stage, which was second to the last stage. He realized at a very late stage that he was cancerous. The grotesque look of the people in the radiation ward made him scared more than before. After it he become malnourished, with his skin, sagging. As if this is not enough, he was still to undergo four more chemotherapies. He says that he endured four chemo sessions for the four Saturdays preceding. |
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