Disputes in Caucasin Chalk Circle

Write an essay on the disputes that arise in the play, and how each of them is resolved.                                   

A dispute is a serious disagreement, especially one that involves two parties and lasts for sometime. In this play, there are a number of disputes that arise. Some of the disputes are amicably solved, while others spill over to disaster.

Desire without limits can be a source of agony both for ourselves and those around us

“Desire without limits can be a source of agony both for ourselves and those around us”. Write a composition to show how true this statement is according to the various characters in The River and The Source.

Unchecked desires can ruin us and cause agony to those around us, family or society. Getting what we crave at any cost can bring untold suffering. In the text such characters as Becky and Obura pursue their hearts desires without stopping to consider the possible impact both on themselves and their families

Obura is captivated by talk about whites who pay pesa for work done for them. The thought of travelling far away from home and earning some money irrevocably seizes his heart. He desires to see the world. His mother’s pleas and his father’s persuasion do not sway him. He forgets that he is the next in line to be chief as customs decrees

Obura escapes at night with Ambere and Nyaroche causing his parents pain and anxiety .We are told he later joins the English army to fight against the Germans, a war he hardly understands. Of course he is killed and this occasions deep sorrow to his family and the whole clan. His youthful life is cut short because of his inability to control his passions. Indeed unchecked desires can be ruinous

Becky is also ruled by passion for the things of this world and she makes no apologies about it She is desirous to be the centre of interest and wholly unappreciative of the sacrifices Vera makes for her. After getting her form four results, Becky wants to look for a job immediately instead of going for further studies like her sister, this would mean freedom and craved freedom, it takes Mark’s threats to curb her appetite to be an air hostess. She proceeds to high school but does not do particularly well because she is self-consumed, she escapes to Nairobi and joins the airline industry. It is here she meets and marries John courtesy, for Becky her pleasures rank above everybody else, her relationship ends because she is unfaithful. She later dies of HIV/AIDS leaving her family and children devastated, she is unable to keep a leash on her desires and she pays with her life.

Otieno Kembo seems to be ruled by his groin and his stomach. He has married several wives and sired many children whom he can hardly take care of. He relies on his brother the chief to pay bride price for his sons. When the chief dies, he sits on the chief’s stool with glee and misappropriates his wealth. Although he is to act as a custodian of the chief’s stool and relinquish it to the young Owuor when the latter is of age, he is not keen on doing so. His desire to satiate his appetites robs him of any modicum of humanity and faireness.This behavior causes Akoko great anxiety and anguish. It is what gives rise to her epic journey to Kisuma. The greedy otieno is later forced out of the chiefdom to pave way for caretaker council of elders. This last action must have caused him embarrassment and brought emotional trauma to his family. He has been ruling with a heavy hand, this authorization approach to leadership has trampled on the rights of people hither to use with democratic rule

Like her mother who makes an epic journey to Kisuma, Maria makes an epic journey to Aluor to seek solace for her troubled heart. She has suffered physical and emotional pain through the deaths of her father, siblings and her own children. Although she leaves home physically, the desire to get children never quite leaves her. Her journey back to Gem in pursuit of this desire is a form of regression. Her reunion with her former husband only brings her pain because they get a child who dies, the man does not love her as much as she wished. Her poor health worries her mother who says, “What made you suffer like this?”It is Nyabera’s inability to control her desire to be married and bear children that is responsible for her emotional and physical drain.

What the heart longs for does not always bring happiness. In the text, various characters find themselves unable to check their desires, this unfortunate tendency brings trauma both t themselves and to their nearest and dearest

Language and presentation                             

Women are the driving force in society.

 

Using at least three characters in the novel, write an essay to show how the writer portrays women as the driving force in society. Base your answer on the River and the Source by Margaret Ogolla for illustrations.

AKOKO

She is known for her strong personality, industry and enormous capacity for love and protection.

She has enormous amounts of wealth.

She approaches the Whiteman to get back the chieftaincy for her grandson.

It is she who makes vital decision in Awiti’s and Owuor’s lives.

NYABERA.

She decides to visit Aluor the mission station and she experiences change.

She is able to hire her mother to join her.

As a result, Owuor and Awiti attained education and their lives dramatically change.

ELIZABETH AWITI

Her song personality enables her to survive pressure to drop out of school until she becomes a teacher.

 She marries Mark Sisu this ushering in a new lifestyle of career and modern living.

She becomes the first school captain.

She attains excellent grades/wins accolades.

She becomes a confident to many people.

She is an electronics expert.

 She opts to remain an unmarried member of Opus Dei.

Even in a patriarchal society, women can succeed

 Even in a patriarchal society, women can succeed’

Using illustrations from MargaretOgola’sThe River and the Source, write an essay in support of the above statement.           

It is beyond doubt that women can flourish even in societies that are male dominated.

To begin with, Akoko stands out to be successful when she becomes economically independent and has amassed a lot of wealth which is not the expectation in the society. It was expected that a man was and remains the sole bread winner in a family and he owned the wife body and soul

Akoko thrives amidst men when she becomes the first person to seek justice in the hands of the white men and  also succeeds to drive out the gluttonous Otieno Kembo from the chief’s stool. She takes the initiative to defend her property and fights for the future of her grandson’s chieftaincy  and is successful. Akoko does this in spite of the availability of men who could have fought for the injustice wrought by Otieno Kembo.

