Form 4 English - READING LITERARY WORKS [PDF] » Page 14 of 14

ANALYSIS OF THE PLAY

THE BLACK HERMIT

Playwright, Ngugi wa Thiong’o
Setting: Post- independence African society

SUMMARY

Act 1

Scene i

Nyobi and Thoni talking. Nyobi puts down a water barrow in a coner. Thoni kneels on the floor sorting out beans, spread in a basin. These two women are taking about Remi.Nyobi complains that her son (Remi) doesn’t respect her. She complains that they have sent him several letters but he has not replied.

Nyobi advises Thoni (Remi’s wife) to take another man to marry her, but she rejects. She says that she can’t go to another man. She also says that she will be like a common whore if she marries another man. Thoni loves Remi.She says she wants a man (Remi) to give her children, wash his clothes, warm his bed and ask her for a meal.

The elder comes in Nyobi’s hut. He says that the elder have sent him to come and request for blessing from Nyobi so as to bring Remi from the city. He also says that he has Marua medical which will be used to lure him (Remi) from the city. She gives her blessing. As the elder goes out she remembers that she is a Christian hence she is not supposed to mingle with traditionalist and witchcraft. She takes her shawl and goes to see the pastor to repent.

Scene ii

A meeting of elders. The leader says that he is not making speech. He says they fought against he whiteman because they loved their soil (land) now they canist see the benefit of what they fought for there us no god can and good houses strickly speaking they are poor, there is also heavy taxation therefore Remi must came to save them they pray to their good so that their medicane should be strong they do this by facing mountain.

Scene iii

Nyobi sees the pastor tells him of her abomination, that shye has blessed witchraft as she has een nglish-swahili/betray” target=”_blank”>betrayed by her love for her son.

The pastor says if the alders bring remi he will belost to the Christian because he will deal with polities. Nyobi says that she wants remi to come back to his wife. The pastor advises nyobi not to thinking of the flesh. The pastor add that remi was once a good follower of chrst, but when he joined the university he entered into politis. He because a member of africansit party and sotan hired him his ways. The pastor wants remi to come and serve gach. He also prays for nyobi to think of heaven and bring thobi to love god.

Lasthy the pastor agrees to go to the city and bring remi back he says Christians also may need him he pastor is becoming

ACT II (THE CITY)

Scene i

In Remi’s room Remi and Jane are talking Jane or rims girls friend she is white Woman Jane says that Rems has changed by something Remi replies that Janes over unisex like his mother she was always wormed about him. She wanted him to many and have children but he says he was shey but Jane comments that Remi is not she with girls.

Jane advise Remi to go home and become as teacher as Remi said that he hates working as a clerk in a certain al company Remi reflects to beside a village teacher because he will stance while the ministers and their permanent secretaries fatten or babes and unflawed Salaries

Lastly they decide to go to the tight club.

Scene ii

Omange has come to visit Remi. Remi is reading suiting paper. They are talking about politics.Omange says there is racial segregation in their country. He cites an example of Asian girl who has been ostracized because she was seen going round with an African.

Omange blames the government as it doing nothing to end tribalism and racial segregation. He also says that the government has passed a law against strikes. He considers this as oppression. He says why wrench from a workman his only tool. Remi defends the government he says in a newly independent countries the above mentioned problem must happen.

Then Remi tells Omange a story about why he is not on politics. He says he was the first person to reach the university in his tribe. He once loved a certain girl but he could not declare his fellings to her. Later she got married to his brother. Then suddenly his brother died due to the motorcar accident. Actually he had been with her hardly six months. According to their customs, Remi was to inheint her. He refused, however his mother, father and the tribe requested him to marry in order to fulfil or preserve this sacred custom. Finally he agreed to live with her. But he did not stay long with her. He escaped from the village to the city.

Then, we see the elders coming in Remi’s room. They request him to go home. They say that their tribe (Maria) wails under a new government, no any son of there is a D.C there is also forced community work, taxation ,drought and their crops have failed.

Remi responds that they are all black but the elders insist that there is tribalism. One of elders says my son is my son and my village is my village. This shows tribalism and selfishness.

They add that they want a tribal political party. However Remi disappoints them as he says he will never go back home. One of the elders drops down a small bundle wrapped with a dry banana leaves. They go out.

The pastor also comes in, he requests Remi to go back home to attend his mother. She needs him and she grows weak as he pastor said, Remi responds that it is her own affair if she dies. He adds that he is not a savior.

Later he agrees that he will go home. As the pastor leaves he takes the bible and the small bundle. He weighs them in both hands and says they are pieces of superstition.

Scene iii

In Remi’s room, Jane and Remi are talking. Jane ask Remi if he is still determined to go. Remi says he does not want to remain or become a hermit anymore.He is determined to go back to the village.A hermit, Remi says means escaping from one’s responsibility or escaping from what is around you. She wants Remi to take her to his village. He rejects as the says she is of a different race (white woman). Lastly he tells he is married. she complains and protests that he has nglish-swahili/betray” target=”_blank”>betrayed her. she vanishes (runs out) he fellows her.

ACT III (THE RETURN OF THE HERMIT)

Scene i

Nyobi and Thoni are in their hut talking. They are talking about the return of the hermit( Remi).

However, Thoni is worried. She is worried that Remi may come back as a different man. He may not love her anymore but Nyobi comfortst her or give her hope, Thoni is now happy. She say that she will have happy moments when her husband comes back.

The pastor comes in and assures them that Remi is coming back. Also the first neighbor comes back and reports that many people have gathered at the village ground. They are dancing and singing of the man (Remi), their saviour.

Nyobi goes out to see his son. The second neighbor also comes in tell Thoni and pastor that Remi is back. He also says that Remi has given a speech in which he has blamed the elders for preaching tribalism.

Later on we see Remi insisting that the elders should unite people, build school and get rid of the tribalism and racism.

Infront of Nyobi’s hut ,Remi tells the pastor to cooperate with other people.

Also, Remi blames his mother that she manipulated him and made him marry a woman whose love and loyalty will ever lie with those in grave(Thoni).He adds that he was wrong to marry a woman who was another’s wife .He also criticize the customs of inherit windows (he calls it shackles of the Customs).

Thoni goes at nobody notices.

Scene ii

Thoni talks with a woman. she says she can’t stay in this place (in the world). She says that she has been humiliated by a man she loved (Remi). She has made decision to die rather than being humiliated

Scene iii

Omage congratulates Remi for attacking tribalism but he tells him (Remi) that the government must give back the settlers land to Africans illiteracy also ought to be abolished in a year. But Remi defend the government that people should work on their own progress.

Later on a woman comes in and throw a letter to Remi . It is from Thoni. He reads the letter which shows that Thoni loves him.

Then Remi ,Nyobi, pastor and other people start looking for Thoni. Nyobi blames his son for being unfair to his family. She says that education has taught him something.

The pastor also blames Remi that since he entered into politics, he put all trust in himself (on man) and not God. Remi criticize the pastor that his religion never did anything for people. It only divided them and made them weak before the white man.

Remi regrets his decision of neglecting his family and his people. He says that he has been irresponsible from his wife and his tribe.

At the end of this play we see people coming in Nyobi’s Compound carrying carrying Thoni’s body .She is dead. Remi regret because he did not know that she loved him. He has uttered such bitter world that hart her and hence decided to kill herself (take her life).

THEMES IN THE PLAY BLAC HERMIT

1. Protest

Nyobi is protesting against Remi who doesn’t respect her. She says that they have written several letters to him but he does not respond. He has abandoned them.

Omange also protest against government irresponsibility to end tribalism and racial segregation.

2. Love

Love is reflected through Thoni. She loves Remi deeply. This is reflected as Nyobi advises her to take another man. She reject and says she will wait for Remi no matter how long.

Love is also reflected between Jane and Remi. Jane loves Remi. She wanted Remi to marry her and take to his village.

3. Traditional believes

Elders went to see Remi and tell or request him to come back to his village. They took Maria medicine with them which would be used to lure (convice) Remi from the city.