Success women in leadership roles also evident. Leadership was set aside for males and women were not supposed to claim any position in leadership. Thus illustrated in Vera when she becomes the first woman / girl to become a captain in her school, she also pursues engineering a course believed to be for the males only.

Wandia also becomes successful when she becomes the only female among men in her medical

class. She also beats males in exams. She Also becomes the first woman in the country to achieve a doctorate degree in medicine.

Success in education is seen in Elizabeth Awiti when she becomes the only female among her

classmates. She becomes top in her class and gets admission to teacher training college. All in all the purpose of female existence was marriage and child bearing and bring wealth to the family. This is outdone by Elizabeth and she succeeds eventually becomes a teacher.

In conclusion it is clear that women can flourish even in patriarchal society.

Mulili is the mastermind of the atrocities that bedevil most of the characters

 “Mulili is the mastermind of the atrocities that bedevil most of the characters in the play.” 

Mulili is the epitome of Moral dirt in the play. He perpetrates social vices such as

Tribulation, nepotism, immorality, incompetence, corruption, oppression and murder.

He stops Daga and Nina from conducting the shaving ceremony and eventually Kills them

He is responsible for Jere’s imprisonment after the latter allows Doga and Nina to conduct the sharing ceremony

Mulili is responsible for Kabito’s death. The antagonism between the two arises from the award of the milk tender to Kabito.

He contributes to the downfall of Boss. He misinforms him about other servant like Kabito

Jere’s arrest Boss claiming that he is only a distant cousin yet he has benefited from his rule on account of being relatives He goes ahead to enumerate Boss’ ills like spoiling the economy of Kajira, ruling for too long and killing kabito

Mulili’s evil nature knows no bounds. He uses his position and influence to get what he wants and does not hesitate to betray others

Every society is dynamic

“Every society is dynamic” With illustration from The River and The Source. Write an easy in support of this statement.

A society keeps on changing. This change may in most cases lead to resistance. In Margaret Ogola`s novel. The River and The Source, change, is brought about by the coming of the white man. There are many aspects of change in the novel namely, education, system of governance, Religion, the marriage instructions, etc,

(I)       System of administration

Before the coming of the whiteman , the luo people were ruled by traditional chiefs assisted by the council of Jodongo, We encounter several chiefs like Odero Goghi, chief Ouro  Kemboi, Owang sino and Otieno kembo. When Akoko has a case against the in-laws, her case is solved by the council of Jodongo at Yimbo.(pg 41).

This uninterrupted even flow is however disrupted by the arrival of the Jorochore (whiteman) with his new form of government that rules Christianity Sirikal and Christianity present for the hash communities as dictated by chik. The chiefdom which Otieno abuses to rob Akoko of her wealth and her grandson’s right to the chieftaincy causes her to seek assistance from the D.O and the D.C and they do not let her down,(pg 85-89)

(II)   Religion

-Initially the traditional society had their own kind of religion; WERE (the god of        the rising sun) was their god. Were is consulted in times of problems, Nyao Alego, earnestly prays to Were when the child Akoko cries endlessly after birth.(pg 12) Other characters such as Akoko and Nyambera solely rely on Were for their lives    predicament.(pg 75)

Traditionally people adore Were by pouring of libitation and offering of sacrifices.(pg 13)

With the coming of the white men a new religion is introduced some people get converted to the Whiteman’s religion. This religion is characterized by acquisition of Christian names for instance Pilipo, peter, mary, Elizabeth and veronicah.

There is Christian baptism which was not there before.

-Polygamy is replaced by monogamy there is also introduction of celibacy where people like Vera, Peter, Tony decide to get married.

The white mans religion also becomes the basis for the new system of education.

(III) Education.

The traditional African education is purely informal . it aims at instilling values into oneself that enables somebody to fit well in the society. Akoko claims that she was taught nothing else but the ways of the chik.(pg 35). Pg 42, “I have been taught that honour and pride is oneself......”

-Akoko instills virtues of hard work into her children and grandchildren like Nyabera, Awiti and Aoro. With the coming of the white man a new system of education is introduced.

several characters like Awiti, Nyambera , becky  and Aoro attend school for formal education.

Unlike the traditional education the modern education focuses on the attainment of careers, Awiti becomes a teacher, Aoro becomes a doctor.

(IV) Marriage.

Traditionally, marriage is arranged for the girl by her father who chooses “the best” man for her. Akoko has no say in the matter and only makes a brief appearance to enable her prospective husband to view her, and in that appearance the girl is expected to be shy.(pg 24).

Spies are send to spy and give a report on a suitability of the wife to be. Marriage negotiations are put on the hand of the elders.

Dowry is paid by the father to the bridegroom, for akoko, thirty head of cattle are demanded. The number of children, cemented the marriage ties, where lack of them led to marital strife. With the coming of the whiteman, celibacy and monogamy became acceptable. Pilipo tells Nyabera that the Christian values allow a man to take away only one wife.(pg 102).

People like Vera, Tony and Peter become celibates.