4. Tribalism

Tribalism is reflected in Remi’s country. The elders of Maris tribe say that their tribe wails under a new government which there are other tribe which are favoured. Their tribe is oppressed through heavy taxation,poverty, lack of school.They want Remi to come and save their tribe. They want a tribal political party

5. Christianity

The new faith is reflected in Remi’s village. It is shown through Nyobi who went to repent to the pastor for she had mingled with traditionalist. Through the pastor prayers also we come to understand the presence of Christianity among some villagers. Others view it as a foreign religion and has nothing to do with their life (elders).

6. Betrayal

Remi nglish-swahili/betray” target=”_blank”>betrayed Jane. He did not tell her from the beginning that he was married. Remi also nglish-swahili/betray” target=”_blank”>betrayed his people. He argued them to join the Africans party but when they had problem he did not help them.

The government is also nglish-swahili/betray” target=”_blank”>betraying. People suffer under a new government as it was during colonialism

7. Betrayal and humiliation

Remi was education and was expected to help the villagers. When he came back he criticized the village elders that they are preaching tribalism.

8. Disappointment

Remi disappointed Thoni and Nyobi. he said that his mother made him marry a woman whose love and loyalty lie with those in grave. Due to this Thoni killed herself.

The pastor is also disappointed he said that education did not help him.Lastly the woman,elders and other villagers were disappointed as Remi failed to help them from poverty exploitation, oppression and ignorance.

9. Conflicts

There is a conflict between Remi and Jane. Jane feels nglish-swahili/betray” target=”_blank”>betrayed as Remi tells her that he is married. She is sad and run away.

Conflict is also reflected between Remi and pastor. The pastor says that when Remi joined the Africanist party, he put all trust in man and not God. Remi critisize the pastor also that pastor religion has done nothing rather than dividing people. The pastor goes out

Questions on Plays

1. Would you agree that the coming of the white man to Africa has made “Things fall apart?” Support your answers with evidence from two books you have read.

2. To what extent have conflicts portrayed in two books you have read contributed to the readings you have read.

3. Are all traditional customs and values useful to a society? Support your ideas with examples from any two play yo did under the section.

4. The personality of an individual is influenced by this environment. With reference to two readings you have done under this section, justify this statement.

5. Discuss the social and economic factors which held together the African communities in the two readings you have red.

6. Discuss how different writers have portrayed the role of women in African Societies

STRUCTURE

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

A condition is something that has to be fulfilled first before something else could happen.

Example: If you don’t pay school fees you cannot write English exam (It means you must pay school fees so that you can be allowed to write English exam)

Words used in conditional sentences are:

(i) If: If the rain stops, we will be able to work hard.

(ii) Unless: Unless you work hard, you will not pass your exams (unless means If not)

(iii) Provided that: You can come to the party provided that you bring with your own drinks

(iv) Incase: Incase he comes don’t leave the door open.

i.e. (If he does not come, you can leave the door open)

TYPES OF CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

(Using………….If)

Conditional sentences are usually divided into three basic types referred to as

TYPE 1 = likely

TYPE 2 = Unlikely

TYPE 3 = Rejected

TYPE 1: If she finished work early, she will go home.

TYPE 2: If she finished work early, she would go home.

TYPE 3: If she had finished work early, she would have gone home. As it is seen above the type one use simple present tense the dependent clause and future simple future in the main clause.

The use of Type 1 conditional sentence implies that there is a BIG CHANGE for the conditions to be fulfilled. Type 1 is also called probable, likely or open.

TYPE 2

The verb in the dependent clause should be in the post tense and the main clause should be in the conditional tense.

Example: If I had some money I would lend it to you. It is used where there is unlike hood of something to happen.

TYPE 3

a) We form type 3 conditionals with IF = Past perfect (OR IF = COULD HAVE) = WOULD HAVE (Post conditional)

E.g If we had hired a car we would have saved time.

Thus:

DEPENDENT CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE

If I had hired a car we would have saved time

(Past perfect) (Perfect conditional)

OR. If we had left at 10, we would have been there by now.

b) Uses

Type 3 conditional is purely HYPOTHETICAL. It shows that all things are in the past and nothing can be done at the moment. Hence, Type 3 is called REJECTED. The possibility here is 0 since everything is in the past and already completed.

E.g If I had studied hard, I would have passed the exam civil didn’t study hard and therefore I didn’t pass the exam.

Form 4 English – READING LITERARY WORKS

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